Be inspired by the time-honoured traditions of this month’s contributors bringing you biryani from Sri Lanka, doughnuts from Italy, and more

D inah was not a Christmas cook. Her ...

→ When the Tudor poet Thomas Tusser wrote of “Turkey wel drest” as part of a Christmas feast in 1573, he was in fact taking part in a trend new to these shores. Turkeys, those red-necked birds who gob

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

Our columnist fondly recalls her childhood Christmases – apart from the time the milk ran out!

The days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve lend themselves to casual get-togethers centred around sharing plates – plus a showstopping treat or two