I did not realize that Christmas used to be illegal here in Boston! How very strange it is to hear such things, but until 1681 you could be fined as much as five shillings for showing one’s holiday spirit. Even now it isn’t even a holiday here and people seem intent on continuing their work – although my parents will no longer be fined if they wish to mark the day in some way, thank goodness!

We do at least have a new Christmas hymn to sing at Church called Hymn on the Nativity, which has been written by a fellow Englishman, and will remind me of the carols we used to sing in Bristol..