8 minutes ago ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS: In A Christmas Tree, why were Dickens's Christmas decorations from Wolverhampton?

A Christmas Tree (1850) was Charles Dickens's 'other' Christmas story, it was an elderly narrator's reminiscence of holidays past, each incident inspired by the decorations on the tree.

Politics

5 hours ago King appears on BBC Christmas special of Countryfile filmed at Highgrove

Charles joked about needing an ‘extra-strong tree’ after feeling the weight of a Christmas tree bauble made out of wood by a student.

Politics

6 hours ago Owl crashes into family home and perches on top of Christmas tree in 'magical moment'

The family were left in hysterics after an owl crashed through their window and decided to perch itself on top of their Christmas tree in Arlington, Virginia

Events

6 hours ago 'I was put in to a coma on Christmas Eve and rang my family to say goodbye'

"When they admitted me to the ward, the first thing I saw was the Christmas tree outside my room”

Politics

14 hours ago Hilarious moment owl flies through family home and perches on top of Christmas tree

The nocturnal bird fell down the chimney of Savannah and Jason Burgoyne in Arlington, Virginia, in what social media users described as a "magical Christmas moment"

Society

15 hours ago Nigel Slater’s recipes for salmon and sprouts, and chocolate ginger sundae

It’s time for a last-minute festive fry-up, followed by a biscuity ginger sundaeThe house is bathed in the glow from the Christmas tree. There are scented parcels tied with ribbon, a majestic panettone on a cake stand in the larder and the rough puff pastry is rolled, folded and wrapped in baking parchment in the fridge. I’ve been playing carols for a fortnight or more.We are so close now to the principal meals of Christmas, most of which are probably sorted and partially shopped for. It is those last-minute dishes I feel are most useful. The quick toss-up of greens and smoked fish; a dessert that can be made in minutes and, perhaps, the odd homemade edible gift. Christmas is, of course, about more than one meal. Continue reading...

Politics

19 hours ago Staring at a Christmas tree could tell you if you have a common health problem

Whilst you're enjoying the festive season, taking a closer look at the decorations might make you aware of a common eye problem

Politics

20 hours ago The Christmas that went wrong: The day was saved by the new friend I’d made on a drunken night out

I was alone in New York during the pandemic, in the aftermath of a breakup and unable to go home. A Korean family taught me to believe in the kindness of strangersLike many Jewish families, the Wolfsons take Christmas extremely seriously. Latkes and smoked salmon are served before homemade cranberry sauce and brussels sprouts. My dad’s hand-painted menorah, which he made during the ceramics cafe boom of the early 2000s, sits proudly underneath the Christmas tree.As such, I had never missed a Christmas with the family – although there had been some near misses. In 2019, we spent Christmas by my dad’s hospital bed after his stroke – us sipping on hospital canteen gingerbread lattes, him having Christmas dinner in the guise of vanilla-scented protein, fed through a tube. In 2020, I saw my family only from six feet away, double-masked and on the doorstep. I delivered presents, but they were not opened for a few days, to let any stray virus dissipate. Continue reading...

Politics

24 hours ago How stars including Kim Kardashian and Michelle Keegan sparked huge demand for smaller trees

Kim Kardashian and Michelle Keegan are driving a new trend for replacing a large Christmas tree in their homes with smaller ones placed in different rooms.

Politics