Innholdsfortegnelse for Simply Christmas 2024 i Simply Christmas

Some of us revel in coming up with a fresh festive scheme for our homes each year, while others amongst us may prefer just a few choice additions to a tried-and-tested look we love. Whichever camp you’re in, there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to fabulous festive styling. In this section, we look to real homes in Scandinavia for inspiration – from rustic to traditional styles – plus we also explore this season’s style trends from botanical to nostalgic, with plenty of shimmer and shine along the way. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!…

LOOKING SHARP With appeal for kids and adults alike, this cactus Bobball is a cute and cuddly seasonal treat. £5.99, dobbies.com STARRY NIGHTS Choose from a huge range of colours and patterns to find the perfect light-up star. From £16.95, paperstarlights.com FEELING FRUITY An Arts & Crafts-inspired fruit decoration is the perfect way to elevate your tree this year. £6.50 each, vam.ac.uk/shop JUNGLE BELLS Who needs a Christmas tree? Festoon houseplants with baubles and lights for an innovative alternative. From £1.49, dobbies.com FESTIVE FLORALS The Bright & Bold dried flower wreath will make your door stand out from the crowd. £110, Florence and Flowers at noths.com HAVING A BALL Planet-friendly paper ball decorations add instant vibrant impact and come in every size. From £7.50 (set of six), theconscious.co.uk CRYSTAL CLEAR…

Beneath the sparkle and fuzzy feelings, it goes without saying that Christmas can be an overwhelming time of year. There’s the gifts to buy, the mouths to feed, and that’s without even mentioning the social events requiring you to be here, there and everywhere. If you’re high on aspiration but low on time, funds or energy, we’ve rounded up our top tips for festive success. From gifting and decorating without breaking the bank to cooking and wrapping without breaking a sweat, we’ve left no bauble unturned. We all have our own traditions, so pick which hacks work best for you and your loved ones, and feel your Christmas get just that little bit easier! FOOD... 1 Timely reminders You may have your roast dinner routine down, but with all the…

Getting through your list of preparations for the looming festive season can sometimes feel like a chore, which is why combining a short break with a Christmas market trip is such an attractive prospect – especially when you throw some local gastronomy into the mix. A winter city break also gives you the chance to discover a place in a completely different way, wrapping up warm and ducking into cosy cafés as you go. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best Christmas markets to visit in the UK and beyond – each of them offering unusual and original gifts while providing a snapshot of how the festive season is celebrated elsewhere. Every city has its own traditions and character and so we’ve given suggestions for a dash of culture,…

From wreaths to stair garlands and centrepieces – and the all-important tree – it’s the time of year that many of us see the most ‘living’ decoration in our homes, and knowing how to keep your greenery looking tip top for as long as possible is key to a beautiful festive season. Jonathan Thorneycroft, Creative Strategist at Blooming Haus, has the following tips: A BIT OF FRESH AIR For maximal survival of your natural Christmas wreaths, hanging them in an outdoor environment will make them last longer. The cooler temperatures at this time of year will preserve the freshness of natural materials for longer. AVOID THE HEAT If inside is your only option, keep your displays away from warm radiators, fireplaces and under-floor heating. WATER! Gently mist your wreath base…

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Whether you’re someone who wishes it could be Christmas every day, or a few magical weeks in December are enough for you, all the yuletide expectations can be a challenge for anyone. At Simply Christmas, we clearly love the festive season but importantly, we also know that no two celebrations are the same. Each family has their own special traditions and that’s what makes the holidays so magical. However you choose to spend the most wonderful time of the year, can we share one piece of advice? Whether you’re hosting guests or simply having a quiet one this year, your Christmas will be so much more joyful if you allow enough time to really enjoy the process. We’ve filled your favourite festive magazine with ideas and inspiration to take some…

1 Exeter 15th November – 15th December Medieval Exeter Cathedral is the backdrop of this fairy-lit market; listen to lovely choral concerts while you browse the stalls for West Country produce, mulled cider in hand. You can stroll along the River Exe and down into the town before the smell of popping chestnuts lures you in. exeter-cathedral.org.uk 2 Winchester 22nd November – 22nd December Held in the 900-year-old cathedral quarter, this market is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, and is supported by 118 traders selling their wares from pretty wooden chalets decorated with garlands and glistening lights. Stretch your legs along Keat’s Walk and finish at the market with a mulled cider. winchester-cathedral.org.uk 3 Liverpool 16th November – 24th December Liverpool’s markets feature a wide range of local goods…

Looking to go with a more eco-friendly décor theme this Christmas? A handmade wreath is the simplest place to start. Take a stroll on a crisp winter’s day to collect a selection of rich green foliage and bright red berries, then use them to craft a wreath that’s not only compostable, but can be hung on your front door. Sorry pom poms – this year it’s nature’s time to shine. For the base, willow, hazel and beech branches all work well as they’re nice and flexible and will easily bend into a circle. You could even add in some dried flowers, stems or foliage that you’ve kept from the summer to add a pretty floral twist. MATERIALS • Jute twine• Foraged sticks (we used beech)• Grasses• Eucalyptus• Berries• Glycerine• Water…

EASY GREETINGS Simple, 2D Christmas decs look great on the front of a plain card and your recipient can keep it to hang next season. Felt or origami styles work well, either make your own with online tutorials or buy from craft markets. SUGAR RUSH Keep your eye out at charity shops or flea markets throughout the year and collect a small stash of vintage jelly moulds or retro tins to fill with sweets and finish with a ribbon. STAR BAKER When you’re doing your weekly shop, look out for elegantly shaped jam jars to fill with homemade goods, such as meringue kisses, dried apple rings or fudge. Print out decorative labels or practice fancy lettering with chalk pens. PICKLED PINK Handsomely shaped olive or fruit jars and bottles are…

MAGAZINES A gift subscription makes the perfect Christmas present. There’s a magazine for everyone with our exclusive Christmas offer. Visit www.ourmediashop.com/X23SIMCH to save up to 55%. Treat yourself or a loved to a gift that delivers all year long! See page 37…

German - style sausage roll Classic flavours of mustard and bratwurst, wrapped in puff pastry from Yotam Ottolenghi SERVES 6 PREP 30 mins COOK 35 mins ¼tsp each white andblack peppercorns1tsp coriander seeds2tsp caraway seeds1¼tsp dried marjoram¾tsp ground ginger1tsp ground mace (or nutmeg)½tsp English mustard powder50g salted pretzels, crushed60ml milk1 egg, beaten1tbsp olive oil 30g unsalted butter2 onions, chopped2tsp dark soft brown sugar350g pork sausage meat15g chives, finely chopped1 pack of rolled puff pastryFlour (for dusting)Salt DIPPING SAUCE 3tbsp yellow mustard1½tbsp mayonnaise1tbsp runny honey15g chives, finely chopped 1 Put the peppercorns, coriander seeds and 1 tsp of the caraway seeds into a pan and place on a medium-high heat. Cook for 1 min, until fragrant, then transfer to a spice grinder. Blitz to form a semi-fine powder, then add the…

WIN! DIARY AND COOKBOOK BUNDLE TEN READERS WILL GET THEIR HANDS ON THE CLASSIC DIARY DIARY FOR 2025 PLUS STATIONERY AND BOOKS FROM DAIRYDIARY.CO.UK You can win one of 10 fantastic Dairy Diary Set & Retro Classics Cookbook bundles worth £22.25 each! Including the much-loved Dairy Diary – a bestseller for over 40 years, this beautiful diary features a delicious recipe every week, plus reminders, planners, stickers and much more. As well as this stunning diary, there’s a pretty Pocket Diary and Notebook with pens, perfect for your handbag, plus the cookbook Retro Classics. This wonderfully nostalgic book is crammed with favourite recipes, infused with memories, to treasure and share. Find out more about these fantastic products at dairydiary.co.uk. HOW TO ENTER Head online to gathered.how/simplychristmas for a link to…

Bringing the whole family together is one of the most wonderful things about Christmas, especially if there are wide-eyed, wonder-filled children in your clan. Creating memories is what this time of year is all about and in this section, we have lots of ideas for magical things to do and new seasonal traditions to start with your loved ones. It wouldn’t be Christmas without silly games and we have a boardgame special to inspire your gatherings this year, as well as a checklist of winter birds to spot on leg-stretching walks, stately homes and Christmas markets to visit.…

How do you say there are things you don’t love about Christmas without coming across as the proverbial Grinch? We all know the festive season, from Thanksgiving though to New Year, has its challenges, especially if time or money is short or family circumstances are tough. So what steps can we take to lift some of the burdens? Here we’ve highlighted some common dilemmas and helpful solutions. Why not take some time out too to talk to trusted friends about their ideas to bring back that Christmas calm? Our family is growing and we don’t have the budget to buy for all my nieces and nephews. What can I do to avoid spending too much? Whether you’re feeling the pinch or you are aware that others are, it is possible…

After a year overshadowed by health concerns for Charles, Kate and Sarah Ferguson, the royals will be looking forward to gathering at Sandringham for an extra-special Christmas. Away from prying eyes, they can make cherished memories with loved ones, while taking stock of a momentous 12 months which saw the King, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York each announce they were undergoing treatment for cancer. From opening presents on Christmas Eve, to the giving of comedy gifts and many other ways the royals get into the holiday spirit, Charles has been keen to keep the family’s festive traditions alive at their beloved private home in Norfolk. It’s a treasured and magical time, especially with so many young royal cousins running around. This year, the third with Charles…

Longleat Estate, Wiltshire 9 NOVEMBER 2024 –5 JANUARY 2025 Longleat House is a masterpiece of Elizabethan architecture with landscaped gardens and the famous adjoining Safari Park. The Festival of Light is one of the highlights of the calendar and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the lantern event. The team are celebrating with a ‘Journey Through Time’ and it’s set to be absolutely spectacular. Catch the house light show and Santa train, too. longleat.co.uk/the-festival-of-light Castle Howard, Yorkshire 15 NOVEMBER 2024 – 5 JANUARY 2025 Castle Howard is hosting ‘Alice’s Christmas Wonderland’ this season, where she invites you to follow the White Rabbit through the grand halls and regal rooms to reveal festive surprises. Complete your experience with a Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea and toast giant marshmallows by the Christmas…

Do the luxe calendar trend the handmade way this year with these hidden treasure baubles – they’re a fun project for adults and kids alike. Decorated using four different paint effects and fancy gold leaf numbers, you can hang them up individually or thread them together, intertwined with sprigs of foliage, to create a statement garland. Do as we’ve done and create your own Christmas tree shape on a bare wall for the ultimate show-stopper. MATERIALS • 24 clear hanging fillable baubles in various sizes (ours were from www.hobbycraft.co.uk)• Multi-surface satin acrylic paint in blue, mint, dark pink and light pink (we used Americana DecoArt in Cobalt, Soft Jade, Pink Tropics and Pink Cadillac)• Paint brush• Soft paint brush• Washi tape• Two double-sided adhesive sheets• Grosgrain ribbon in blue, mint,…

Stockings are a Christmas must-have, hanging prettily on your mantelpiece ready to be filled with gifts and treats. The classic look of this design means you’ll be able to enjoy it year after year. We’ve made ours in hessian fabric for rustic charm, and kept it simple with an appliqué initial, but you could also jazz it up with pom poms, ric rac, tassels, bells or other festive appliqué shapes. Either way, you’ll be glad that it’s so easy and quick to make, as all the family will want one! MATERIALS • 1 metre of hessian fabric, for the outer layer• 1.5 metres of green cotton fabric, for the lining and appliqué• 50cm of Bondaweb• Newspaper or card, for the stocking pattern• Letter template• Matching thread• Sewing needle• Knitting needle…

People say it’s considered good luck to eat a mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas. It’s even more lucky, if they are from 12 different homes! In Japan, families enjoy KFC for their festive meal after a 1974 campaign by the fast-food chain sparked a tradition. Orders are put in months in advance. Tom Hanks played seven characters in The Polar Express: The Conductor, Santa, The Hero Boy, The Hero Boy’s Dad, The Ebenezer Scrooge Puppet, The Ghost on the Train, and The Narrator. Jingle Bells was the first Christmas song ever played in space back in 1965. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in 1939 when US department store, Montgomery Ward, created a Christmas story in a booklet they could give away to shoppers as…

Pasta al forno Use any pasta shape you like for this vegan dish – though the most traditional is rigatoni SERVES 3 PREP 20 min COOK 60 min 250g pasta150g frozen peas100g plant-based mozzarella40g grated plant-based Parmesan3tbsp plant-based single cream60g breadcrumbs2 shallots or 1 white onion1 medium carrot 2 cloves of garlic1 stalk of celery2tbsp olive oil220g plant-based mince2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes1tbsp salt¼tsp chilli flakes1tbsp sugar20g fresh or frozen basil¼tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. Blend the onion, carrot, garlic and celery and fry in 2 tbsp of olive oil on a medium heat for 5 mins. Add the mince and brown for 5 minutes, making sure to break it up into small chunks if needed. 2 Blend the tomatoes and add to…

Manon’s chocolate & pear gâteau A moist and totally moreish cake that you can enjoy warm or cold – just the thing for cooler months and the festive season SERVES 6 PREP 25 min COOK 45 min 240g plain flour220g caster sugar1tsp baking powder1 pinch of salt80g salted butter, diced240ml whole milk2 large eggs1tsp vanilla paste100g dark chocolate, chopped4 pears, peeled and cored, then 2 diced and 2 sliced 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C fan (200°C/400°F/Gas 6) and grease and line a 20cm (8in) cake tin. In a mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, pinch of salt and the diced butter. Use your hands to crumble the butter into the rest of the dried ingredients until you get a fine crumbled texture. (You could also use a…