Christmas under three flags

A collection of reminiscences describing holiday celebrations across three settings: a convivial White House Christmas in Andrew Jackson’s household where family, servants, and charitable visits create warm domestic scenes; a festive royal Christmas tree and court observances in Berlin; and a southwestern commemoration centered on the Alamo and an alcalde’s daughter with a distinctive lamp tradition. The pieces combine personal anecdote, social detail, and cultural contrast, recounting decorations, entertainments, charitable acts, and regional customs to present varied expressions of Christmas ritual and familial hospitality.