American traveller Caroline Cushing provided the following description of a Spanish Christmas in Madrid in 1829.| Shannon Selin
New Year’s Day was a bigger celebration than Christmas in 19th-century France.| Shannon Selin
Many Bonapartists fled to the United States after Napoleon’s 1815 defeat. What did Americans think of the French exiles in their midst?| Shannon Selin
What began as a New England tradition gradually spread to other states, although not without resistance.| Shannon Selin
Christmas Eve traditions in 19th century Pennsylvania included shopping, merry-making, and a visit from ‘Bellschniggle,’ Christkindle or St. Nicholas.| Shannon Selin
A selection of newspaper extracts to give you the flavour of an early 19th century Christmas, including some puzzles to amuse you during the holidays.| Shannon Selin
While Napoleon did nothing special for his first Christmas in exile on St. Helena in 1815, the British cheered themselves with a recipe for Bonypart pie.| Shannon Selin
Glimpses of Christmas celebrations in early 19th-century Mexico| Shannon Selin
Celebrating Christmas in Vienna in 1836| Shannon Selin
Christmas gift ideas in the 19th century ranged from "a well-chosen book" to "elegant preparations for the toilet" to bread, bullocks, and coal.| Shannon Selin
Every New Year’s Day, 6th US President John Quincy Adams offered his reflections on the past year. Here is a sample of his New Year’s Day musings.| Shannon Selin
After Napoleon’s 1815 defeat, Joseph Bonaparte fled to the United States, where he is credited with bringing European culture to the locals.| Shannon Selin
What if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States in 1821?| Shannon Selin