Join The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and author of The Slow Traveller and regular contributor Jo Tinsley in the first episode of our Merry Midwinter season, where we are doing our best to find calm and contentment in the run up to Christmas. This episode we will be chatting about alternative approaches to advent calendars, the people working hard to preserve much-loved customs, the joy of a Christmas market and how to fill your home with festive scents.

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Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

In the December issue (162) on sale now

Weekend project advent candle

Alternative advent calendar ideas

Keeping up traditions

On the blog

Natural Advent Calendar of Promises

Make your own advent calendar

Living Advent Calendar

Scented Pinecones

Herbs & Spices playlist

From A Year of Celebrations anthology

Weekend project: make your own advent calendar

Learn more

Window Wonderland in Shepton Mallet, Somerset
A Winter Dictionary: A collection of words for the festive season by Paul Anthony Jones (Elliott & Thompson)

In previous issues available to buy at picsandink.com

Looking back: Mid-century Christmas traditions (138)

Finding the fairytale for free(ish) (138)

Weekend project: Scents of the season: Use natural finds to fill your home with some favourite smells of winter (150)

Christmassy Cities: Nuremberg (150), Bruges (Issue 126), Prague (162)

Easy Giving: simple ways you can help spread cheer (150)

For Christmas gift wrapped subscriptions click here and use code GIFTWRAP25

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish products. Find out more at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk