An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall

Today I’m featuring a treasured possession that always comes out at Christmas in our house. It’s An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall, a wonderful picture book containing beautifully painted scenes that depict a nostalgic Christmas surely many of us would love to experience. If you’re lucky you may be able to find a copy in a second-hand bookshop or buy a used version online. 

Here are some of my favourite scenes in the book. 

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Front cover (above) – A white Christmas is pretty rare here in the south of the UK (we usually get our snow after Christmas) but who wouldn’t love one so they can build a snowman. Never mind the cold, because Nanny made sure we were properly dressed up in boots, winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves.  Plus there will be tea and crumpets waiting for us in the Nursery when we get back.

 Oh, for the days when shopping for Christmas food was like this not battling with your trolley around the supermarket or clicking items for an online shop.

The candles are lit in the vestry and the choir is warming up so it’s time to hurry through the snow to the local church for Midnight Mass.

Decorating the Christmas tree is a childhood memory for a lot of us but who wouldn’t have liked the fun of decorating this monster?

This kitchen looks positively calm which I don’t think is representative of many of us who take on the responsibility of cooking Christmas Dinner. Mind you, we probably don’t have this many helpers! I do hope Cook is taking that turkey out of the oven rather than putting it in otherwise there could be a long wait for lunch…

No slumping in front of the TV to watch the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special or a decades old blockbuster but civilized entertainment for all the family around the pianoforte.

I don’t know about you but my Boxing Day buffet never looks like this. Where are the turkey sandwiches, the tin of Quality Street and the tub of Twiglets?  Would you mind awfully passing me another slice of smoked salmon…

Fancy dress party, anyone? No, costume ball please – much more glamorous but no less entertaining from the look on the faces here.

Forget Black Friday or Cyber Monday, rather a visit to the local department store to view the merchandise and bag a bargain.

No reality TV stars or near-the-knuckle jokes but a good old-fashioned pantomime with nobody recording it on their mobile phone.

Would you love to inhabit An Edwardian Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

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