Rediscovering the spirit of Christmas – Festive traditions and the simple pleasures of the season

Matt Limb OBE looks at how the countryside and the traditional meaning of Christmas complement each other so well.

As the days shorten, the nights lengthen and a chill can be felt in the air, we know Christmas is fast approaching. Soon lights start to sparkle in town centres and shop windows, the distant tones of carol singers adorn the marketplace, as I find myself once more reflecting on the spirit of Christmas and what it’s come to mean.

For many, the festive season brings the joy of gathering with loved ones, sharing laughter and making memories. And, yes, there’s certainly a place for the excitement of shopping for gifts and festive treats, with shops and stores helping to create that magical atmosphere, which is part of the great Christmas tradition. But I spend my Christmases, looking forward to a different kind of celebration; one grounded in traditions, with the bounty of nature and simple pleasures with family and friends that make Christmas feel meaningful.

There’s a certain anticipation that builds in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as friends and colleagues gather to prepare, swapping stories of old and sharing laughs over mince pies and mulled wine. Then there’s something very special about the first Christmas card that arrives in the post, often from a friend not seen in a long time. So often it will be adorned with a traditional snowy rural farming landscape, or an illustration of a cold winter day. Such scenes feel like timeless tributes to the spirit of Christmas past, where the focus was more on companionship and less on consumption. For me they serve as gentle reminders of a world that still appreciates the quiet beauty of the winter season, one rooted in friendship, generosity and joy that can’t be bought in a shop.

Of course, it’s impossible to ignore the buzz and excitement that shops bring to the season. There’s still something heartwarming about strolling through town, surrounded by decorated windows and the festive hum of Christmas shoppers on a time-critical mission. In many ways, these shops are part of the seasonal tradition, offering warmth, light and a little bit of magic.

And yet, as splendid as it all is, I always feel a pull to return to the quiet of the countryside; to the lanes, fields and woodlands where Christmas feels simpler but for me no less joyful.

Throughout the countryside, there is a way of preparing, a tradition passed down through generations.

For me, Christmas starts with the local shoots, where I hope to spend a few days, with the company of the dogs, leading up to the festive season. There’s a great solidarity among those of us who take to the woods and fields, a sense of shared purpose and deep respect for the countryside that feels particularly relevant at this time of year. The brisk fresh air and the company of good friends remind me of what Christmas is really about. Then at the end of the day, I usually return home with a few brace, which we’ll pluck and prepare for Christmas; even this is a tradition that has over the years brought families together in a way that no seasonal feast bought from a shop ever could.

The fresh birds we have prepared aren’t just food; they’re part of a ritual, a connection to the season itself. Plus, there’s a unique joy in sharing them with others. Over the years I have taken great pleasure in visiting friends with a brace, along with a Christmas card, offering a gift that’s as meaningful as any decorated and wrapped present. Such visits are usually met with gratitude and a warm invitation to stay for a chat or a mince pie – it’s a gesture that embodies the very spirit of Christmas in the most genuine way.

Christmas, after all, is about more than the presents under the tree, it’s about who’s gathered around the tree, with their stories to tell and the memories we make. My dear late mother’s birthday was on the twentieth of December, so at home growing up Christmas was rarely mentioned until after this date. This coincides with midwinter’s day, the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice and the astronomical first day of winter. Also, a day many believe is the origin of the modern Christmas, maybe even a pre-Christian winter festival, a time when the traditional Father Christmas wore an all-green suit, which is the origin of the Green Man. Even today, many years later, I find myself resisting the urge to decorate too early, preferring instead to wait until the days grow shorter and the fields are more likely to be blanketed in frost. Only then does Christmas feel like it has truly arrived.

At home today our celebrations could be seen as almost modest. As we gather around the table on Christmas Day, I’m reminded that Christmas isn’t about grand gestures or extravagant gifts. It’s about togetherness and for us, that often means heading outdoors to enjoy the countryside, often accompanied by the hip flask containing something homemade and warming. Boxing Day has always been particularly special, as the whole community comes together to celebrate the age-old tradition of the Boxing Day Meet. Watching people from all walks of life, the majority having never ridden a horse, gather to share in this experience, to witness the pageantry and history that have been passed down through generations, is a reminder that some traditions really are worth preserving.

There’s something uniquely satisfying about a bitterly cold morning, gathered with friends over a shared flask of tea and a slice of homemade fruitcake. These gatherings are less about ceremony and more about connection; a chance to enjoy the little things that often get lost in the hustle and bustle of the yuletide season. To then share a homemade mutton pie or offer a friend a mince pie before raising a toast. For me we’re celebrating Christmas in its truest form; with gratitude, laughter and a quiet appreciation for the beauty around us.

Across the countryside, we know that Christmas is as much a part of the seasonal cycle as any other day on the calendar. Winter may be harsh, but it’s also a time of reflection and rest, a time to appreciate the people and places that make life rich and full. So, as we go about our Christmas preparations, we do so with a degree of reverence and a hearty nod to the generations before us, who had lives well lived, that gave us experiences and traditions. Plus, a reminder to us that, sometimes, the simplest pleasures are the ones that matter most.

As we approach this year’s festive season, let’s take a moment to savour such simple joys. Let’s gather with friends and family, enjoy a hearty meal or two and make time for the traditions that connect us to the past and bring meaning to the present. After all, Christmas isn’t just a day on the calendar, it’s a season; a season of goodwill and of shared memories. But knowing that Plough Monday, the first Monday after Epiphany and the start of the farming year, is just a matter of days away.

The days between Christmas and Plough Monday have their own quiet significance. A period often marked by a gentle lull that allows time to reconnect after the seasonal festivities. The fields rest under frost, the final fires of the yuletide burn down and there’s a peacefulness in returning to our routine. It’s a time for planning the year ahead, traditionally for mending tools and readying the land for the first ploughing. It’s a fitting reminder that Christmas is not only about celebration but also reflection, helping us prepare for the cycle of work and renewal that lies ahead for us all in a new year.

So, in the true spirit of the season, I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, filled with warmth, laughter but above all the simple pleasures that make this time of year so very special.

Words and photographs: Matt Limb

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