In the old days, Christmas was much more about gathering and feasting after a long year than about gifts given and received, but in modern life Christmas shopping has become something of a frenzied affair for many, starting with the Black Friday sales and running all the way up to last minute panic buying on Christmas Eve. Not only is this stressful before Christmas, it make January harder when the credit card bill arrives.

This week’s episode of the Calm Christmas Podcast - Season 5 Episode 2: The Christmas Present - is an invitation to consider how best to allocate not only money, but also your time and attention this year. It includes:

* Reflections on how Christmas gifting has changed over the years

* A few ideas unusual homemade items and children’s book gifts

* A little bit of festive shopping humour ;-)

* Cosy talk about the rain, and respect for honey bees

* A mermaid adventure

* Some lovely wrapping-related Christmas crafting ideas

* The world’s simplest recipe for edible chocolate bark (makes a lovely homemade present)

* Get ahead tips and dates for your diary this week

Note: In our ‘Get Ahead Tips’ section I mention a descendant of Charles Dickens performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man show. I made an error, saying that Gerald Dickens is the author’s Great Grandson when in fact he is his Great Great Grandson. Apologies for that!

With inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore, @robbiewilliams @moneysavingexp @rhodri Judith Flanders, Maya Angelou, @freyanorth @auriolb Jill Barklem, CS Lewis, Ruth Simmons, @carolinarabei.illustration Josie George @porridgebrain @tomfletcher @sara.starling.voiceover Sir Peter Thornton, @leyla.kazim @mermaidexplorer @erinniimi Alan Connor, @kunze Laura Fleiter, @skyemcalpine @sibster @unicef @dickensshows @fogchaser

You can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes. You can also find more (specific!) mindful gift ideas in my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well as in the following earlier podcast episodes:

Series 4 Episode 2: Give Love This Year

Series 3 Episode 3: We Three Kings: For the Love of Mindful Gifting

Series 2 Episode 4: Love: Gratitude and Gifting

Series 1 Episode 6: Mindful Gifting

PS You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify or iTunes.

I hope you love it, and that it helps bring a little more calm to your holiday preparations this year.

Beth Xx

LINKS TO LOVELY THINGS

Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win some lovely festive books in our second giveaway of the season!

Register for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at dowhatyouloveforlife.com for free (runs Dec 29-Jan 4

Cosy Reads for the Dark Season (round up of Calm Christmas Podcast listeners’ winter reading recommendations)

The Alternative Advent Calendar (free, daily from Dec 1) on Instagram @bethkempton

Up to 50% off writing and personal development courses in my annual gratitude sale now on at dowhatyouloveforlife.com

RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS

MoneySavingExpert.com

KarenGrayCoach.com (mermaid adventures!) / Karen KJ Gray (@mermaidexplorer on Instagram)

Gerald Dickens (Charles Dickens’ Great Great Grandson) performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man show

A Simple Carol by Matt Evans on Youtube / Substack @FogChaser

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton

A Very British Christmas by Rhodri Marsden

Christmas gift research by Russell Belk referenced in A Very British Christmas

Christmas: A History by Judith Flanders

Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life by Beth Kempton

Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton

Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou

Christmas at Flora’s House by Freya North

Chloe by Freya North

An Anthology of Christmas by Auriol Bishop

Winter Story by Jill Barklem

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

Christmas Lights by Ruth Simmons and Carolina Rabei

Letters from Wonderland by Josie George

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore

The Bubbling Toad by Sara Starling (and in person at Vogrie Country Park)

The Later Years by Peter Thornton

Pathways to Purposeful Living by Leyla Kazim

The Joy of Wintering by Erin Niimi Longhurst

188 Words for Rain by Alan Connor

Advent by Kirsten Niehoff and Laura Fleiter

The Christmas Companion by Skye McAlpine

Charming Woodland Crafts by Sybia Torres Padilla

INGREDIENTS for chocolate bark (this is a very loose ‘recipe’…)

One large bar of good quality cooking chocolate or eating chocolate (such as Cadbury’s Dairy Milk) – you can choose to go with one of milk / dark / plain or melt 2-3 different bars in different bowls and then swirl them together

Some toppings of your choice (such as a handful of pistachios, crushed walnuts, candied orange peel, crushed candy canes or popping candy – just look at commercially available chocolate bars for inspiration!)

If you would like to flavour the chocolate you could add a few drops of something like peppermint extract

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com