On top of the mirey, merey moor

With the wet December sleet pelting down on his tweed cap, John Lewis-Stempel and his terriers ascend Chimney Bank on Spaunton Moor for a breath of cold, damp air and to survey James Herriot country

Sugar, spice and all things nice

Gingerbread in its many guises-from jauntily clad figures to enchanting fairy tale-inspired houses-has evolved from an aphrodisiac to a cornerstone of British festive culture, says Carla Passino

The peel-good factor

The presence and scent of citrus fruits have long put the zest into Christmas, whether candied, stuffed, studded with cloves, poached or even lauded in literature, says

Think outside the fox

In literature at least, the fox will come out on top in almost every brush with confrontation, finds Kate Green

Christmas conundrums

Even the most time-honoured festive traditions need to be reviewed once in a while. Giles Kime weighs up the major choices

It's a wonderful life

From bashing piñatas to banishing evil spirits with deep-fried doughballs, there's more to Christmas than turkey and stockings. Carla Passino goes around the world in 18 festive traditions

Peace be with you

AT Christmas time, our thoughts turn to the mystery of the Incarnation. That's the primary focus of Christians-or should be, although we all have other preoccupations.

Cold comforts

At 600ft above sea level, Rockcliffe suffers in harsh winters, but, writes Tiffany Daneff, even the worst weather cannot subdue its many charms

It came upon a midnight clear

It takes a Christmas party to break the ice for the newcomers at the big house

So, this is Christmas

Today's world would be a strange and frightening place for our Victorian forebears, yet, on Christmas Day, they would still feel right at home, says

'Tis the season to be busy

Christmas represents the climax of the working year for some rural businesses. Ben Lerwill talks to six stalwarts whose lives are hectic at this time and finds out how they cope with the deadlines-as well as how they relax

Made with love

We might not give them a second thought when we kneel down to pray in church, but the humble hassock offers comfort, as well as embroidered and elaborate beauty, says the Revd Colin Heber-Percy

When Christmas was cancelled

No feasting. No drinking. No celebrations. Ian Morton explores what the festive period was like when Oliver Cromwell's Christmas clampdown gripped the nation

Prodigy or eccentric?

A monastic church converted to a cathedral at the Reformation is a building of European importance, yet it has twice narrowly escaped destruction, as John Goodall explains

On the night watch

As the diurnal delights of the animal kingdom slip into a deep slumber, John Lewis-Stempel explores the velvety black shadows where the wild things are

Away in a manger

From Rembrandt's shepherds, startled by an angel's appearance, to Gauguin's mother, exhausted after giving birth to her green-haloed child, the Nativity has inspired some of our greatest artists, finds

Reaching for the stars

In a busy week of New York sales, Femme à la Montre, part of the collection that the late Emily Fisher Landau formed with an insurance payout, becomes the second most expensive Picasso ever sold at auction

Supersonic flight

'Even at 98, he recalls the thrill of breaking the sound barrier'

The real thing

Barbados boasts a rich artistic and design heritage, masked in recent years by big, faceless hotels, but now being brought triumphantly to the fore, says Rosie Paterson

Bay watch

'It reminds me of soft, sugary cola-bottle sweets'

Studying the classics

Why do some London restaurants stand the test of time when so many others fail? Emma Hughes goes in search of the secret ingredient

In a new light

For Sir John Soane, the tools of the trade included skylights, tinted glasses and mirrors, as much as classical motifs, bricks and mortar. Carla Passino retraces the life of the man who chased the poetry of architecture and left an extraordinary gift to the nation

Too big to rail

The failed northern leg of HS2 has left landowners in the lurch. Lucy Denton reports on what happens next

Last orders

As 2023 comes to a close, three splendid properties with business potential have come to the market, one of which was the Cornish venture of supermodel Jean Shrimpton

Animal magic

Melanie Johnson employs a menagerie of parrots, leopards, reindeer, serpents and feathered friends to create inspired ideas for festive dining

Not so jolly old Saint Nicholas

Father Christmas may be the rosy-cheeked, jolly character who personifies the fun of the festive season, but he's had to overcome a few setbacks, notes Ian Morton

Neptune's wooden angels

Carved figureheads, always adorned with eyes, often female and sometimes in a compromising pose, were cherished by their crews as protection from the perils faced at sea, finds Harry Pearson

Never knowingly undersold

From telephone-equipped hotel rooms to cars 'for lady drivers', the advertisements featured in COUNTRY LIFE in 1923 captured Britain's evolution, as well as the odd quack remedy, finds Melanie Bryan

Taking account of the past

A late-Victorian masterpiece in the heart of the City has been expanded and augmented with unusual discernment. Steven Brindle visits after its most recent refurbishment

Lady of the island

No one knows more about the party island of Mustique than Lady Glenconner, who talks to Pamela Goodman about her memories of and favourite spots on the Caribbean islands