by Gavin Weightman and Stephen Humphries
As mentioned in a previous review, this trade paperback was a purchase from the remainder table of original Borders Books on Roswell Road in Atlanta. I was delighted to find it because I had seen (and videotaped) the original television special years ago when it was broadcast on A&E (back when A&E showed quite a few documentaries). It is a history of the celebration of Christmas in Great Britain, and, like the television special, is crammed full of historical photographs about bygone holidays. It is especially fascinating talking about customs that are pretty much unknown in America, from the most familiar which might be the "Christmas cracker" to obscure customs like the "Mari Llwd," a horse's skull carried from house to house in Wales which was a legacy of pagan times (along with the wassailing of Christmas trees). Another once-popular custom—even more popular than having a Christmas tree—was a decoration called a "mistletoe," barrel staves decorated with tissue paper with holly or mistletoe mounted in the the center, that would be hung up as the main display. There are also memoirs from men and women who grew up poor in the early part of the 20th century and remember the meager Christmases of their youth, as well as memories of children and adults who had to celebrate in the workhouse.
And wait—there's more: memories of colonial Christmases in India, the Victorian contribution to the celebration, wartime Christmases...as full of goodies as a stocking hung on the mantel. Highly recommended!
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