The Bitter Southerner throws tens of thousands of words at you every year. And we know that even our most loyal readers don’t have the time to read them all.

But in this week after Christmas, we expect more than a few of you will have a little extra reading time — at least between all those college-football bowl games. Our little staff has assembled a list of our favorite stories — and yours — from the past year. The list is a mix of the stories that were most widely read, according to the data, and the ones our own crew loved best. We present them here in chronological order.

Enjoy your reading, enjoy your football, and know that The Bitter Southerner wishes you quiet times in the warm arms of family and the happiest new year ever. We raise our glasses and offer you a toast from the words of Charles Dickens: “God bless us, every one.”