NTRODUCTION
~hen I couldn t imagine Christmas existing far beyond the high banks of
now that lined the streets of my hometown. The stories I first listened
a and those I later read only strengthened the impression that Christmas
/as meant to take place where I lived so easily， with the long season s
xpectations， sights， sounds; the increased reminders of good and evil;
he mandatory churchgoing; the seeking of harmony among family and
fiends; the belief in small miracles and in the spirits released through the
ages of Dickens.
There was always snow in Vermont--except for one frightening
ear--and it wasn t until I finally left home that I realized Christmas
fight thrive without it， that it could take place in the imagination， one
ropcrly stoked by memories and the rereading of a favorite book or
:hristmas story. The images have traveled long distances with me， to
olidays spent in Britain， Europe， California， New York， Washington，
ld once in Bethlehem， Pennsylvania.
When I was young we listened to stories about Christmas， read about
hristmas， waited with anticipation for the gift book that was always
rare under the tree. Oh， of course， we sang about Christmas and in
:hool participated in verse-speaking choirs on Christmas themes. But it
as through the story reading that we supported the fantasy of a season
;pecially made for those of us lucky
3or， in Vermont.
enough to be young， and not too
，ia
，;. x i i i \"it
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