Presence, not presents: Finding meaning in a minimalist Christmas

Katherine May loves winter, from the cozy comforts of being indoors to the “blustery outdoor stuff.” But she is no great fan of Christmas – or at least the busywork that starts two months ahead of Dec. 25 and leaves her depleted before it even arrives. “I’m quite well known in my family for opening my Christmas cards standing over the recycling bin and just throwing them in,” she says.

Ms. May, author of the book “Wintering,” which is an ode to the fallow season but also treats it as a metaphor for the tough times in life that can be restorative, for years simply sent out an email greeting at Christmas. This year, however, she ordered custom cards – with images of foxes, polar bears, and festive fireworks. She also lit up her home in Whitstable, on the southeastern coast of England, in a blaze of lights as the days began to darken in November.