Get in the spirit with 'A Country Christmas'
For those who are uninformed, I am not a fan of winter holidays. Each year, I really struggle to get in the “holiday spirit” and am often left feeling as though, for me, it simply does not exist.
Since coming to college, though, I have realized that this time of year means different things for different people, a notion that is perfectly captured in Louisa May Alcott’s short story, “A Country Christmas.”
It is through experiencing moments such as those depicted in the story, as well as in real life, that I am able to more easily come to terms with the potential joy that awaits in each holiday season.
Alcott wrote quite a few Christmas stories in her lifetime, creating something akin to a Hallmark Christmas marathon for readers of the realistic period.
In “A Country Christmas,” a group of city folk decide to visit their friend’s country family in rural Vermont. Its premise is akin to that of “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” but far more focused on the perspective of the country rather than that of the city, which is never visited and only discussed.
It is very charming to me that, even for a short story written almost 150 years ago, the way Christmas and the holiday spirit were written are very similar to today.
There is an aura of sugary sweetness to the entirety of the text; it is the literary equivalent of licking sugar off a gumdrop. For some, it might be too much; normally, I would be inclined to agree, but it is just subdued enough by its charm and age that I was able to tolerate it much more than I would a modern-day holiday tale. It does not overstay its welcome, and the lesson on the “meaning of Christmas” is far more tolerable than others like it.
It does exactly what it needs to do, says what it needs to say and never ventures off course. The course may not be a surprise, but it is pleasant and leaves the reader feeling cozier than they were before; it did for me, at least.
Though it does not have the broader scope of “A Christmas Carol,” “A Country Christmas” is a perfect read for this time of year. It is quite short and can be completed in one sitting – I listened to the 2- hour audiobook for free on YouTube.
This is, in my opinion, the best way to consume it. You can gather around some friends and family and play this in the background while doing other activities, much like how my grandmother does with Hallmark movies. The only difference would be that “A Country Christmas” is a well-intentioned, well-written work from one of America’s greatest authors, a noteworthy improvement.
For those who are prone to being scrooges like me, you may find that “A Country Christmas” rings a little hollow, like many other holiday stories. Nevertheless, it is worth a read and may offer a few new perspectives on how this season is meant to be spent.
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