Day 9 of Nightlight Readings: The Cricket on the Hearth

 

Ah, Dickens, I melt when I think of his pros. Every year I try to read one of his popular Christmas short stories, most often "A Christmas Carol," but another one in the repertoire is "The Cricket on the Hearth." When Dickens first began his work, he primarily planned to create a periodical on the home called The Cricket, and soon found it develop into a Christmas novella. Unlike his other writings, this short story was focused simply on a domestic Christmas setting with a simplistic hero. The story was released in December 1845 and was originally titled "1846," which helped the sells soar in the New Year. For years it was more popular than "A Christmas Carol," until Russian leader Vladimir Lenin walked out of a performance and called it too sentimental and idyllic. 

The story goes of a young family, John and Dot Peerybingle and baby, and a cricket that constantly chirps on the hearth, acting as the family's guardian angel. The young family intersects with the life of a toy maker, who's young son is presumed dead after a trip to South America. The son's betrothed is then scheduled to marry the toy maker's boss, Mr. Tackleton. Dot is later seen embracing a young man and John accuses her of being unfaithful. It is soon revealed that the young man is the toy maker's son and Mr. Tackleton, a miser much like Ebenezer Scrooge, ends up having a change of heart and allows the toy maker's son rejoin his true love. 

A New Year of Classics

I hope everyone enjoyed the 1st Annual 25 Days of Christmas Nightlight Readings. I had so much fun researching the literary history of each posting. There is so much to look forward to in the new year, with weddings (including my own), new historical research and finds, the release of the 1940 census on Ancestry.com (FINALLY!), and so much more! So to start—the schedule for a new season of Masterpiece Classic. I am so looking forward to the 2nd season of Downton Abbey. If you haven't seen it before, I hope you caught up with the 1st season the last couple Sundays. If not, the last episode will be played this Sunday evening at 9. I believe it is available of Netflix as well. So without further ado, I give you the 2012 schedule (and it's a great line-up at that!)...

Masterpiece Classic

This winter and spring, Masterpiece classic returns with signature period dramas, hosted by Laura Linney.

• December 18 & 25, 2011; January 1, 2012 at 9pm
  (Check local listings)
  Downton Abbey, Season One
  Episodes 1 & 2 (Dec. 18th - 180 minutes);
  Episodes 3-4 (90 minutes); TV-PG
  A stately country house, a noble family and a succession crisis are the backdrop for this Primetime Emmy® Award winning drama by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) starring Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and others.
  
• January 8, 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12 & 19, 2012 at 9pm
  (Check local listings)
  Downton Abbey, Season Two
  Episode 1, 6 & 7 (120 minutes); Episodes 2-5 (60 minutes); TV-PG
  Multiple Primetime Emmy® Award winner (including Outstanding Miniseries) Downton Abbey resumes the story of aristocrats and servants in the tumultuous World War I era.
  
• January 15, 22 & 29, 2012 at 10pm
  (Limited TV airings; Check local listings)
  Sherlock
  Three 90-minute episodes
  Sherlock Holmes stalks again in this contemporary thriller, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (War Horse) as the go-to consulting detective in modern-day London, with Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as Dr. John Watson.
  
• February 26, 2012 at 9pm   (Check local listings)
  The Old Curiosity Shop
  One 90-minute episode
  A teenage girl and her grandfather lose everything to a maniacal moneylender and flee his relentless pursuit. Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius) stars as Grandfather, with Sophie Vavasseur (Northanger Abbey) as Nell and Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Quilp.
  
• April 1 & 8, 2012 at 9pm   (Check local listings)
  Great Expectations
  Episode 1 (60 minutes); Episode 2 (120 minutes)
  Great Expectations tells the story of Pip the battered orphan boy, who rises from blacksmith's apprentice to gentleman under the patronage of a mysterious benefactor. Gillian Anderson (Bleak House), David Suchet (Hercule Poirot) and Ray Winstone star.
  
• April 15, 2012 at 9pm   (Check local listings)
  The Mystery of Edwin Drood
  One 120-minute episode
  An adaptation and completion of Charles Dickens' last novel left unfinished at his death, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood is a psychological thriller about a provincial choirmaster's obsession with 17-year-old Rosa Bud. Cast includes Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters) and Julia MacKenzie (Miss Marple).
  
• April 22 & 29, 2012 at 9pm   (Check local listings)
  Birdsong
  Two 90-minute episodes
  Based on Sebastian Faulk's novel about lovers torn apart by World War I. Eddie Redmayne (The Pillars of the Earth) plays Stephen Wrayford, whose pre-war affair with Isabelle Azaire (Clemence Poesy, Harry Potter) has an enduring effect on him as he fights in the trenches.
  

Day 15 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: A Christmas Carol

Forgive me dear readers for not posting yesterday. I did not forget—Christmas shopping just takes a lot out of you. Since I neglected "Christmas Nightlight Readings" yesterday I will give you two today, starting with one of the most famous and adaptable Christmas stories from none other but Charles Dickens.

We have seen this story over and over again on film and stage, from "A Muppet Christmas Carol" (one of my favorites) to George C. Scott in "A Christmas Carol." I don't need to fill you in on the plot, because I don't know anyone who doesn't know the story. So as routine suggests, I will tell you the story behind the story.

As written in an earlier post, O Tannenbaum, the Victorian era reintroduced the tradition of the Christmas tree (via Queen Victoria and her German husband Prince Albert) to the world as well as many other traditions. The Victorian era was fraught with the coal smoke of the Industrial Revolution and capitalism was sweeping Christmas traditions under the rug. During the 1840s, when Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, Englishmen were trying to reinvigorate traditions. In many ways Dickens own childhood inspired the characters and the plot, for he experienced a humiliating childhood and had great sympathy for the poor (he grew up poor). Immediately upon publication the book was a hit in Great Britain, but it received less enthusiasm in America (this was soon after Dickens' tourist journal of America was published and there were some hard feelings).

By the end of the Civil War, nearly every other household in America owned or had read A Christmas Carol. The story helped Americans remember the spirit of kindness and generosity. This story has been such a great influence, several adaptations have been produced (with an influx of made-for-TV movies). There is even evidence in its inspiration in "It's a Wonderful Life," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Day 13 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

As it has been so cold outside these last few days, I am often reminded of one of my favorite Nutcracker suits, "Waltz of the Snowflakes." (Still waiting on our first winter snow.) The story was written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. Most of us either see The Nutcracker ballet around the holiday season or are familiar with it. We all know the story of Marie who is gifted a Nutcracker doll by her godfather, a clockmaker. However, the nutcracker isn't just any doll, for as midnight falls the Nutcracker comes to life, fights the evil mouse king, and sweeps Marie off to a magical land of sugar plums and snowflakes.

The earliest version of the wooden doll nutcrackers can be traced to the woodcarving towns of 17th century Germany, next to wood toys. As Germans immigrated, so did these nutcrackers. They did not specifically become part of the Christmas holiday, although they were often given as gifts, but they did become a common winter commodity as nuts were often harvested after the first frost. I don't know about you, but nut varieties and nutcrackers seemed to be a Christmas staple in our house growing up—Santa always left nuts and handpicked nectarines in my stocking.

So as the night drops into the low 20s (unfortunately with no snow in sight), I leave you with this favorite Nutcracker performance:

Day 11 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: O Tannenbaum

The tradition of Christmas trees are originally a German one, that can be traced back to the ancient Gauls, who used to surround their homes with evergreen branches during winter. But if you think about, the decorated Christmas trees of our modern tradition are rather new. Most give the introduction of the Christmas tree tradition to Queen Victoria, but already the tradition was spreading from Germany as Germans were immigrating from their country. Queen Victoria herself grew up with two Christmas trees set up in her room every year, but with the printing of the above illustration in Godey's Lady's Book in December of 1850, this new tradition of decorating a family Christmas tree was spreading rapidly through the Western world. This image was continually reprinted in such feminine magazines like Godey's every year and by 1870 setting up a Christmas tree in the family home was a common thing.

Since we can trace the Christmas tree tradition back to Germany, so can we trace one of the oldest Christmas carols, "O Tannenbaum" (translated 'fir tree' but sung "O Christmas Tree" in English). The earliest known written lyrics can be dated back to 1550. The popular tune, which has been used to the lyrics of state anthems, and have been in everything from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to "Glee."

So as we decorate our Christmas tree, I am reminded of the old tradition of evergreens and how commonplace the tradition may now seem for us today were not as familiar to our ancestral counterparts. The tradition of a decorated Christmas tree is a rather new one in America.