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A Christmas Cornucopia
For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ." Nor do we know that Christmas was first celebrated in 243 AD on March 28—and only moved to December 25 in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of Christmas crackers was merely a way of popularizing sweet wrappers. Luckily, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense—in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way.
172 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2016
66 people are currently reading
1348 people want to read
About the author
Mark Forsyth
21 books909 followersMark Forsyth is a writer, journalist and blogger. Every job he’s ever had, whether as a ghost-writer or proof-reader or copy-writer, has been to do with words. He started The Inky Fool blog in 2009 and now writes a post almost every day. The blog has received worldwide attention and enjoys an average of 4,000 hits per week.
Mr. Forsyth currently resides in London.
Mr. Forsyth currently resides in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
January 16, 2023
Traki laba un saturs pilnībā atbilst virsrakstam. Visa grāmata ir viena vienīga Ziemassvētku faktu pārpilnība. Visi šie fakti ir ne vien smuki sasistematizēti, bet arī saistoši izklāstīti. Šis, saprotama, lieta nav nekāds zinātniskais pētījums, kur pratinātas neskaitāmas folkloristu dzimtas. Te vairāk ir tāds literatūras apkopojums un pagrābts viss autoraprāt interesantākais. Intereses var nesakrist, bet man sakrita.
Vienīgais negatīvais vairāk ir mana paraša smadzeņu kapacitātes ierobežotība, kas rada nožēlu pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas - ar laiku es to visu aizmirsīšu. Bet kamēr vēl mana aizmirstība nebūs iestājusies pilnībā, apsolos nodot uzzināto tālāk.
Vienīgais negatīvais vairāk ir mana paraša smadzeņu kapacitātes ierobežotība, kas rada nožēlu pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas - ar laiku es to visu aizmirsīšu. Bet kamēr vēl mana aizmirstība nebūs iestājusies pilnībā, apsolos nodot uzzināto tālāk.
February 23, 2023
Izglītojoši, interesanti, Ziemassvētku sajūtu radoši. Interesantas tās pārliecības cilvēkiem par tradīciju rašanās vēsturi: pie visa vainīgi pagāni... NOT!
Un laikam būs jāpiekrīt, ka "visīstākie" Ziemassvētki mums katram ir tie mūšu pašu bērnības svētki.
Un laikam būs jāpiekrīt, ka "visīstākie" Ziemassvētki mums katram ir tie mūšu pašu bērnības svētki.
April 14, 2023
Burvīga un izglītojoša grāmata par to, kā cilvēki ir izdomājuši Ziemassvētkus un tos pavadošo dažbrīd mulsinošo komerciālo kņadu. Īpaši piemērota lasīšanai šo svētku laikā.
January 2, 2017
"(..) for all of us, the perfect Christmas is the one of our childhood that will not come again. An annual feast will always have something missing: the empty chair at the Christmas table where somebody used to sit, who is now missing. And one day, I suppose, I shall be missing too, and you, dear reader, will be missing. And the feast will continue.
For children, Christmas is everything they might be given, for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost. This is a truth that was as clear to Charles Dickens as it was to George Michael."
Pāri visiem smieklīgajiem faktiem un centieniem saprast laika rata tradīciju malumu - sirds.
For children, Christmas is everything they might be given, for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost. This is a truth that was as clear to Charles Dickens as it was to George Michael."
Pāri visiem smieklīgajiem faktiem un centieniem saprast laika rata tradīciju malumu - sirds.
December 8, 2016
A Christmas Cornucopia by Mark Forsyth was published in hardback and ebook by Viking on 10 November 2016, priced £9.99
‘Picture a man sitting beside a dead tree. He is indoors and wearing a crown.
From the ceiling hangs a parasitical shrub that legitimates sexual assault.
Earlier, he told his children that the house had been broken into during the night by an obese Turkish man.
That was a lie, but he wanted to make his children happy’
I absolutely love books like A Christmas Cornucopia, not only is it beautifully presented as a small hardback with an exquisite cover, it is jam packed with witty and fascinating facts and stories about Christmas. This really would make the perfect stocking-filler, I've already bought two copies!
Mark Forsyth doesn't just churn out the stories that he has discovered, his writing is an absolute delight. From the biography of Santa Claus to why is it 25th December? He is hilarious, and does actually make the reader realise just how crazy some of our Christmas traditions really are.
Who knew that Advent Calendars were invented by a German housewife who was fed up to the back teeth of hearing her children whinge during the run up to Christmas.
Amongst other Christmas nuggets, you will learn:
* A ‘true’ Christmas tree should feature a snake as decoration (it’s actually a reference to Adam and Eve)
* Good King Wenceslas was in fact Duke Vaclav of Bohemia, a man so at war with his mother that he exiled her
* A truly traditional Christmas Day includes ‘wassailing’ i.e. knocking on your neighbours’ doors with a large bucket and demanding that they fill it with booze
A fascinating and interesting collection of little known facts about one of our biggest traditions. Quiz players will love this book.
A real treasure of a book!
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
‘Picture a man sitting beside a dead tree. He is indoors and wearing a crown.
From the ceiling hangs a parasitical shrub that legitimates sexual assault.
Earlier, he told his children that the house had been broken into during the night by an obese Turkish man.
That was a lie, but he wanted to make his children happy’
I absolutely love books like A Christmas Cornucopia, not only is it beautifully presented as a small hardback with an exquisite cover, it is jam packed with witty and fascinating facts and stories about Christmas. This really would make the perfect stocking-filler, I've already bought two copies!
Mark Forsyth doesn't just churn out the stories that he has discovered, his writing is an absolute delight. From the biography of Santa Claus to why is it 25th December? He is hilarious, and does actually make the reader realise just how crazy some of our Christmas traditions really are.
Who knew that Advent Calendars were invented by a German housewife who was fed up to the back teeth of hearing her children whinge during the run up to Christmas.
Amongst other Christmas nuggets, you will learn:
* A ‘true’ Christmas tree should feature a snake as decoration (it’s actually a reference to Adam and Eve)
* Good King Wenceslas was in fact Duke Vaclav of Bohemia, a man so at war with his mother that he exiled her
* A truly traditional Christmas Day includes ‘wassailing’ i.e. knocking on your neighbours’ doors with a large bucket and demanding that they fill it with booze
A fascinating and interesting collection of little known facts about one of our biggest traditions. Quiz players will love this book.
A real treasure of a book!
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
December 2, 2023
So basically, everything we thought we knew about the origins of Christmas is wrong! Packed with little nuggets of information delivered in a humorous way, this book is a great early December read. Was Good King Wenceslas based on a real person? Who invented Christmas cards (& why)? Which Christmas carol was actually written for a different holiday altogether? Find out all this & more.
January 11, 2021
Okay. Now is the last of my holiday reading. This was short and way more informative than I expected! Forsyth teaches about the roots of various christmas practices and traditions, much of which I have never heard before. The chapter on the history of Santa Clause is particularly interesting - to find out how arbitrary some of the classic tropes are was definitely surprising!
December 28, 2023
A fun and enjoyable read explaining thinking associated with Christmas. The biblical details are most interesting how really nothing is mentioned with regards this being the birth of Jesus. None of the books touching on it except for two which differ between a poor mans nativity (shepherds) and rich mans (three magi) and neither have complementary details.
Very interesting and even the things we take for granted like Santa's reindeers and theyre named, just made up one year and stuck. Similarly the 12 days of Christmas song, maybe about birds and a 5 bird roast (5 gold rings = pheasants).
I think this is my last Christmas themed read for this year, though An Italian Christmas does tempt me!
Original Review
A very fun, enjoyable and interesting book on Christmas traditions from the Christmas Tree, Santa, Boxing Day and all the fuss and nonsense in between.
A quick and easy read, full of fun and interesting tidbits. I'm both sad and glad that some traditions have come and gone.
I can see this book being an annual festive read and is a good basis to read more on the subject if inclined.
Very interesting and even the things we take for granted like Santa's reindeers and theyre named, just made up one year and stuck. Similarly the 12 days of Christmas song, maybe about birds and a 5 bird roast (5 gold rings = pheasants).
I think this is my last Christmas themed read for this year, though An Italian Christmas does tempt me!
Original Review
A very fun, enjoyable and interesting book on Christmas traditions from the Christmas Tree, Santa, Boxing Day and all the fuss and nonsense in between.
A quick and easy read, full of fun and interesting tidbits. I'm both sad and glad that some traditions have come and gone.
I can see this book being an annual festive read and is a good basis to read more on the subject if inclined.
December 23, 2016
A Christmas must-read!
Visvairāk man šī grāmata patīk tādēļ, ka autoram ir izdevies pārvērst absurdu kaudzi informācijas, kas uzkrāta 2000 gadu garumā, par izklaidējošu un uzjautrinošu grāmatu, kas ironizē par dažādiem ar Ziemassvētkiem saistītiem mītiem un tradīcijām. Sākot ar to, kad tad īsti ir Jēzus dzimene, kāpēc tieši eglīte un ko patiesībā nozīmē "Advente", līdz Ziemassvētku dziesmām, kas lielākoties tapušas ne gluži ar tādu mērķi, ziemeļbriedi Rūdolfu, kura dzimums ir apstrīdams, un visām pārējām ar šiem svētkiem saistītajām lietām, piemēram, Santaklausu un visu viņa garo vēsturi, 12 putniem, sabāztiem citcitā un izceptiem, un citiem labumiem.
Izcila grāmata, ko palasīt svētku sezonā, lai apsmaidītu sevi. Lieku 5 no 5 un piedodu, ka pēdējā nodaļa mazāk izdevusies, jo pārējais ir lieliski! PZ!
Visvairāk man šī grāmata patīk tādēļ, ka autoram ir izdevies pārvērst absurdu kaudzi informācijas, kas uzkrāta 2000 gadu garumā, par izklaidējošu un uzjautrinošu grāmatu, kas ironizē par dažādiem ar Ziemassvētkiem saistītiem mītiem un tradīcijām. Sākot ar to, kad tad īsti ir Jēzus dzimene, kāpēc tieši eglīte un ko patiesībā nozīmē "Advente", līdz Ziemassvētku dziesmām, kas lielākoties tapušas ne gluži ar tādu mērķi, ziemeļbriedi Rūdolfu, kura dzimums ir apstrīdams, un visām pārējām ar šiem svētkiem saistītajām lietām, piemēram, Santaklausu un visu viņa garo vēsturi, 12 putniem, sabāztiem citcitā un izceptiem, un citiem labumiem.
Izcila grāmata, ko palasīt svētku sezonā, lai apsmaidītu sevi. Lieku 5 no 5 un piedodu, ka pēdējā nodaļa mazāk izdevusies, jo pārējais ir lieliski! PZ!
November 29, 2025
I was expecting this short collection to be scholarly and perhaps dense. Instead, this brief foray into the origins of (English) Christmas traditions was uproariously funny, gloriously entertaining and well-researched in an approachable way. Even the index was comical! There was also a great deal of wisdom within and plenty of scholarship that wasn’t narcissistic. This collection is an absolute necessity for learning about the origins of many of our Christmas traditions; I can’t recommend it enough.
December 5, 2025
very interesting, but the writing style just didn't do it for me :((
February 5, 2017
Christmas is a funny old time of year, where we do some odd things and no one really knows why. Never fear, Mark Forsyth is here to explain some of our festive traditions, where they came from and why Christmas carols rarely make sense.
If you love etymology (that’s the origins of words) then you really must read Mark’s books. If not, well, A Christmas Cornucopia will still arm you with plenty of festive facts to arm yourself with for even the most challenging Christmas gathering. Does everyone believe modern Santa was created by Coca-Cola? Well I’ll admit I thought that too, but you can whip this book out and explain why Santa is a result of anti-British sentiment in America despite the Puritans over there repeatedly trying to ban Christmas.
You’ll also find out why your Christmas tree should have a snake in it (I’m working on that for next year), how the Twelve Days of Christmas is inspired by a recipe and that robins are only bold birds in Britain. I had forever thought that Christmas Day was put where it was because of the winter solstice and pagan celebrations, but turns out some madman known as The Computist spent a very long time working it out with maths. He even wrote a very boring and hard to follow book about it.
Even the index entries are a tad amusing. Jealousy towards British balls, Crackers – what the Computist was and in-laws – strangulation of. If you’re looking for a festive read but don’t really want anything too schmaltzy, this is the book for you.
If you love etymology (that’s the origins of words) then you really must read Mark’s books. If not, well, A Christmas Cornucopia will still arm you with plenty of festive facts to arm yourself with for even the most challenging Christmas gathering. Does everyone believe modern Santa was created by Coca-Cola? Well I’ll admit I thought that too, but you can whip this book out and explain why Santa is a result of anti-British sentiment in America despite the Puritans over there repeatedly trying to ban Christmas.
You’ll also find out why your Christmas tree should have a snake in it (I’m working on that for next year), how the Twelve Days of Christmas is inspired by a recipe and that robins are only bold birds in Britain. I had forever thought that Christmas Day was put where it was because of the winter solstice and pagan celebrations, but turns out some madman known as The Computist spent a very long time working it out with maths. He even wrote a very boring and hard to follow book about it.
Even the index entries are a tad amusing. Jealousy towards British balls, Crackers – what the Computist was and in-laws – strangulation of. If you’re looking for a festive read but don’t really want anything too schmaltzy, this is the book for you.
December 23, 2017
I cannot highly recommend this erudite short romp through the history of Christmas enough. It’s funny, informative, and a quick read. Do yourself a favour and learn why Rudolph is a transgender reindeer.
December 1, 2019
This was fun, if a bit slight and occasionally a little too bitterly British for my taste. An enjoyable thing to read before bed though.
January 15, 2020
A lot of fun info, but a tad too flippant.
December 23, 2018
A witty little book about the history and origins of Christmas, A Christmas Cornucopia is the perfect gift for anyone who always wondered how exactly our Xmas traditions came about.
The book is divided into chapters on 25th of December, the Christmas Tree, Advent, the Christmas Carols, Santa Claus, Christmas Dinner and Boxing Day.
Even if you are already a pretty knowledgeable chap, you can learn something new. Did you know that it was part of the good old English Christmas, that noblemen opened their houses to the poor on Christmas Day, who received a large meal and were generally treated well during the festive period? This was before Ollie Cromwell and his Puritan cronies took over and banned Christmas. Or that contrary to popular belief it wasn't Coca Cola which gave Santa Claus his red outfit?
There is even a bit where the author explains, why he doesn’t say anything about foreign Christmas traditions. (Clue: Because of globalisation Christmas is becoming the same everywhere.)
It is very entertaining, perhaps almost too entertaining. Occasionally I got the impression, that this book was trying a bit too hard at times being funny, which made it exhausting to read. Mr. Forsyth is the literary equivalent of a hysterically funny stand-up comedian who packs so many jokes into each of his lines, that it becomes just a bit too much. Yet underneath all this hyperactive style there is real content and heart.
Unexpectedly the ending really got to me in an emotional way. I tend to get awfully sentimental around Christmas time, and without exaggerating I almost had tears in my eyes reading these final passages:
“The truth is, that for all of us, the perfect Christmas is the one of our childhood that will not come again. An annual feast will always have something missing: the empty chair at the Christmas table where somebody used to sit, who is now missing. And one day, I suppose, I shall be missing too; and you, dear reader, will be missing; and everyone we sit down with this year, old and young will one day be missing. And the feast will continue.
That is how it always has been and must be. Things disappear, like pieces being slowly removed from a jigsaw. For children, Christmas is everything they might be given; for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost. This a truth that was as clear to Charles Dickens as it was to George Michael.
But even when we have exchanged our annual truths for eternal ones, Christmas will continue, because we need it, because underneath all that wrapping paper we are doing something important, however we choose to do it. Most things in life can be said. If you ask me any simple question – “What’s the capital of France?” “When does the last train leave?” “Would you like a drink?” – I can answer Paris, midnight and whisky. But that is all dross. There is Something Else, something much more important, and I cannot tell what that Something Else is; and if I could tell you, it would not be worth the telling. We cannot say it, but we can somehow do it. And we do it at Christmas.”
The book is divided into chapters on 25th of December, the Christmas Tree, Advent, the Christmas Carols, Santa Claus, Christmas Dinner and Boxing Day.
Even if you are already a pretty knowledgeable chap, you can learn something new. Did you know that it was part of the good old English Christmas, that noblemen opened their houses to the poor on Christmas Day, who received a large meal and were generally treated well during the festive period? This was before Ollie Cromwell and his Puritan cronies took over and banned Christmas. Or that contrary to popular belief it wasn't Coca Cola which gave Santa Claus his red outfit?
There is even a bit where the author explains, why he doesn’t say anything about foreign Christmas traditions. (Clue: Because of globalisation Christmas is becoming the same everywhere.)
It is very entertaining, perhaps almost too entertaining. Occasionally I got the impression, that this book was trying a bit too hard at times being funny, which made it exhausting to read. Mr. Forsyth is the literary equivalent of a hysterically funny stand-up comedian who packs so many jokes into each of his lines, that it becomes just a bit too much. Yet underneath all this hyperactive style there is real content and heart.
Unexpectedly the ending really got to me in an emotional way. I tend to get awfully sentimental around Christmas time, and without exaggerating I almost had tears in my eyes reading these final passages:
“The truth is, that for all of us, the perfect Christmas is the one of our childhood that will not come again. An annual feast will always have something missing: the empty chair at the Christmas table where somebody used to sit, who is now missing. And one day, I suppose, I shall be missing too; and you, dear reader, will be missing; and everyone we sit down with this year, old and young will one day be missing. And the feast will continue.
That is how it always has been and must be. Things disappear, like pieces being slowly removed from a jigsaw. For children, Christmas is everything they might be given; for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost. This a truth that was as clear to Charles Dickens as it was to George Michael.
But even when we have exchanged our annual truths for eternal ones, Christmas will continue, because we need it, because underneath all that wrapping paper we are doing something important, however we choose to do it. Most things in life can be said. If you ask me any simple question – “What’s the capital of France?” “When does the last train leave?” “Would you like a drink?” – I can answer Paris, midnight and whisky. But that is all dross. There is Something Else, something much more important, and I cannot tell what that Something Else is; and if I could tell you, it would not be worth the telling. We cannot say it, but we can somehow do it. And we do it at Christmas.”
November 15, 2025
This book was simple, total and utter ridiculousness, and a ton of fun!
I've read several books by this author and he does a fabulous job combining historical facts with the cheeky and sarcastic sense of humour that will make you laugh out loud at least a few times reading this compendium of weird facts about the traditions we all "think" we know about Christmas, except almost all of them are wrong!
This is a fast, fun quick read as it isn't that long, and the author really does jam in a ton of odd factoids about the holiday we all think we know and the things we do to celebrate it, most of which, apparently are completely not what we think they are.
If you are a traditionalist about the accepted holiday traditions and attached to what you think they are you probably should NOT read this book. If, on the other hand you have a good sense of humour and appreciation for the ridiculous - even about something as "sacred" as Christmas, then definitely pick this one up. I enjoyed it a lot!
I've read several books by this author and he does a fabulous job combining historical facts with the cheeky and sarcastic sense of humour that will make you laugh out loud at least a few times reading this compendium of weird facts about the traditions we all "think" we know about Christmas, except almost all of them are wrong!
This is a fast, fun quick read as it isn't that long, and the author really does jam in a ton of odd factoids about the holiday we all think we know and the things we do to celebrate it, most of which, apparently are completely not what we think they are.
If you are a traditionalist about the accepted holiday traditions and attached to what you think they are you probably should NOT read this book. If, on the other hand you have a good sense of humour and appreciation for the ridiculous - even about something as "sacred" as Christmas, then definitely pick this one up. I enjoyed it a lot!
December 13, 2024
Very enjoyable and funny!
It starts of great with this paragraph: "Picture a man sitting beside a dead tree. He is indoors and wearing a crown. From the ceiling hangs a parasitical shrub that legitimates sexual assault. He is singing to himself about a tenth-century Mittel-European murder victim using a sixteenth-century Finnish melody."
Which is - of course - all true, and all weird. It's all really weird and yet everyone accepts it without question.
There are a lot of answers in here, but some things we may never know. Even though I would love to know the answer to all of them, perhaps it contributes to the magic of Christmas if there is some mystery left...
It starts of great with this paragraph: "Picture a man sitting beside a dead tree. He is indoors and wearing a crown. From the ceiling hangs a parasitical shrub that legitimates sexual assault. He is singing to himself about a tenth-century Mittel-European murder victim using a sixteenth-century Finnish melody."
Which is - of course - all true, and all weird. It's all really weird and yet everyone accepts it without question.
There are a lot of answers in here, but some things we may never know. Even though I would love to know the answer to all of them, perhaps it contributes to the magic of Christmas if there is some mystery left...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
No shock, I loved this book - I tend to have a very high bias for Mr. Forsyth. Trend continues.
Excellent, fun, light read I suggest for everyone this time of year. The last paragraph is a thing of beauty that brought a tear, I had to dab my eye. Touching. Wonderful.
Anyway, my bias is clear, but I do think if you read only 1 Mark Forsyth this might be the one.
Excellent, fun, light read I suggest for everyone this time of year. The last paragraph is a thing of beauty that brought a tear, I had to dab my eye. Touching. Wonderful.
Anyway, my bias is clear, but I do think if you read only 1 Mark Forsyth this might be the one.
July 9, 2018
A book about Christmas traditions.
It was okay, but I much prefer Mark's books about the English language.
It was okay, but I much prefer Mark's books about the English language.
December 13, 2018
Delightful short book which aims to give the reader a better understanding of all the things that people do during Christmas and their origins.
December 23, 2018
I loved it! The writing style was entertaining!
December 24, 2018
At-times hysterically funny but always engaging, interesting, and full of holiday insight. Highly recommended!
January 12, 2019
Entertaining, interesting and enjoyable book detailing the origins of all things Christmas. Will definitely read again. Enjoyed Mark Forsyth’s dry sense of humour which made me laugh out loud in places.
December 30, 2023
Great little book full of fun and well humoured little background on Christmas traditions in the UK and where such traditions come from (spoiler: it’s not pagan).
December 25, 2024
Some parts of this haven't aged well but this is still the ultimate comfort read, doesn't feel like the holidays until I read it.
To the people who asked what a Christmas book was: it's this. This is a Christmas book..
To the people who asked what a Christmas book was: it's this. This is a Christmas book..
December 28, 2022
The perfect holiday read if you’re curious about Christmas traditions as we know them today and where they came from.
January 3, 2023
4.5 ⭐ Fun, light and interesting!
December 24, 2016
A brief journey through the history of some of our most well-loved Christmas traditions in the West (in particular, a focus on England and the US although I think the majority of these traditions have an international presence). Ever wonder why we have bulbs hanging in a tree indoors as a central Christmas decoration? Well, apparently it's linked to medieval plays put on where the tree symbolises the tree Adam & Eve picked the apple from, the bulbs hanging in the tree symbolising the apples. Everything in this book is dealt with in a rather casual way - it seems many of the traditions have a somewhat muddled and unknown history and much is left for speculation. Mark Forsyth writes in a very casual tone - with snark, making this a rather funny and entertaining book to read. On the whole I'd say it was neither revelatory (as one author writes of this book) nor enough to really bite my teeth into, more of an outline than a deep-dive but probably the perfect introduction to nonfiction surrounding Christmas.
Read
December 26, 2019Cute. Weird. Fun. A snappy reminder that holiday traditions aren't actually terribly traditional, and even occasionally stem from strange or horrifying origins. Delightful bits of trivia abound, from the apple and snake-filled traditional Christmas trees, to the origin of the New York Knicks, to the perpetual War on Christmas that was waged by the joyless Puritans who wanted to stop the frolicking.
And after all that humor, he captures one of the more serious weirdnesses of Christmas:
"The truth is that, for all of us, the perfect Christmas is the one of our childhood that will not come again. An annual feast will always have something missing... And one day... everyone we sit down with this year, old and young, will one day be missing. And the feast will continue...
For children, Christmas is everything they might be given; for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost."
And after all that humor, he captures one of the more serious weirdnesses of Christmas:
"The truth is that, for all of us, the perfect Christmas is the one of our childhood that will not come again. An annual feast will always have something missing... And one day... everyone we sit down with this year, old and young, will one day be missing. And the feast will continue...
For children, Christmas is everything they might be given; for an adult, Christmas is everything we have lost."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews