Countdown to publication - 2 days to go

Continuing the countdown to the official publication of What is Myrrh Anyway? on Thursday, here's another festive post to help get you in the mood.

If you're the sort of person who just can't wait for Christmas to come (perhaps you're a six year-old child, or a frustrated office worker), then the Christmas Countdown Widget is for you.

Just click the following link to glittertools.com and from there you will be able to purchase your very own Christmas countdown calendar slideshow.

Four Christmases - as if one wasn't bad enough!

It's almost October, so the film studios are starting to promote their November releases, which means the inevitable Christmas movies are about to hit multiplexes the world over. The first of these is the Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon vehicle Four Christmases.

Now, although I have an obvious fondness for all things 'Christmas', I usually avoid American holiday movies like I avoid eating sprouts on Christmas Day. But having watched the trailer for Four Christmases, I could just perhaps be persuaded to watch this one. (Although I think I'll wait until it's on TV in 2010!)

The countdown to Christmas has begun!

Yes, that's right, Christmas is almost here with the publication of What is Myrrh Anyway? this Thursday.

And to get you in the festive mood, this week I am going to be posting Christmas teasers, one for everyday until publication.

So, to get the ball rolling, here is an alternative take on the traditional carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Let merriment ensue.

Ho, ho, ho.

What is Myrrh Anyway? Out this week!

Hark, for I am the bearer of glad tidings to you and all your kin. For lo, What is Myrrh Anyway? is out this week!

So that's all your Christmas shopping needs sorted, in one easy to read, easy to wrap book, that's the ideal size to fit inside your Christmas stocking!

What is Myrrh Anyway? hits the shops this Thursday, but you can already order it online at Amazon.

Ho, ho, ho.

Christmas Comes Early: Example #3 - Welcome to Christmas World!

Today I briefly visited Christmas World at Harrod's. Christmas World! And it's not even the end of September!

But that's not the worst of it. London's most famous corner shop has been piping festive tunes into their little corner of Christmas since... 2 August!

Pity the poor shop assistants who have to work there for five months of the year! I bet they'll really be looking forward to Christmas by the time 25 December comes.

So you think you know Christmas?

It could be argued that most people in the UK celebrate Christmas, but does everyone who does celebrate the festival know why it is celebrated at all? Do they know why they put up a tree, or send cards, or even eat turkey?

This was the inspiration behind the writing of What is Myrrh Anyway? If you want to know why Father Christmas rides a sleigh pulled by a team of reindeer, why robins are so associated with the season, or even what a boar's head has to do with Christmas, then this is the book for you.

But if you think you know the answers to these questions already, then why not check out the Christmasology site and find out how much you really know.

What do points make?

As I was searching the Net for top Christmas gift ideas to share with you all, I came across this.

'So what?' you might think. But take a look at the gift that was in at #10. Your very own Bruce Forsythe! He's not looking well is he?

Christmas Comes Early: Example #2 - Songs of Praise

Recently I posted evidence of Christmas coming early with regard to supermarkets setting out their festive wares - at the start of September! Well, now I have more evidence to fuel the fire.

Last Sunday (that's 14 September) the BBC's Songs of Praise special was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall. But moving such landmark festivals is all par for the course with Songs of Praise. Take, for example, what happened last year to Easter.

I know that Easter is a movable feast but really...!

What is Myrrh Anyway?

Much excitement in the Green househould this morning, as my author copies of What is Myrrh Anyway? have arrived. And for what started out as a relatively short stocking filler of a book, it's actually turned out to be quite a weighty little book on the subject of Christmas and its traditions.So if you've always wondered why Christmas Day falls on 25 December (and not the 15 Augcember, for anyone who's seen the new series of Harry and Paul on BBC1), or can't understand why Brussels sprouts are always on the menu for Christmas dinner, then this little Christmas cracker of a book is the one for you.

The book isn't officially published by Icon Books until 2 October, but it is available to pre-order over on Amazon. And you can discover more fun and fascinating facts about the festive season right here on this blog!

Christmas is here! It's official!

People are always saying that Christmas comes earlier every year, but this year looks like it's going to break all previous records, as Christmas is already here! As of last Friday, to be exact. For that was when I went into my local branch of a particular well-known supermarket chain and saw an employee setting out this year's Christmas confectionery.

And there's the proof. Well, it won't be long before What is Myrrh Anyway? is out in the shops, so if the supermarkets are already putting people in a Christmasy frame of mind, surely it can't hurt sales. As they say, every little help!