'Janus was the protector of gates and doorways, his name coming from the Latin word for ‘door’: ianua. He was the god of beginnings and transitions, also being responsible for changes and time.'

'The symbolism of the month of January is obvious, in that the month is the beginning of the year but also a transition from the previous year into the next. January is the door of the year; a door that we can only enter one way but that we can peek back through.'

The nights have drawn in and the sun seems to be shying away – winter solstice is upon us. Many of us spend the month of December in anticipation of Christmas, decorating our tree and stringing lights around our homes, but how often do we stop and consider the origins of the celebrations of this time of year?

Take a moment to appreciate and understand the origins of our Christmas traditions.