This will be the final instalment in our Literary Christmas series for Blogmas 2022! It seems impossible that we already find ourselves at December 21st but Christmas Day is nearly upon us. We opened the series with Charles Dickens, the man behind A Christmas Carol. Then we popped over to Jane Austen whose novels are not centred around the holidays but they are mentioned in each. And today we turn to my other favourite author: LM Montgomery. A Canadian classic, Montgomery’s Anne Shirley and Emily Byrd Starr both celebrate the holidays multiple times. Let’s head into Literary Christmas: LM Montgomery!
Who Is LM Montgomery?
Lucy Maud Montgomery, often called LM Montgomery is the Canadian author behind the Anne of Green Gables series, the Emily of New Moon series, the Avonlea books, and more. Her books remain incredibly popular here in Canada, as well as elsewhere! Although many of her books were written for a younger audience, they are fantastic books for anyone of any age.
Christmas at Green Gables
In Anne of Green Gables, we get one of my favourite Christmas scenes ever written. Matthew, Anne’s adoptive father/uncle of sorts, steps out of his very shy shell to buy Anne a dress with puffed sleeves. She absolutely adores the dress, and could not be more grateful.
Green Gables also includes one of my favourite quotes.
Merry Christmas, Marilla! Merry Christmas, Matthew! Isn’t it a lovely Christmas? I’m so glad it’s white. Any other kind of Christmas doesn’t seem real, does it? I don’t like green Christmases. They’re not green- they’re just nasty faded browns and grays. What makes people call them green? (Anne of Green Gables, chapter 25)
Christmas at New Moon Farm
Emily Byrd Starr also celebrates Christmas with her family/guardians at New Moon Farm. Though it is not quite as warm as Anne’s first Christmas at Green Gables, we still have a strong emphasis on family similar to Austen.
Dear father:
Christmas is over. It was pretty nice. I never saw so many good things cooked all at once. Uncle Wallas and Aunt Eva and Uncle Oliver and Aunt Addies and Aunt Ruth were here…. We had Dr. Curnley and Ilse too. Every one was dressed up. (Emily of New Moon, chapter 20)
Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories
If you would like to spend some festive time with Montgomery’s characters, there is a short story collection that focuses on the holidays, Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories. It was published posthumously, and in addition to including excerpts from Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Windy Poplars, there are fourteen short stories.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Literary Christmas: LM Montgomery, and the series as a whole! I would love to hear what your favourite festive moments in literature are- feel free to send a message or an email…
Cheers,
The Historian
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