It was Christmas once again, and Matilda would need her magical woodland spirit more than ever

With Hallowe’en out of the way, Christmas is the next big ghostly occasion in the UK traditional calendar. But what, one may wonder, of the rest of Europe? Ghost hunter Peter Underwood called Europe “

Wild venison is a sustainable meat that you can now enjoy whatever the season

The best equestrian artists strike a rich chord, touching us on a deeper level than mere aesthetic appeal. Catherine Austen finds out which paintings speak to art-loving riders

Jolly frock-coated robins, majestic geese and arboreal partridges make for both literal and symbolic centrepieces at Christmas, says Matthew Dennison, as he revels in the cultural history of the season’s feathered fowl and game

Celebrated in the loveliest of carols, holly warms hearts anew each winter, but there’s more to the spiky gem than merely Christmas cheer, writes Deborah Nicholls-Lee