Why was the partridge in the pear tree? Who was Good King Wenceslas? & what are the pagan origins behind The Holly & the Ivy'? Discover the hidden stories behind our best-loved Christmas carols from their earliest incarnations in the Middle Ages & their banning under the Puritans to the wassailing traditions of the nineteenth century & the carols that united soldiers on the Western Front during the First World War This fascinating book charts the history of one of Christmas' longest-running traditions & is sure to appeal to all those who love the festive season