In Australia, households not in-the-know might give or receive sub-par panettone at Christmas. But if we learn to choose a good panettone, can this festive fruit bread’s reputation be redeemed?

In Italy, it’s not really Christmas unless there’s a panettone. But in many Australian households, this sweet, dome-shaped bread receives much less fanfare: it stays on shelves well past the season, or is given and regifted until it passes its use-by date.

Tuscan-based food writer Emiko Davies says it’s a “must-have Christmas tradition” all around Italy – stacked high in bakeries from late November, ready to be given to friends, neighbours and party hosts. So loved is this traditional Milanese bread that Davies says it has gone beyond its staple filling of candied fruits and sultanas to variations stuffed with gelato, studded with chocolate chips or filled with hazelnut, chocolate or pistachio creams.

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Bridie West got more than 135,000 likes on TikTok after creating edible version of location used in Cameron Diaz Christmas romcom

A cake baker from Essex has gone viral on TikTok after making an “entirely edible” version of the cottage from the Christmas film The Holiday.

Bridie West, 30, said it took a day and a half to bake and decorate Rosehill Cottage, which features in the festive movie starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black.

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We were spending Christmas far from home. Very far. It wasn’t easy finding sprouts in Sydney, but the memories formed the basis of a lifelong bond

By my mid-20s, I’d somehow miraculously managed to branch out into the real world. I had been to university (back when there were no fees and no real pressures). I’d got a job. (“A journalist,” I thought. “That sounds secure and well paid.”) I had even moved in with a girlfriend. All safe in the knowledge that I could rely on my parents to bail me out financially or emotionally should it ever go catastrophically awry.

So when it did all go wrong (dumped by girlfriend; sacked by job), it seemed strange to decide to move to the other side of the world, where my mum would be too far away for an “It’s all right, dear” hug. Luckily, I had my best friend, Phil, who had reached a similar, ahem, “gap” in his career and relationship résumé, so a plan was hatched to move to Australia.

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It’s tempting to spend more than you can afford in December. But there are ways to avoid the festive hype and still enjoy yourself – from DIY cards to gifts of time

It may be too late to save for the festive season, but it is still possible to ignore the marketing hype and reduce spending, which will be better for the planet and your pocket. Frugal experts share their advice on how to save money this Christmas. –

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There are times when everyone resorts to prayer. Just ask Oti Mabuse or Martin and Shirlie Kemp

Each to their own, and all that, but I do occasionally enjoy challenging those who profess to have not one iota of religious belief. Nothing too heavy, you understand, as serious theology is quite beyond me. And I’m certainly not evangelising; often as not I’m just trying to keep a conversation ticking over. I restrict myself to a single aphorism, which goes like this: there are no atheists in a penalty shootout. I contend that most fans of the teams involved engage in something approximating prayer. The only exception, generally, will be the fans behind the goal who support the team whose goalkeeper is attempting to save the penalty about to be taken. As the player prepares to strike the ball, these fans may well pause their prayers to make hostile noises and obscene hand gestures in an attempt to put the penalty taker off. But by the time a player on their team is preparing to take the next penalty, they will silently resume praying.

This aphorism began life in the context not of sport, but war – although nobody seems sure which one. I thought the contention that there were no atheists in foxholes was first expressed at the time of Vietnam, but it turns out there are examples of its use in the second world war and, albeit referencing the trenches rather than a foxhole, in the first world war. The same idea was alive and kicking in the previous century too, when sinking ships were cited as a good place for faith-testing. Before that, I suppose the idea that there wasn’t some deity in charge of things was thought too absurd to merit challenge.

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We would like to hear about when you or your children experienced scepticism about Santa

Whether you spotted your parents eating the mince pie left by the fireplace, or an older sibling shattered the illusion for you, we want to hear about when you found out the truth about Santa.

How old were you when disbelief started to creep in and what was your reaction? Or perhaps you have dismissed other people’s testimony and still believe in Santa’s existence.

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Selfridges hails Italian classic as ‘a new undisputed champion of Christmas grub’ as demand soars

Shoppers at upmarket British retailers are eschewing the traditional Christmas pudding in favour of panettone for a lighter festive dessert this year.

Panettone has been steadily growing in popularity in the UK in recent years, but retailers said demand for the Milanese bread had soared this winter.

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