You can find many holiday themed romance and mystery books (and if you enjoy them, don’t listen to the haters- read what you want to read!). However, it can be more difficult to find non-fiction books about Christmas. And that is doubly true if you want a non-fiction alternative to history books. (If you do want books on the history of Christmas, I have you covered!) This collection of essays- or perhaps essay memoirs?- is a fantastic choice if you want a shorter read that is still in the festive spirit. For our Holiday Book Bite, we have Old Christmas by Washington Irving.
Old Christmas, Washington Irving
Originally published in 1819-20 and illustrated by Randolph Caldecott, the five stories in Old Christmas describe English traditions of Christmas and recount the festivities that Irving experienced while visiting Aston Hall, (here known as ‘Bracebridge Hall’), a Jacobean mansion near Birmingham, UK.
‘Christmas’ reflects on the meaning of Christmas and the ceremonies and festivities that attend it. ‘The Stage Coach’ follows the protagonist as he spends Christmas eve in a small town during a coach stop. ‘Christmas Eve’, ‘Christmas Day’ and ‘The Christmas Dinner’ recount Irving’s memories at Aston Hall, including the sumptuous banquet and joyful family time of the Christmas dinner.
Featuring original black and white illustrations by Randolph Caldecott, these nostalgic recollections of Christmas traditions in 19th century England are a perfect way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Why You Should Read This…
I was a little unsure when I decided to read this. It was included in a set of three classic Christmas books from Arcturus that are all beautiful, but I had to pause when I saw it was Washington Irving. (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a classic, but I’m not one for ghost stories.) However, I am happy to say- I was very wrong!
Old Christmas is an interesting collection of essays and stories from Irving’s time in England. While he has taken some creative liberties, they very much feel like a cross between fiction and non-fiction. It is a cosy feeling, and it makes for very festive reading. (I will say, it is a very idealised Victorian Christmas but so much of the holiday season is idealised.)
This was also a great read for the holiday season because each essay is fairly short and should not take a terribly long time to read. While reading often goes on the back burner during the holiday season because there is no shortage of things to do, this is a great book if you need a little break.
Finally, if you can, I would recommend this edition if you can. Not only is the book itself beautiful, but the illustrations really cap it off.
Is Old Christmas by Washington Irving on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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