Whether it’s the twinkling lights, the scent of fir and cinnamon, the carols, or the camaraderie, Christmas for many of us is about finding magic and holding on to it for a moment.
This issue, we deliver magic by the sleigh load. In one feature, we journey to the Swiss Alps at a time when the mountains were a land of woodcutters and cattle, to discover the people who would hunker down in a chalet on a dark winter’s night, take out a pair of scissors, and by candlelight snip away at paper to produce intricate papercuts that are highly coveted today.
It sounds like something straight out of a storybook, which brings us to Emma Longstaff’s guide to buying antique fairy tales also in the issue – books that sit somewhere between literature, art and object that take us back to moments of childhood wonder with their grisly thrills, eerie forests and enchanting castles.
Elsewhere, Jenny Oldaker selects six of the best festive light trails in the UK this Christmas season, from Devon to Moray...
...and also brings us the perfect winter getaways that promise cosy hotels, magical spectacles, antiques shopping and historic towns and villages – did you know Malton in North Yorkshire inspired scenes in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol?
For those ready to think about Christmas decorating, meanwhile, all four of the houses this month are artfully trimmed by the owners using gathered greenery and handmade pieces such as stockings and beeswax candles.
As a further treat, we see inside the Rectory at The Story of Emily in Cornwall, former home of Victorian humanitarian Emily Hobhouse, as it is dressed for the season – simply yet beautifully adorned as it would have been over a century ago.
And for those penning their present list, our gift guide is full of whimsy, gathering together over 60 ideas inspired by six icons of the past – do you have a glamourpuss to buy for?
Enjoy a glimpse of what to look forward to in our December 2026 issue!
Published 13 times a year, Homes & Antiques brings gorgeous design, inspirational ideas and beautiful photography and writing to your door. Plus, with this special link, new subscribers can save 30% on the shop price*.
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