WORDS: RACHEL WALKER, SUSAN LOW, PHOEBE STONE. PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK, REX FEATURES
The charity StreetSmart is working this winter to ensure the UK’s most vulnerable people don’t go hungry at Christmas – and you can help. From now until 31 December, more than 500 restaurants around the UK (including Ruth Rogers’ River Cafe, a long-term supporter) will ask diners to donate ￡1. Every penny raised will go to the homeless and vulnerable. Last year, StreetSmart raised ￡587,000 and the charity has raised over ￡8.2 million since its inception in 1998. For a list of participating restaurants, visit streetsmart.org.uk
IN THIS MONTH…
1644 The Puritanled English Parliament banned celebrating Christmas. Cromwell enforced the ban while in power but two years after his death the return of the monarchy in 1660 restored the celebrations.
1892 The Nutcracker made its debut in St Petersburg on 17 December. Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic ballet stars the Sugar Plum Fairy and other characters from The Land of Sweets, including Russian candy-canes, Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee and Chinese tea.
1913 Elizabeth David was born on 26 December. “If I had my way…” she once wrote, “my Christmas Day eating and drinking would consist of an omelette and cold ham and a nice bottle of wine at lunchtime, and a smoked salmon sandwich with a glass of champagne on a tray in bed in the evening.”
The Christmas countdown