The Christmas tree might not seem like a tradition older than the holiday itself. But as historian Troy Bickham explains, erecting evergreen plants during winter solstice celebrations is a ritual that predates Christianity. When Christmas became a holiday, the practice was simply adapted – and even then, really took place only among Protestants.

It was only in the 19th century that the ritual became popularised. England had an outsize influence on middle-class culture in the English-speaking world, and Bickham tells the story of how an image of Queen Victoria and her tree went viral, launching a tradition that has now become commonplace around the world – even in places where Christianity isn’t the dominant religion.

There’s a fine line between educating people about the transatlantic slave trade and using the history of enslaved Africans to lure tourists to West Africa. That’s the line that the huge new Marina Project in Benin is walking. The development, by the government, of the mega resort - with waterfront hotels and restaurants, a garden of remembrance and a theatre for cultural performances - throws up several questions. Anthropologist Dominique Somda considers the pros and cons.