As winter approaches and the hours of darkness overtake the light, we seek warmth, good food, and good company. However, beneath the joy and bright magic of the festive season lies a darker mood - a mood that has been expressed through a series of strange and eerie traditions and legends over time.

Sarah Clegg takes us on a journey through midwinter, exploring the lesser-known Christmas traditions, from English mummers plays and Austrian Krampus runs, to modern pagan ceremonies at Stonehenge and the night in Finland when a young girl is crowned with candles as Saint Lucia - a martyred Christian girl who also appears as a witch leading a procession of the dead.

In the wassails, balls, and winter gatherings, attended by terrifyingly grinning horses, ghosts, and mysterious visitors, we discover how these traditions originated and how they have changed over the centuries, and we wonder: if we cannot keep the darkness completely at bay, might it be fun to let a little in?

Pages: 208, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm