Scanned, proofed and corrected from the original hardcover edition for enjoyable reading. (Worth every penny spent!)
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A Righte Merrie Christmasse !! The Story of Christ-tide,' by John Ashton. Mr. Ashton put a vast amount of entertaining and instructive information about Christmas.
Old customs, old superstitions and legends, which have gathered about the 'happy, happy days of Yule,'are all described at some length; indeed, no side of the subject is left untouched, and those curious in Christmas lore will find the work a perfect mine of good thingp. Christmas as celebrated in various countries, and as containing survivals in its celebration of parts of the Roman Saturnalia and the old Scandinavian Yule observances, are dealt with in the opening chapter; historic Christmases, attempts to put down the celebration, carols, old Christmas Eve customs, Christ-tide as celebrated in different parts of the country, legends of the Nativity, the ' Lord of Misrule,' Christmas games, feasting, and gifts, these are but a few of the many subjects fully dealt with in the thirty-three chapters of Mr. Ashton's book.
The work gives evidence of wide and painstaking research. Beautifully compiled and visually handsomel, it forms one of the more notable books of the season. By way of frontispiece there is a fine etching on copper of' The Wassail Song,' by Arthur C. Behrend.
