Christmas

The wine merchant: 'We’re all shattered by the time we close at 3pm on Christmas Eve'

In the last of our series on the people who make Christmas in the country what it is, Paula Lester speaks to wine merchant Tom Ashworth.

The racehorse trainer: 'Christmas Day is the only day of the year that I actually ride a horse'

Kate Green meets Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, in our series on the people who make Christmas in the country the joy it is, to discover how racehorses are looked after even when everyone else is inside with turkey and mince pies.

Tom Parker Bowles: Forget turkey and pigs-in-blankets — the Christmas ham is the king of the yuletide feast

Ribboned with fat and gleaming with a clove-studded glaze,Tom Parker Bowles sings the praises of the succulent Christmas ham.

The award-winning cook who makes 5,000 Christmas puddings a year, every single one of them by hand

Kate Green talks to Wizz Gambier, the woman who lives and breathes Christmas puddings, in our series on the people who make Christmas in the country the joy it is.

Christmas gift ideas for children

From adorable booties and cardigans to toys that will keep tiny tots entertained for hours.

Seven perfect Christmas gifts for people who just love beautiful, functional things

William Morris famously said to have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. These things do their best to hit both targets.

The cathedral choirmaster: 'The thing I love about the Christmas repertoire is the mix of modern and ancient'

Today's piece in our series on the people who make Christmas in the country sees Kate Green meet Tim Parsons at Wells Cathedral.

The gamekeeper: ‘I’ve lost count of the school plays that I made by the skin of my teeth’

Our series on the people who make Christmas in the country what it is continues as Paula Lester meets Andrew Holloway.

The Christmas wreath-maker: 'They sell quicker than we can make them'

All this week we're running a series on the people who make Christmas in the country what it is. Today, Paula Lester meets wreath maker Ellie Taylor.

Christmas gift ideas for ladies

From mothers and sisters to wives and girlfriends, these gifts are sure to bring a smile to the face of the special lady in your life.

Christmas gift ideas for men

From fathers to brothers to lovers, we run through some smart ideas for Christmas presents for the men in your life.

What to get the wine lover who has everything? How about a 300-bottle barrel, a string of über-vintages or a wine that comes with a trip on a private jet

One of the most storied wine-producing families in Italy has put up a series of rather incredible bottles (and more) in Christie's impending fine wine auction.

The five most beautiful Advent Calendars of Christmas

The best Advent calendars of 2024, as chosen by Flora Watkins.

The 2023 Country Life Editor's Christmas Quiz: The Answers

All the answers to Country Life's 2023 Christmas Quiz.

‘The love we share at Christmas is a refuge. It replenishes our depleted batteries and allows us to go out again into the world’: The 2023 Country Life Christmas message, by Revd Colin Heber-Percy

A safe haven, a refuge for rest and relaxation, the place we feel we belong—the concept of ‘home’ differs for each of us. At Christmas, home is so much more than a physical location: it is all around, says the Revd Colin Heber-Percy.

The years when England cancelled Christmas

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

The most wonderful time of the year: Country Life's A to Z of Christmas

Lights and turkeys and bells, oh my! Embrace the festive spirit with Amie Elizabeth White’s A to Z of Christmas

11 ways to do Christmas in right royal style, by A-list party planner Johnny Roxburgh

Johnny Roxburgh, one of Britain's top party planners, shares his tips on the best things to have at your own seasonal celebrations.

Not so jolly old St Nicholas? The dark side of Santa

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 on the way, notes Ian Morton.

Nine things you ought to know if you're having goose for Christmas

If you're looking for a change from turkey for Christmas dinner, goose is the obvious choice – but there are a few things to think about, as Kate Green explains.