Project Gutenberg 2006-05-14 Public domain in the USA. 246 Irving, Washington 1783 1859 Crayon, Geoffrey Old Christmas There is an improved edition of this title, eBook #20656 Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger "Old Christmas" by Washington Irving is a nostalgic celebration of Christmas traditions and festivities, written in the early 19th century. This charming piece reflects on the profound impact of Christmas customs in rural England, exploring themes of familial bonds, hospitality, and the joy of gathering together during the holiday season. Through his picturesque and lyrical commentary, Irving evokes a sense of longing for the simpler, merrier days of yore, underscoring the warmth and unity that characterized Christmas in the past. The opening of "Old Christmas" establishes a reflective tone as the narrator bemoans the fading holiday customs and rituals that once brought communities together. It depicts the preparations for Christmas, emphasizing the delightful atmosphere of bustling coaches, festive decorations, and the anticipation of family reunions. The narrator observes travel through the countryside, where children eagerly await returning home for the holidays, and introduces charming anecdotes about the warmth of hospitality found in English inns. Thus, the stage is set for a heartfelt exploration of how the spirit of Christmas enriches lives and fosters connections, bridging the gap between past and present traditions. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 55.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Christmas stories, American Christmas -- England PS Text Category: Novels Category: British Literature 151502 2025-07-01T10:54:36.262556 text/html 146950 2019-08-07T13:46:06 text/html; charset=us-ascii 53737 2019-08-07T13:46:42 text/html; charset=us-ascii application/zip 122098 2025-07-01T10:54:40.540558 application/epub+zip 124900 2025-07-01T10:54:37.845538 application/epub+zip 124901 2025-07-01T10:54:36.826576 application/epub+zip 220908 2025-07-01T10:54:42.556536 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 212659 2025-07-01T10:54:39.937548 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 178885 2022-09-01T12:36:24.725922 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 130085 2025-07-01T10:54:35.967579 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 129986 2006-05-13T16:07:36 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 51021 2006-05-13T16:07:50 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 18883 2025-07-01T10:54:42.676508 application/rdf+xml 11500 2025-07-01T10:54:37.316540 image/jpeg 3289 2025-07-01T10:54:37.070573 image/jpeg 119500 2025-07-01T10:54:36.274591 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia