Christmas Curiosities: Odd, Dark, and Forgotten Christmas, by John Grossman.Thoughts of Christmas in the 1800s usually turn toward chestnuts roasting on an open fire, carolers singing at windows, sleigh rides, and the stories of Charles Dickens. But John Grossman reveals another side to the holiday in this fascinating volume, detailing the strange and sometimes disturbing traditions that used to accompany this now beloved celebration. Roving gangs of drunkards; youthful vandals bursting into homes demanding food and drink; witches, devils, goblins, and other Halloweeny iconography; and the fearful Krampus, St. Nicholas' "enforcer", are presented via antique postcards and illustrations from Grossman's renowned collection of Victoriana.
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