HISTORIC NEW YORK'S OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAY (c) By Polly Guerin

Have yourself a very merry old-fashioned holiday in historic New York where celebrations abound in museum settings and the streets sparkle with snowflake lights and crimson ribbons. Only in New York, my friends. Only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Join in the holiday spirit and marvel at the annual display of Charles Dickens's holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, on view through January 9, 2011 at the Morgan Library & Museum. The manuscript, a fascinating jumble of changes, corrections, additions, deletions, and scribble reveals that Dickens wrote it in a mere six weeks because he needed the money (Mrs. Dickens was pregnant again). The initial 6,000 copies went on sale on December 19, 1843 and sold out, largely because of the hand-colored drawings by a famous illustrator, John Leech. But then the story caught on, and the book went through 24 editions in its original form. The Morgan presents a new concert version of the Dickens’s beloved classic with a virtuoso cast of five actors and musicians who bring Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformative journey to the living stage. Friday December 17th, 7:30 p.m., 225 Madison Ave. (35th St.) www.themorgan.org.
CHRISTMAS COMES TO OLD NEW YORK

Do you yearn to turn back the clock and experience the good old days? Then step into the Merchant’s House Museum (built in 1832) where recreated scenes of holiday preparations reveal old-time holiday customs in a time-capsule setting of the prosperous Tredwell family house, unchanged for nearly a century. Christmas in New York: Tours by Candlelight, Fri Dec. 17 6-9pm, Sat. & Sun. 4-8pm. The house is decked out in holiday decorations, the rooms light by flickering candlelight and costumed actors relate the Christmas tradition of mid-19th century New York. ($20, $15 children) 29 E. Fourth St. (between Lafayette & Bowery) Reservations required: 212.777.1089. www.merchantshousemusem.org.

A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES CONCERT

A thousand starry lights envelope the stage at The Irish Repertory Theatre in the reinvention of Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” The iconic piece, starring both Irish Repertory favorites and Broadway veterans, features both traditional and contemporary Christmas music woven with the classic story of the legendary snowy Christmas Day in Wales. Adapted and directed by Charlotte Moore, music by John Bell. Through Jan 2, 2011. Performances at 132 W. 22nd St. Wed.-Sat. @ 8pm. Matinees Wed.,Sat., Sun. @ 3pm. Ticket info: 212.727.2737. www.irishrep.org.

THE YULE LOG & Scandinavian Customs

Norway is the birthplace of the Yule log. The word “Yule” came from the Norse word hweol, meaning wheel. Before Christmas, many Norwegians count down the days with their advent calendars. On Christmas Eve, after a goose dinner, Danish families light candles decorating the Christmas tree. After dancing and singing around the tree, the family exchanges gifts. In Finland, Christmas festivities are receded by a visit to the sauna, after which everyone dresses in clean clothes in preparation for the Christmas dinner. The Christmas tree is set up on Christmas Eve and decorated with ap0ples, candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel.
Ta Ta, darlings!!! I’m wishing you all the warmth of home and love of family and friends, and all the deepest joys of a very Merry Christmas and a Sensational New Year. There’s so much to celebrate. Fan mail always welcome at pollytalk@verizon.net. Or go to www.pollytalk.com and link to one of my Blogs.