In 1949, near the start of the Cold War, E. B. White published a Comment in The New Yorker about the challenges of celebrating the holidays during a perilous season. It can be difficult, he wrote, to “hear the incredibly distant sound of Christmas in these times, through the dark, material woods that surround it.” As we come to the end of 2020, it seems equally daunting to find comfort during this extraordinary holiday season. When the future appears precarious, how do we view the holidays through a hopeful lens? White knew the fear that his readers felt back then, just as all of us recognize the struggles and concerns of our friends, family, and neighbors today. Yet, as he so keenly observed, it is in the essential simplicity of small seasonal kindnesses and altruism that, even in the bleakest hours, the spirit of the holidays can often be perceived.
Today, as a thank-you to our readers—and with thoughts of gratitude for all the nurses, doctors, other health-care workers, and scientists who’ve dedicated so much of their lives to our welfare this past year—we’re bringing you some of our favorite holiday stories from the archive, newly available for online reading and sharing. In “Hack Wednesday,” by Margaret Atwood, a Canadian journalist reflects on her marriage and past decisions as Christmas draws near. In “The Burden of the Feast,” Bobbie Ann Mason recounts growing up on her family’s Kentucky farm and explores the nostalgic allure of holiday cooking. In “Winter in Martinique,” Patrick Chamoiseau describes his enchantment with the Christmas pigs that his mother raised while he was growing up in the Caribbean. Lorrie Moore writes about the complexities of celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas all at once, and James Thurber offers a parody of “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” drawing inspiration from Ernest Hemingway. In “Year’s End,” by Jhumpa Lahiri, a college student returns home for the holidays to discover that his loved ones have changed in his absence. In “The Christmas Miracle,” Rebecca Curtis conjures a tale of a family gathering that is thwarted by the mysterious deaths of several cats. Finally, Frank McCourt recalls an unconventional holiday dinner that he had with his landlady and her son after returning to New York from a stint in the U.S. Army. We hope you’ll take some time to enjoy these classic pieces from our archive, and that they offer a welcome reprieve this holiday season. Consider them our gift to you. Happy Holidays.
“Marcia knows that the day itself is seeping away from her, that it will go and will continue to go, and will never come back.”
Recalling a peculiar holiday dinner of stray souls.
To perceive Christmas through its wrapping becomes more difficult with every year.
“The events over Christmas had never been discussed, never acknowledged.”
Ruminations on a youthful attachment to the Christmas pigs of Martinique.
“It was the night before Christmas. The house was very quiet. No creatures were stirring in the house. There weren’t even any mice stirring.”
Reflections on farm life and the holiday fare that once seemed so oppressively ordinary.
Memories of an improvised holiday.
“It was Christmas, the most magical, horrible, spiritual, dark, and stressful time of the year.”
