Irving, Washington 1783-1859 creator Caldecott, Randolph 1846-1886 text utu 2007 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Old Christmas: from the Sketch Book of Washington Irving" by Washington Irving is a collection of festive essays written in the early 19th century. This work reflects the nostalgic celebration of Christmas traditions and customs from a bygone era, emphasizing themes of hospitality, joy, and community spirit during the holiday season. Irving's writing draws on a variety of characters encountered throughout the festivities, intricately weaving their experiences into the larger tapestry of Christmas in rural England. At the start of the text, the author shares his fond reminiscences of Christmas, describing its warmth and the sense of togetherness that prevails during the festival. He contrasts modern society's eroding traditions with the vibrant memories of leisurely family gatherings, jovial celebrations, and communal feasting. The opening segment introduces various scenes of Christmas preparations, bustling stagecoach travel, and charming characters such as the enthusiastic schoolboys, the robust coachman, and the welcoming country squire, setting a cheerful tone that invites readers into an idyllic celebration of the holiday spirit. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2007-02-24 Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) Original publication data not identified Christmas stories, American Christmas -- England PS Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20656 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20656 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133457.0 20656