Can you set up a reminder or search function on Amazon?

I would have mine set for books about living like a French girl, simple living, hygge and… of course… Christmas. Especially Christmas and ways to celebrate it. I’m a sucker for the December editions of all the house and home magazines, cannot resist a programme on TV or radio that promises cookery, craft or simply the story of how and why we celebrate. I (used to) have boxes of decorations, Santas, Nativities and everything necessary to turn a house into a grotto with sparkling lights and more. I’ve scaled back over the years, given some stuff away, charity-shopped or donated others and found a path away from the every-year-fresh, buy-more of consumerist Christmas to a quieter, gentler and more authentically me celebration.

But I still buy the Christmas celebration books that catch my eye, and good ones sit all year on my bookshelves, reminders and bookmarks in place and (sometimes) good ideas, recipes and advice copied out into either my Christmas recipe book, my Christmas homemaker file or my Christmas Commonplace book (a red Leuchtturm dotted notebook).

When I saw Christmas is Coming, especially with its subtitle of ‘A Treasury of Simple Ways to Celebrate Festive Days’, I downloaded a copy straight away. It’s so good, though, I think I’m asking for a hardback version as one of my Christmas treats this year.

Auriol Bishop started compiling the book during Covid lockdowns, when she felt adrift and cut off from “all those rituals — large and small — that give rhythm and meaning to our lives.” To ground herself, she started an almanac, a kind of commonplace book, and discovered through that that “what I’ve learned most of all is that we might sing different tunes and make different treats and dance different moves, but all of us express our joy, our hope, our love, through singing, sharing good food and dancing”.

The book is separated into seven sections: September, October, November, December, Advent, Christmas and 12 Days. For the most part, the first four months have similar structures. Each month focuses on an area of preparation, whether that’s gathering kit, planning parties or organising cooking in advance, plus a list of the special days for that month, first those constant by date and then the moveable feasts of moon festivals.

Auriol calls the book ‘part almanac, part anthology, part guide’ and I’d agree with her that there is a good blend of facts, excerpts of poetry and prose and downright sensible advice enough to fulfil her description.

Her September advice, on collecting the kits you need for December, is sensible, short yet comprehensive. She lists Advent kits, Bedding Kits (for guests), Cleaning Kits, Cooking kits and other ideas for practical stuff that you may know you need but that are too easily overlooked in the rush to celebrate. Likewise, October’s cooking advice is not (as could have been) packed with recipes but rather takes a cool-minded look at finding space, making lists, storage of goodies and organising recipes. She’s not flowery, but totally readable.

The festivals of each month are, as she admits, gleaned from the world wide web, not personal experience, and range from Christian holy days to Buddhist festivals, Days of remembrance free from religious affiliation and phases of the moon. Some of them I’d heard of before, but the jewels in a book like this can be the new-to-you thoughts like the Orthodox wreath, seven candles for seven Sundays and each a different colour and symbolism. Good traditions carry meaning and significance, and it is good to get ideas for establishing your own traditions if you have none/have decided not to follow those of your past.

Once December hits, the book functions rather more like an Advent Calendar with an entry a day and an idea each day that may be an action, a snippet of poetry or prose or information on a feast that day. Santa Lucia is celebrated on her day with candles and saffron buns, while Walt Disney’s birthday is marked with popcorn and a movie night.

The activities also go right through Christmas (the Day itself mercifully quiet on things to do) and on to 7th January and the end of the twelve days. I thoroughly approve of pushing the celebration of Christmas out from *just*one*day* to the full season, so this makes me happy.

The whole book has a very contemplative vibe: there are no mad exhortations to go out and get, or to race out and do. It’s a book very in the vein of winter hibernation: a withdrawal from hectic hurry and a crafting of time and space to think, feel and experience rather than make, assemble and amass. As Auriol writes,

How different it might be if, instead of a rollercoaster ride of social pressure and obligations, we could find a way to have a gentler build up to the Bog Day with some time for hibernating and restoring as well as bright lights and parties.

Auriol Bishop, Christmas is Coming.

With a good section at the back for webpages and books that she recommends, Auriol’s book is one I’ve enjoyed reading and will enjoy re-reading as part of my Christmas Preparation books, those recipe or non-fiction books that help get me in the mood or encourage me to slow down and enjoy rather than race and do. Another encouragement to live Christmas mindfully and intentionally, appreciate rather than anticipate and race ahead. I’d recommend it, especially if you want a book that straddles anthology and advice.

You can find Auriol herself on Instagram and at her website, Auriol Bishop.

How to Hygge the British Way is my gift to the world. I don’t get paid for writing it, I’m not in it for the kudos, financial rewards, to become an influencer, work with brands or otherwise make any money from the blog. That’s why there are no ads, and any products I mention and recommend have either been gifted to me or bought by me with my everyday wages or donations from supporters. Every book I review has been bought and read by me, unless stated otherwise.

I do get a couple of pennies each time someone buys from the Amazon links on my page, as an Amazon Affiliate, but otherwise if you’d like to support me, I like to give something back in return. That’s why I write books. It always feels good if you get a book back in return for some money. You can find a full list of my books at my Author’s Page on Amazon, but especially recommended for this time of year are:

Cosy Happy Hygge: Setting up a rhythm to life and rituals to enjoy it to make for a more balanced life that handles waves and storms better. Lent is a season of rituals and resets. The book has small and easy ways to make your life flow with grace and happiness, which lead to more hygge.

Happier: Probably my most personal book, it’s the story of how I used hygge and the little things in life to help boost my happiness. I still go back and reread to remind myself what I need to do to be a happy human. And it’s always the little things.

Is it too early to think ahead? My Christmas books are always available: Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas is a good place to start, on how to make the season cosier, happier. Celebrating a Contagious Christmas was written during covid year, but has useful advice on celebrating when times are hard anyway and Enjoying a Self-Care Christmas is a short e-book on keeping Christmas simpler, easier and better for you, your waistline and your budget. It even includes 25+ suggestions for self-care activities over Christmas, as simple as sipping tea, keeping a list journal or lighting a candle. Bigger is not always better for Christmas.

I’m currently working on two book projects: I have a hankering to rewrite 50 Ways to Hygge the British Way, so it’s not available at the moment, but even dearer to my heart and my next stated aim is to finish and publish my next book, Simple Plus Cosy = Hygge. It will be about homemaking and how the home we create shapes the hygge we have. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of summer/autumn/winter.

If you’d like to support me, but don’t want to buy a book, I have a Paypal.Me account as Hygge Jem. Every little helps, so even a few pence goes towards the books, goods and courses I use and recommend on the site. I’m grateful for every little bit that brings me closer to my dream of full-time writing, and I know I couldn’t still be writing if it weren’t for the support of many readers and friends out there. Thank you all for every little bit of support, emotional, physical and financial, you give me.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it or save it so others can enjoy reading, thinking about and living hygge as well.

The photo between post and promotions is a photo I took in Amsterdam. Every day at about 4pm we stopped sightseeing and found a Brown Bar, small pubs in the city that sell a wider range of beer than we see in most bars here. A small beer each, a view through the window or just people watching. It was a real chance to slow down. My only issue now is how to capture that feeling without the beer in this country. Coffee? Afternoon tea? Home or coffee shop? I’ll find a way.