Tuesday, March 19

Month: December 2021

Memories of Christmas Enchantment
Essays

Memories of Christmas Enchantment

by Anne Ierardi Making raviolis at Aunt Josie's home, author's mother in the middle. It’s Christmas season in 1960s Boston. After my mother dragged me up and down the escalators at Jordan Marsh and Filenes to try on frilly dresses, I could count on two rewards: lunch on the eighth floor of Filenes—white tablecloths and chicken a la king—and the awesome Enchanted Village created in 1958 by the president of Jordan Marsh. Mr. Minton’s Bavaria artisans created 80,000 pounds of Santa’s helpers, friends, pets, a general store, shoemaker’s shop, glassblower’s shop, and a sled named Rosebud.  He dedicated it to the children of New England to cast a spell of enchantment.  My grandparents would not have understood a ban against Christmas practiced by the Puritans of New England ....