Cosy Reads for the Festive Season

“The reason I suggest making some of this small meal yourself is because ritual has an anticipatory relevance - we prepare for it, practically and psychologically; that’s part of its benefit.
It’s about making your own raft of time. Your own doorway into Christmas.
You can do this with family and friends, of course, if they’re in the zone. And yes, you could do it while wrapping presents, but it wouldn’t be as powerful.
Ritual isn’t about multitasking. Ritual is time cut out of time. Done right it has profound psychological effects.” - Jeanette Winterson.

These lines are from one of my favourite festive reads, Jeanette Winterson’s ‘Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days’. I couldn’t agree more heartily with her sentiment about the importance of ritual, at all times of year but especially during the festive season.

Reading is one of my favourite seasonal rituals. Growing up, we had the Christmas book box that only ever came out in December and its contents were pure magic. From traditional tales such as a beautifully illustrated edition of ‘The Nutcracker’ to contemporary favourites ‘Maisie’s Christmas’ and ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman’, their charm was all the more profound for being limited to these few, precious weeks of the year. It’s a tradition I’d love to carry on with my own children one day.

Fast forward to my teenage years and I have many fond memories of curling up with books received for Christmas on Boxing Day and those quiet in-between days, and truly losing myself in other worlds in that lull of time. I can’t wait to do that again in a few short weeks…

I put a call out on Instagram recently for my followers’ favourite festive reads, and thought I’d elaborate on a few of my own as the idea was a popular one but often people weren’t sure where to look when it came to seasonal reads for grown-ups! Please do share your own in the Instagram post if you follow me over there.

Fiction:

It’s funny she should speak of ritual as the aforementioned collection, ‘Christmas Stories: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days’ by Jeanette Winterson is an annual reading ritual of mine. I’m always transported by her beautiful writing and this is a gorgeous collection punctuated by recipes as well as short stories. Winterson has written a story each Christmas for years, and this collection brings them all together into a perfect selection for Winter evenings. I particularly love ‘Snowmama’, which you can read online in Toast Magazine.

I recently picked up ‘The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories’ (pictured above) in local lifestyle shop Travelling Basket. I’m a big fan of Penguin’s Clothbound Classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith and yes, I was taken in by the enchanting cover. However, the contents are beautifully considered too: with everything from Hans Christian Andersen to Truman Capote to Dylan Thomas, Jessica Harrison’s edit takes the reader around the world with stories surprising, ominous and magical in equal measure.

Several followers spoke about their love of rereading nostalgic favourites at this time of year and I couldn’t agree more. @lucybrazier reminded me of ‘Little Women’ - the festive chapters always transport me back to simpler times, home and hearth. I’m also looking forward to watching the film again now the most recent iteration is on Netflix. The festive styling is to die for! @pwlldu also suggested ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and, of course, ‘A Christmas Carol’. Other followers spoke of classic wintery tales, Agatha Christie being recommended by @eh_louise and ‘Wuthering Heights’ by @exploringedinburgh.

Non-Fiction:

Nigel Slater is a constant kitchen companion for me, and no more so than during the festive season: ‘The Christmas Chronicles: Notes, Stories and 100 Essential Recipes for Midwinter’ epitomises Nigel’s writing at its most beautiful and evocative - so much more than a cookbook. Recipes stand alongside musings on Christmas past and present. My favourite makes include the focaccia with cranberries and shallots and his spiced chocolate cake (not least because I posted a pic of it on Instagram which he said was beautiful and I nearly died). I highly recommend listening to the podcast of the same name, which has highlights from the book and some bonus recipes. It’s read by Nigel - need I say more?

‘River Cottage Christmas’ is another festive cookbook that’s so much more than your average recipe collection. Like Nigel, it encompasses the entire span of Winter, from the Autumn Equinox all the way through. Lucy Brazier’s stories of seasonal celebrations, edible gifts, handy tips and delectable recipes from River Cottage cannot fail to make you feel festive - and all gorgeously photographed by Charlotte Bland. I might try the Christmas tiffin this weekend, and I also love the emphasis on alcohol-free drinks - the ginger and honey ‘switchel’ has my vote.

‘Advent: Festive German Bakes to Celebrate the Coming of Christmas’ by Anja Dunk was on my Santa list and he delivered early so I could read it over Advent! For me, the festive season is all about the build-up and preparations, and this book perfectly captures the twinkling lights and cosy spices of this time of year. I’m excited to make her lebkuchen - I made these lebkuchen stars a few years ago and Anja’s sound even more delicious! Her book is a thing of beauty too: it’s full of Anja’s own photography and her gorgeous linocut illustrations. A fairytale family heirloom book to pass on.

@sentimentalghosts reminded me of ‘Nigella Christmas’ as well - I love her series at Christmas especially. For other baking classics, I’m a big fan of ‘Great British Bake Off: Christmas’ and of course, Mary Berry’s own ‘Christmas Collection’.

Do you have any more to add to my list? Happy Christmas reading and have a lovely weekend xxx