Table of Contents
I Introduction 1
Pagan to Puritan 2
New England Finally Takes a Holiday 6
II O Christmas Tree 11
Christmas Greens and Spices 15
Charles Foil en and the Christmas Tree Church 19
Tipping the 'Tree of Life" 23
The Rocks Estate Christmas Tree Farm 27
Topping Off 28
The Gift of Green: The Halifax Explosion 29
III St. Nicholas 33
The Man Who Loved Christmas: James Van Alen 38
Silent Santa 40
Flying Santa 43
Two Santas for Boston 49
Rudolph, the Most Famous Reindeer 52
A Magical Ride on the Polar Express 54
IV Gifts and Greetings 57
Louis Prang, Father of the American Christmas Card 59
Christmas in the City: Some Miracles Are Divine, Others Human 62
Let the Games Begin 64
Dennison Manufacturing: When Your Heart Is in the Gift 67
New England Seafarers Mission: A Ditty Bag Christmas 69
O Little Town of Bethlehem 70
V Lights and Decorations 75
Candlelight Strolls: Old Sturbridge Village and Strawbery Banke 77
Nubble Light: A Beacon of Hope 80
Mystic Seaport: Christmas by the Sea 82
Nantucket Noel: Killen Dory 84
ChemArt: Keepsakes Etched in Time 85
VI Music, Art, and Literature 89
Five Men Making Music 91
Sleigh Bells Ring at Bevin Brothers Bells 96
God Bless Us, Every One! 100
Ode to Christmas 103
Dylan Thomas and the Dean 105
A Beacon Hill Christmas 106
A Norman Rockwell Christmas 111
Welcome Yule: The Revels 112
A Peter Hunt Christmas 114
On a Sleigh Ride with the Boston Pops 116
VII Let It Snow 123
Snowflake Bentley 125
Chester Greenwood and His Ear muffs 127
The Christmas Blizzard of 1909 130
Touched by an Angel: Larkin Mead Jr. 131
Dashing thro' the Snow 133
VIII How We Celebrate the Season 137
The Shakers: A Gift to Be Simple 138
Captain James Magee's Holiday Party 141
Meninho Jesu: The Little Jesus 143
One Enchanted Evening 145
The Christmas Parish: Holy Trinity German Church 149
Stir Up, We Beseech Thee: Trinity Church, Newport 151
Turtle Frolic 155
Christmas for the Birds 157
Christmas for the Horses 159
Index 163