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

At Estonia’s festivals and in its island cultures, song, dance and even clothing carry a long tradition of protest, as our writer discovers

Our festive traditions may feel rooted in celebrations of the birth of Christ, but the trees and plants we use for decoration tell a different story

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

Sitting in an American diner in Derbyshire seven years ago, Caroline Thompson had a brainwave. The mum of two had recently retrained as an NHS Talking Therapist, and while she loved her new role, she

Tartan check is indelibly associated with Scotland’s identity, but it took centuries to get there. While not a true tartan, the earliest Scottish check is a simple weave in undyed wool, c250 AD and fo