All my life I have been fascinated by cultural differences—things like the disparate ways nations celebrate the same holiday, as well as celebrations and festivals unique to a country or ethnic group. These are things that make our wonderful, diverse world such a magical place to explore. Over the course of centuries, some holidays and festivals have morphed or become relics of the past. Unfortunately, even if we attempted to resurrect these forgotten special days, it would be a challenge to authentically re-create them as the people of old would have celebrated them.

I asked some of our Lanterns, if they could travel back in time, which of their characters they would like to spend the holidays with, which holiday, and what they would do.

Rebecca D’Harlingue

I would love to spend Twelfth Night with my seventeenth-century Dutch character, Nicolaes, from my short story “The Star Lantern” in the Paper Lantern Writers anthology Beneath a Midwinter Moon. I’m fascinated by the customs of that time and place, and in addition Nicolaes is a truly kind and caring person. I would want to be with his family starting in the morning, when one of the grandchildren would find a bean in their cake, winning them the privilege of being King for the day. (I might encourage Nicolaes to initiate a new custom, in which a girl might become Queen.)

I’d enjoy the pancakes made with special spices while watching the children jump over three lit candles, signifying the three Kings. As evening approached, I’d accompany Nicolaes and his family on their rounds of the neighborhood, singing and carrying the star lantern. Finally, I would don some skates and venture onto Amsterdam’s frozen canals, with Nicolaes supporting me on one side, and his grandson on the other.

Kathryn Pritchett

I’d love to time travel back to Gilded Age Broadway during the holidays to watch Maude Adams perform Peter Pan at the Empire Theatre. Peter Pan was Maude’s signature role, created for her by British playwright J.M. Barrie. She first played the part of Peter in November, 1905, and mounted a country-wide revival in the winter of 1912-13. Even when she was touring other productions, she would often return to New York City for a sold-out holiday run of Peter Pan.

Audiences adored her in the role, saving their pennies and standing in line for many hours to see her and hear her ask them if they believed in fairies. (Walt Disney was inspired to eventually film the animated version of Peter Pan after attending one of her performances when he was a child.)

While researching my work-in-progress about Maude Adams, I discovered this quote about the play from her personal assistant Louise Boyton—“The play came at one of those discouraged moments when the public mind was occupied to an almost morbid degree with huge and vexing problems, and with things that were going wrong . . . cynicism was the dominate note in literature and dramatic art … a bitter and depressing influence, for all that. At such a moment came Peter Pan, created in the mind of a man of insight and gentleness, embodied by a woman beautiful in life and thought, with the soul of an artist, and the heart of a child.”

Troubled by our own cynical times that are plagued with many “vexing problems,” I’d love to witness the holiday magic that was Maude Adams performing Peter Pan.

C.V. Lee

When I was attending the university, I worked as a cook for a wealthy woman. Occasionally she would host parties that required a caterer and I would help as wait staff. This has always been my preference, to be the person more in the background taking in what people are doing and saying. Not to mention that it allowed me to interact with all of the guests. In that vein, I think that I would like to attend the Twelfth Night celebration that I depict in my novel Token of Betrayal hosted by Katherine Lempriere.

The Lord of Misrule (or le prince de sots) was the master of ceremonies for Twelfth Night celebrations in the 15th century. This person was often from the lower ranks of society and could be selected by popular vote or chosen by the master of the household. On that day, everything was turned upside down. The landed nobility or gentry served the peasants, men and women might cross dress, and the Lord of Misrule got to tell everyone what to do. The festivities included lots of food, and the wassail flowed freely. Minstrels provided music and recited poetry, to which the Lord of Misrule would add his own ribald commentary. Other duties of this “Lord for the Day” included presiding over games or parodies of official ceremonies.

Why would I chose to attend an event hosted by Katherine? Well, she is my character that likes to have a good time, is gullible and more than a bit naughty. I think she would make certain I experienced the whole gambit of the Twelfth Night celebration. Oh, the memories I would have and the stories I could tell!

What historical fiction character would you like to spend the holidays with? Which holiday? What would you do?