A European Winter: Christmas in London
"Happy, happy Christmas," Charles Dickens wrote in 1836, "that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!" Charles Dickens is to our modern Christmas as Father Christmas is to the English. To be here in London, a city that dates back thousands of years for the holidays, with family and lover is simply brilliant.
Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol's' characters Scrooge and Marley are as well known to history as Christmas in London. As winter descends upon us in Rochester, NY, the seasonal spirit awakens. Christmas tree hunting starts after Thanksgiving as we search for our annual White Pine at Wilburt's Farm in Webster. Lights and shopping and holiday traditions we leave behind with the wintery mix in Western New York in exchange for the holidays with Mom in Northern Europe. Who could possibly say bah humbug in this atmosphere in London.
Among the ubiquitous churches and museums is the quiet, secret history of Europe in the winter season--it's empty! Of course, the English are busy with the holiday hustle. Stores and shops are closed well ahead of Christmas Eve and the daft Christmas-Eve shoppers are out of luck shopping at the last minute in the United Kingdom. Fires are being stoked and the air smells of cozy, but plain English living rooms. Here at Charmouth Court, the turkey is in the oven and the small Charlie Brown tree is decorated with chocolates and candy canes--no candles of Christmases past. Happy Christmas!
Another highlight was the visit St. Paul's Cathedral for Christmas carol services on the Eve of Christmas. The second-largest Dome outside of St. Peter's in Rome is a fantastic setting for the talented choir to perform "Holy Night." Of course, Anglican services have been happening at St. Paul's Cathedral for the past 300 years. This great church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire in 1666, sits atop Ludgate Hill, part of the old Roman city of Londonium. The strategic place in the city, near the Thames River and high above many parts of the financial district, give perfect location for magnificent views and Christian services. Indeed, Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ for over 1400 years on this very hill. We are but a small dot in the long history of Christian services on these British isles.
Other traditions from the States have European links. Mistletoe, the parasitic tree killer from Normandy, took off here in England during Roman times. They brought evergreens into the home during the winter solstice to remember the green times. During the conservative Victorian times, these mistletoe boughs were considered dangerous because kissing leads to evil deeds. Indeed, Victorian English would remove a berry everytime a kiss happened under the mistletoe, expiring with the last berry!
The Christmas tree didn't taken over until the German (Hanover) English royal Prince Albert, who married Victoria. The royal children were so enthralled with the candles on the tree in the 1850s that it became an instant hit in London. Boxing day, the 26th of December, also is a European tradition. Christmas was a day of giving, and the working class would go the Churches the day after to break the Alms boxes and share the proceeds.
Christmas cards are another London tradition, the first card designed and drawn by John Calcott Horsley.
"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some," Charles Dickens implored at Christmas time. The real history of Charles Dickens is masked by his colorful, best-selling Christmas stories. The son of a
Navy clerk, he grew up poor, and poorly taken care of in his own words. At the age of 12, he started working 12 hour days at a boot-blackening factory, pasting labels on jars with thick paste, and earned 6 shillings a week! Both parents eventually went to debtor's jail, and he became a reformist writer, describing the terrible conditions of the working class. For all of us in these modern times full of strife and at this holy time for so many folks around the world, may we remember this Christmas our blessings, remember the poor and less fortunate, and take time to lighten the burden of this world for someone else. "I will honor Christmas in my heart," Charles Dickens remarked, "and try to keep it all the year. "
Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol's' characters Scrooge and Marley are as well known to history as Christmas in London. As winter descends upon us in Rochester, NY, the seasonal spirit awakens. Christmas tree hunting starts after Thanksgiving as we search for our annual White Pine at Wilburt's Farm in Webster. Lights and shopping and holiday traditions we leave behind with the wintery mix in Western New York in exchange for the holidays with Mom in Northern Europe. Who could possibly say bah humbug in this atmosphere in London.
Among the ubiquitous churches and museums is the quiet, secret history of Europe in the winter season--it's empty! Of course, the English are busy with the holiday hustle. Stores and shops are closed well ahead of Christmas Eve and the daft Christmas-Eve shoppers are out of luck shopping at the last minute in the United Kingdom. Fires are being stoked and the air smells of cozy, but plain English living rooms. Here at Charmouth Court, the turkey is in the oven and the small Charlie Brown tree is decorated with chocolates and candy canes--no candles of Christmases past. Happy Christmas!
Another highlight was the visit St. Paul's Cathedral for Christmas carol services on the Eve of Christmas. The second-largest Dome outside of St. Peter's in Rome is a fantastic setting for the talented choir to perform "Holy Night." Of course, Anglican services have been happening at St. Paul's Cathedral for the past 300 years. This great church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire in 1666, sits atop Ludgate Hill, part of the old Roman city of Londonium. The strategic place in the city, near the Thames River and high above many parts of the financial district, give perfect location for magnificent views and Christian services. Indeed, Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ for over 1400 years on this very hill. We are but a small dot in the long history of Christian services on these British isles.
Other traditions from the States have European links. Mistletoe, the parasitic tree killer from Normandy, took off here in England during Roman times. They brought evergreens into the home during the winter solstice to remember the green times. During the conservative Victorian times, these mistletoe boughs were considered dangerous because kissing leads to evil deeds. Indeed, Victorian English would remove a berry everytime a kiss happened under the mistletoe, expiring with the last berry!
The Christmas tree didn't taken over until the German (Hanover) English royal Prince Albert, who married Victoria. The royal children were so enthralled with the candles on the tree in the 1850s that it became an instant hit in London. Boxing day, the 26th of December, also is a European tradition. Christmas was a day of giving, and the working class would go the Churches the day after to break the Alms boxes and share the proceeds.
Christmas cards are another London tradition, the first card designed and drawn by John Calcott Horsley.
"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some," Charles Dickens implored at Christmas time. The real history of Charles Dickens is masked by his colorful, best-selling Christmas stories. The son of a
Navy clerk, he grew up poor, and poorly taken care of in his own words. At the age of 12, he started working 12 hour days at a boot-blackening factory, pasting labels on jars with thick paste, and earned 6 shillings a week! Both parents eventually went to debtor's jail, and he became a reformist writer, describing the terrible conditions of the working class. For all of us in these modern times full of strife and at this holy time for so many folks around the world, may we remember this Christmas our blessings, remember the poor and less fortunate, and take time to lighten the burden of this world for someone else. "I will honor Christmas in my heart," Charles Dickens remarked, "and try to keep it all the year. "
posted by Mark Mason @ 10:46 PM
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