Washington Irving

Washington Irving's book, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. published in 1819, describes a traditional English Christmas with the Squire's guests listening to the parson tell of "strange accounts of popular superstitions and legends of the surrounding country" and some even point to Elizabethan England and Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" containing the line "A sad tale's best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins..." as Prince Mamillius offers to tell a story.

Irving

After moving to England for a short time, Irving wrote The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.