Your cart (0)
Your cart is empty
Tax included and shipping calculated at checkout
Sarah Clegg
About the book
As winter comes and the hours of darkness overtake the light, we seek out warmth, good food, and good company. But beneath the jollity and bright enchantment of the festive season, there lurks a darker mood - one that has found expression over the centuries in a host of strange and unsettling traditions and lore. Here, Sarah Clegg takes us on a journey through midwinter to explore the lesser-known Christmas traditions, from English mummers plays and Austrian Krampus runs, to modern pagan rituals at Stonehenge and the night in Finland when a young girl is crowned with candles as St Lucy - a martyred Christian girl who also appears as a witch leading a procession of the dead.
At wassails and hoodenings and winter gatherings, attended by ghastly, grinning horses, snatching monsters and mysterious visitors, we discover how these traditions originated and how they changed through the centuries, and we ask ourselves: if we can't keep the darkness entirely at bay, might it be fun to let a little in?
Published on by Granta.
This book has 193 pages and is a Paperback.
Be Notified When This Piece Becomes Available
We sell both brand-new books and pre-loved treasures through our secondhand imprint, Second Chapter. Every book is clearly labelled with its condition:
- Newly Summoned — Brand new, untouched by mortal hands. Fresh from the publisher.
- Barely Haunted — Pre-loved but in lovely condition. Light shelf wear at most; any previous owner left barely a trace.
- Clearly Haunted — A book that's lived a little. Expect visible wear — creased spines, tanned pages or scuffed corners — but fully readable and full of character.
- Exorcism Needed — Heavily worn and priced accordingly. These books have stories beyond the one printed inside. Perfect for readers who love a battle-scarred companion (or crafters after materials).
No, we on offer shipping to the United Kingdom for now.
We offer complimentary shipping on all orders over £35.
Orders are dispatched via Royal Mail 48 Tracked, posted through our local Post Office. You'll receive tracking details once your order is on its way.
Royal Mail 48 typically arrives within 2–3 working days of dispatch, though it isn't a guaranteed service — occasionally the postal spirits take a little longer.
We aim to dispatch orders within 2 working days of purchase. Please note some new titles are fulfilled directly from our distributor, which can affect dispatch times — see Availability below.
Eligible items may be returned within 14 days of delivery, provided they are unharmed and in original condition.
The fastest way to exchange an item is to return it and place a new order.
In-stock items are held by us and dispatched directly.
New books may be fulfilled from our trusted UK book distributor. These usually dispatch within [X–X working days] — the product page will indicate estimated timings.
Second Chapter books are one of a kind. When it's gone, it's gone (that's rather the point). If you love it, don't leave it lingering in your basket — carts do not reserve stock, and another Spooky Reader may spirit it away.
If something's out of stock, sign up for a back-in-stock notification on the product page, or contact us — we're often able to order titles in.
Yes we do, however we need to do this manually. If you'd like to make a purchase with your tokens, please get in touch and we will put through a custom order for you.
Final Selection
- Product label: Sold out
- Product label: Sold out
- Product label: Sold out
