Chris Thorndycroft

The Unconquered Sun Chris Thorndycroft

7 tales of the mysterious, the mythological and the fantastical from the darkest part of the year.

Christmas (or Yule) means many things to many people. From sacrifice to the sun at Stonehenge to the Roman festival of light to the birth of Jesus and beyond, it is the time for rebirth and rejoicing. It is the anonymous gift-giving spirit of Saint Nicholas, the survival of evergreens during cold winters (and puritan outlawry). It means warmth, friendship, charity and of course, Santa Claus...

These stories delve deep into the past and reveal the origins of traditions we still carry with us today. From Neolithic Britain to Ancient Rome, from Judea to puritan England, from Spain to New York and beyond, take this time-travelling trip to the traditions of our ancestors and discover the magical story of Christmas through the eyes of the people who experienced it.

All profit from the sale of this book will go to the charity Save the Children.