Day 6 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: 5135 Kensington; or, Meet Me in St. Louis

I don't know about you, but whenever I think about one of my favorite movies, "Meet Me in St. Louis," I can't help but think of Christmas and my all-time favorite song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Although there have to be a hundred different versions, Judy Garland still does the best rendition. You might be wondering why I choose "Meet Me in St. Louis," for Day 6, because it's a movie not a book, which you are absolutely right! But one thing many people don't realize about this movie, is that the story is actually an adaptation of the memoir vignettes of Sally Benson (the real Esther Smith—played by Judy Garland). The stories were first titled "5135 Kensington," but in 1942 as the movie was being scripted, Benson added a few more chapters and titled it "Meet Me in St. Louis" after the script. (Benson wrote an early addition of the screenplay that was never used.)

If you are interested in reading the book, it is available at Amazon here.

One of my favorite scenes is when Esther returns from her Christmas ball to see Tootie still up, waiting for Santa Claus, worried that Santa may not find them next year after they move from St. Louis. Of course, Judy Garland begins to sing my all time favorite song. (Although in the movie they end up not moving from St. Louis, in the real story the family does move—but MGM did not think that would be an appropriate ending—after all happy endings sold tickets!)

Day 5 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: Little Women, Ch. 1-3

Just this summer I spent a week visiting my best friend in Boston, Massachusetts. During my visit I was able to take a day trip to Concord. (To read about my visit, go here.) A New England town full of literary history, we were able to see the home of Louisa May Alcott where she wrote Little Women. This story has always been a favorite of mine and probably helped influence my love of the era of the American Civil War.

If anyone was curious how Christmas was in the North during the Civil War, Little Women is a great example. For the last couple of years, one evening before Christmas, I take a moment to read the first few chapters of the book in which the March sisters celebrate Christmas in the midst of the war (absent of their father).

It opens with the sisters complaining of their poor status and how Christmas would not be the same without presents, and without Father (Beth of course is not one of the girls complaining). In the second chapter they awake Christmas morning, but Marmee is gone taking care of a sick poor family. When their mother returns the girls are hungry waiting for their Christmas breakfast. However, in the spirit of Christmas they decide to go trekking through the snow to bring their breakfast and Christmas to the home of the poor family. Generosity and charity make the best Christmas stories. In the third chapter, Jo and Meg are invited to a New Years Eve party at the Gardiners, where despite some mishaps with a curling iron, getting too close to the fire, and stained gloves, they have a festive time (this is also where Laurie first graces the tale).

I have always loved this story—to think Louisa May Alcott did not really want to write the story and in fact called it "dull" after completing the first few chapters—and I will continue to love this story. I might even open the first few pages tonight before bed. Enjoy!

*If you are interested in how this story has helped inspire me and how it influenced my own writing, read this excerpt from my manuscript.

Day 4 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: "Mr. Edward's Meets Santa Claus" in Little House on the Prairie

Spending some father time this afternoon, helping him put up Christmas lights, reminded me of one of our favorite shared classics, Little House on the Prairie. One of the most well known stories within the book is the story of Mr. Edwards, the friendly backwoods' man, trekking through bad weather and a swollen creek to bring presents to the Ingalls girls from Santa Claus. The story goes where the Ingalls girls, knowing there was no way Santa Claus could cross the creek, fell asleep in their beds hoping they would wake to something. And something was exactly what they woke up to: Mr. Edwards soaked through and teeth chattering.

"No creek could stop me, after I fetched them their gifts from Independence."
Laura sat straight up in the bed. "Did you see Santa Claus?" she shouted.
"I sure did," Mr. Edwards said.
"Where? When? What did he look like? What did he say? Did he really give you something for us?" Mary and Laura cried...
When he saw the creek rising, Mr. Edwards said, he had known that Santa Claus could not get across it....And Mr. Edwards reasoned that if Santa Claus couldn't cross the creek, likely he would come no farther south than Independence...
And there, coming down the street in Independence, he had met Santa Claus...
Well, the first thing Santa Claus said was, "Hello, Edwards..."
So Santa said, "Hello, Edwards! Last time I saw you you were sleeping on a cornshuck bed in Tennessee..."
Then Santa Claus said: "I understand your living now down along the Verdigris River. Have you ever met up, down yonder, with two little young girls named Mary and Laura?"
"I surely am acquainted with them," Mr. Edwards replied.
"It rests heavy on my mind," said Santa Claus. "They are both of them sweet, pretty, good little young things, and I know they are expecting me. I surely do hate to disappoint two good little girls like them. Yet with the water up the way it is, I can't ever make it across the creek. I can figure no way whatsoever to get to their cabin this year. Edwards," Santa Claus said. "Would you do me the favor to fetch them their gifts this one time?"
"I'll do that, and with pleasure," Mr. Edwards told them.
Then Santa Claus and Mr. Edwards stepped across the street to the hitching-posts where the pack-mule was tied. ("Didn't he have his reindeer?" Laura asked. "You know he couldn't," Mary said. "There isn't any snow." Exactly, said Mr. Edwards. Santa Claus traveled with a pack-mule in the southwest.)
And Santa Claus uncinched the pack and looked through it, and he took out the presents for Mary and Laura...
Then he shook hands with Mr. Edwards and he swung up on his fine bay horse. Santa Claus rode well for a man of his weight and build. And he tucked his long, white whiskers under his bandana. "So long, Edwards," he said, and he rode away on the Fort Dodge trail, leading his pack-mule and whistling...

From Santa Claus they received a shiny tin cup, heart-shaped cakes, peppermint sticks, and a penny for each of them. To our own ears—such simplicity! But Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the story so fondly, you would think the tin cup was made of gold, the little cakes made from the best baker in NYC, peppermint imported from Europe, and a million dollars! To Laura, this was one of their most memorable Christmases, where the simple joy in presents from Santa Claus brightened the day. The story is a good reminder to be grateful for what you have and there is great joy in simplicity. (One of my most memorable birthdays was when my family and I were snowed-in, I received a single gift of a birthstone ring, we watched a movie borrowed from our neighbors, and my mom made spice cake from a box found in the back of the pantry with leftover Christmas whipping cream.)

Day 3 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

In September of 1897 a little girl, as most children do at her age, was contemplating the existence of Santa Claus. As she was an astute child (after all she was a doctor's daughter), she thought it necessary to inquire upon the truth. So she decided to write a letter to the editor of The New York Sun, and this is what she penned:

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

The reply, which we now know was veteran newsman, Francis P. Church, has been one of the most reprinted editorials in history. Not only becoming a published children's book (Yes, Virginia, 1971), but also—with the great sponsorship and the commercialization of Macy's—has become a CBS Christmas special. Even in one of my favorite Holiday classics, "Prancer," the last couple paragraphs are read. After reading the article, even the scroogiest Santa critic, will become a believer of Claus.

The original article from The New York Sun (Sep. 21, 1897)

Day 2 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: A Visit from St. Nicholas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there...

Most of us have the poem memorized (or at least parts of it) and have seen many cartoon shorts depicting the story, but almost no one realizes the impact on Christmas and the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus. Written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823 after a snow sleigh ride for his children. Of course the concept of St. Nicholas has graced Christmas Day since early dates, but this is the first instance that St. Nick arrived on Christmas Eve being pulled through the sky on a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. The image described of Santa Claus in this poem is the way we recognize him today: rosy cheeks, snow-white beard, a round belly that "shook like a bowl full of jelly." Prior to this poem—of course there was always St. Nicholas—the concept of Christmastide visitors and Santa Claus varied. This was the first instance that Santa Claus was conceptualized in every American (and later Europe) home and childhood heart.

For further detail on the Santa Claus we know today, this is a great video!