Light and life on the darkest day of the year. The tradition of bringing greenery and light into the house during the solstice, the darkest time of the year, is ancient, predating Christianity by thousands of years. The tradition was largely lost in northern Europe by the 19th century except in some Germanic communities. Following her marriage to German Prince Albert, England’s Queen Victoria reintroduced the Christmas tree to Britain when an engraving was published in 1848 featured the Queen, the Prince, and their children decorating a tree.
This was just five years after Charles Dickens had published “A Christmas Carol,” introducing the world to Mr. Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and the ghostly Christmas Eve visitors to Scrooge’s chamber. Between Dickens and Prince Albert, Christmas as we know it was born. The Victorian tradition lives on at our old house.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” was written to help people who are attracted to old houses and the traditions that come with them, and anyone else who wants to restore a house with sensitivity to its character-defining features.
The 720 page award-winning and best-selling hardcover book is available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in the shop on this site, Shop – Your Historic House.
Bookstores can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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