'Christmas Days'

A magical book that has become a tradition

A few years ago, I began a new tradition for my late November birthday: Going to my favorite local bookstore, Quail Ridge Books, and meandering around for an hour or more.

It feels luxurious to sit down and leaf through any book that catches my eye. I pull big coffee table books off the shelves and take in their showy design and luxurious printing – enjoying them for a few minutes with the full knowledge that in the end, they will go back on the shelves instead of home with me (I need to spend more time looking through the ones I already have).

At the end of my wandering, I usually pick out a birthday gift for myself.

A few years back, I found my best birthday gift yet – Christmas Days, a collection of short stories, recipes and essays from writer Jeanette Winterson. I took it home and fell in love with it.

I get it out every November/December and begin reading the stories and essays again. The stories run the gamut from whimsical to spooky to poignant, but most have at least a hint of magic or the supernatural. Reading them is one of my very favorite holiday traditions.

The essays always seem to speak to what I’m feeling as winter comes on, and I especially appreciate what she writes about how to go into the New Year. I find that I need to hear her words of wisdom again as each year wraps up.

Picking up Christmas Days again each holiday feels a little magical, which is a real gift during a time when we need as much magic as we can get.

I've given the book to several friends since stumbling across it, and I wanted to recommend it here while there’s still a little holiday time for you to jump in and read Winterson’s creations (and try her recipes).

I’m sharing an outtake from her introduction and a few review blurbs below:

I wish you magic during the holidays and into the New Year.

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