The search for the mythical relic unites the two strongest currents of European spirituality: Christianity and the legends of Arthur and his knights

Christmas stamps, as featured on this year’s COUNTRY LIFE Advent calendar cover, are a cherished annual event– but how did they become one? Emma Hughes investigates

Warm, spicy and special, gingerbread is a favourite festive treat. Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet The Nutcracker features an army of gingerbread men. And gingerbread houses, which originated i

Growing up in India, we never let religion get in the way of a good party with outstanding food. My Hindu parents happily embraced Eid with family friends and partied until dawn on Christmas Eve. That

We eat around 2pm, starting with foie gras and sweet Monbazillac wine – a throwback to when we lived in Paris. Then, we move to the Sri Lankan part: biryani, chocolate biscuit pudding, before Sri Lank

Held in high esteem and lavished with furs, velvet and precious stones, young male choristers-turned-bishops were all the rage at Christmas in the Middle Ages, says Matthew Dennison