Every page holds a treat to unwrap in this gorgeous advent calendar of a book.

From Equinox to Solstice, Diwali to Epiphany - countdown to Christmas with poems, inspirations and little moments of comfort and joy.

Dip into the pages of this little treasury and you'll find plenty to inspire you: from the festivals that sprinkle the days of October and November, to a daily delight for Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Full of traditions, poems, stories and ideas for things to make and do, it's a celebration of all that we share across time, cultures and continents. A beautifully wise and calm companion to your festive season.

Perhaps you'll have a go at making sloe gin when the berries are ripe in the hedgerows, or make popcorn on Walt Disney's birthday, or settle down with a hot chocolate to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. You might be tempted to peel a satsuma whilst discovering a little bit more about this festive fruit, or learn how many cultures hold ancient festivals of light.

Or you might decide to simply take a moment to pause and enjoy a little page of peace in the whirl of counting down the sleeps. Let Auriol Bishop guide you through this most magical time of year . . .