Countdown To Christmas

December looks set to be as busy as ever, so take advantage of our day-by-day guide to help you keep on top of all those necessary preparations. We’ve included some festive fun, too

- Sandra Smith

1st Today is the first day of Advent, heralding the start of the Christmas season. The Windsor and Eton Living Advent Calendar is a collaborative project run with Windsor, Eton and Ascot Town Partnership and 24 local businesses to provide live entertainment every evening from 1 to 24 December 2019.

Like a children’s advent calendar, a different window or door is opened every evening at 6:15 pm promptly and a 15minute performance is given to the audience assembled outside each participating business. windsor.gov.uk

You also have 24 days left to shop! There’s no better place to find those perfect gifts for friends and family than at a Christmas fair, where mulled wine, hot chocolate, and carols get you into the festive mood. The month kicks off with Cookham’s annual Christmas Street Fair, where the High Street of this historic village overflows with stalls of artisan produce. There are crafts, jewellery, art and food for sale, accompanied by entertainment, all between midday and 4 pm. cookham.com. Please turn to page 22 for our round-up of Christmas markets and boutiques

2nd Wreaths, often fashioned from holly or evergreen, have been a symbol of Christmas for hundreds of years. If you fancy creating your own bespoke design but need a little help, Ufton Court’s 16th-century Tithe Barn is the location for today’s wreath making workshops. There’s a choice of two: 10 am or 7 pm, each preceded by refreshments, with all materials and foliage included in the ticket price along with expert guidance. uftoncourt.co.uk