While popular traditions of celebrating Christmas Easter are an integral part of our shared culture, less is known about how other days of the Christian calendar at these times of year are observed, including the preceding periods of Advent and Lent.

• Which prayer led to the creation of the Christmas pudding?
• Why is St Lucy remembered during Advent?
• What is the meaning of ‘boxing’ on St Stephen’s Day?
• Does Christmas really last until February?
• What is the children’s tradition of ‘shroving’?
• How should one prepare and eat carlin peas on Passion Sunday?
• In what century were eggs forbidden during Lent?
• How do Christians around the world recognise St Valentine’s Day?

Leigh Hatts’ comprehensively-researched books help us to rediscover the Christian based, seasonal customs buried deep within our culture and church life.

Keeping Advent and Christmas is packed with fascinating details about the beliefs, rituals and traditions of liturgical days between ‘Stir-up Sunday’ (the Sunday before Advent Sunday) and Candlemas (the official end of the Christmas period, on 2 February).

Keeping Lent and Easter covers the liturgical days between Quinquagesima, or Transfiguration Sunday, (the Sunday before Lent) and Corpus Christi (the feast of thanksgiving on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday).