A delightful history of how Christmas has been celebrated in Britain over the past 2,000 years. From the legend of Arthur pulling the sword from the stone one Christmas day, to when the Puritan Parliament tried to 'ban' Christmas, through to Charles Dickens's vivid recollections of his boyhood celebrations, and his delight in the present of a jumping frog. Amongst the wealth of stories and personal reminiscences this book also teaches us how the traditions we now hold so dear came into being, including Mrs Beeton's recipe for the original Christmas cake (made with a horn of mead), the birth of Christmas carolling, the first ever Christmas tree to be brought to England from Germany by Prince Albert and the origins of the Christmas cracker. This is simply the perfect book with which to celebrate Christmas and all the traditions that surround it.

WATERSTONES' BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2023: PUZZLES AND HUMOUR The perfect quiz book to get you in the Christmassy mood, to play at the office Christmas lunch or to pop into a stocking. Q1: In Britain, it's estimated that 800 million of what traditional Christmas treat are eaten each year?* Q2: Which actor gives the voiceover at the beginning of Love Actually?* Q3: True or False: Queen Elizabeth II wore a Santa hat for her 1996 Christmas Day televised speech.* We Brits can't get enough of a quiz - and never has this been more true at Christmastime. So if you're stumped for office party small talk, trying to make it through Christmas dinner with the in-laws, or simply a quiz connoisseur after puzzles with some festive flair, you can't go wrong with the VERY BRITISH PROBLEMS CHRISTMAS QUIZ BOOK. Inside you'll find all sorts of tickly teasers, complex conundrums, worrisome word searches and much more on topics ranging from nostalgic Christmas adverts and beloved TV specials to toys through the ages and everyone's favourite holiday snacks. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a mince pie. *Answers: Buy the book and find out!

‘Funny, touching and ludicrously British.’ India Knight‘Makes Christmas slightly less awful’ Al Murray

To celebrate the beginning of 1800, Queen Charlotte invites 100 children to Windsor Castle, where England's first Christmas tree, laden with gifts, is the centerpiece. Includes biographical information about Queen Charlotte and a timeline.

The ultimate Bake Off Christmas collection with all of Paul Hollywood’s and Mary Berry’s Christmas masterclass recipes. Also includes new bakes from all four winners, Edd Kimber, Jo Wheatley, John Whaite and Frances Quinn, plus other wonderful Bake Off contestants. Whip up tempting Christmas nibbles like Potato Blinis with Smoked Salmon, or Parmesan Palmiers, perfect for a party. Spice up your home – and get the kids involved too – with Stained Glass Tree Biscuits and a Raspberry and Cinnamon Christmas Wreath. For the main event, there is plenty of inspiration for tempting party nibbles or a festive feast, like Baked Christmas Ham or a Venison Pie – and ingenious ideas for how to make the most of all those leftovers. Each chapter also includes spectacular recipes from Bake Off contestants, and Mary and Paul reveal the secrets to those classic Christmas dishes – whether it’s Paul’s perfect mince pies or Mary’s ultimate Christmas pudding. Packed with everything from edible decorations and delicious gifts to party dishes and showstopping centrepieces, this book is the perfect Christmas companion.

From the author of Love, Nina -- a hilarious ode to the joys and insanities of the most wonderful time of the year. Every family has its Christmas traditions and memories, and Nina Stibbe's is no exception. From her kitchen-phobic mother's annual obsession with roasting the perfect turkey (an elusive dream to this day) to the quest for a perfect teacher gift (memorable for all the wrong reasons); from the tragic Christmas tree ("is it meant to look like that?") to the acceptable formula for thank-you letters (must include Health Inquiry and Interesting Comment), Nina Stibbe captures all that is magical and maddening about the holidays.