This was an absolutely fascinating read, I loved hearing of Christmases gone by and it was amazing how people celebrated during such an austere period of history.
Simple values, gifts and make do and mend, homemade gifts, home cooked foods when able to get ingredients were all given as presents.
Stacks of interviews and accounts of people who actually lived through this time gives the reader a sense of immediacy of the period and a sort of living history.
All facets of Christmas were discussed, entertainments, sing songs, music, food, games, gifts, traditions, decorations, farm life, city life, this included everything and all ways in which people kept Christmas in their own way.
Sadly of course this was a harsh time and there are the living off the land aspect and animal cruelty I found tough to deal with so marred the enjoyment of it somewhat thought I appreciate that the author has to recount everything faithfully to be accurate to give the correct flavour and my triggers might not be someone else's.
So overall this was fantastic and a totally different and refreshing Christmas read blending history and fact.
Simple values, gifts and make do and mend, homemade gifts, home cooked foods when able to get ingredients were all given as presents.
Stacks of interviews and accounts of people who actually lived through this time gives the reader a sense of immediacy of the period and a sort of living history.
All facets of Christmas were discussed, entertainments, sing songs, music, food, games, gifts, traditions, decorations, farm life, city life, this included everything and all ways in which people kept Christmas in their own way.
Sadly of course this was a harsh time and there are the living off the land aspect and animal cruelty I found tough to deal with so marred the enjoyment of it somewhat thought I appreciate that the author has to recount everything faithfully to be accurate to give the correct flavour and my triggers might not be someone else's.
So overall this was fantastic and a totally different and refreshing Christmas read blending history and fact.