There was a large Christmas tree, presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect...
" Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison's electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree, presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect." So wrote W. Croffut, a reporter at the Detroit Post. It was 1882 and in front of Croffut there was the first Christmas tree decorated with electric lights, white, red and blue, and not with the usual candles. A few years later, thanks also to the President of the United States Cleveland who wanted a Christmas tree lit with lights in the White House, these had become one of the most popular and requested Christmas decorations. This was what Will was reading in a billboard near a nice Christmas decoration shop, as there were so many in New York. Yes, our Will and Joy, after leaving Hawaii had thought of making a stop in New York, the city that more than any other symbolizes the Christmas holidays, the joy and the typical ferment of this magical period. The shops were overflowing with people, colored balls, festoons and electric trains and real and fake elves made a good show of themselves from the illuminated windows. Laughter, cries, Christmas carols and the ringing of bells were the perfect background to this magical atmosphere. Soon in Rockefeller Plaza the great spruce would be light up and on the top of the tree a star with more than 25,000 crystals would be placed. It was possible to already feel the excitement among the people who began to hurry to watch the show, which was really majestic. That evening, Will, all cheerful, was walking with his little dog Joy along the snowy street of a residential neighborhood and his attention was caught by a large lighted window of a house. There were many lighted houses but something attracted Will to that window, something that made him forget for a moment the sparkle of lights, the laughter and the joyful crowd of just before. From the window he could see an entire family, grandparents, parents and grandchildren, all busy around a table preparing a gingerbread house. Children and adults had puffs of powdered sugar on their noses, cheeks, even clothes, and everyone laughed heartily. A vice gripped Will's heart, but with an energetic shake he decided not to dwell too much on that feeling, his journey had to continue… other extraordinary places awaited him!
Candied ginger
Ginger is spicy, digestive, anti-nausea and with its scent and aroma it recalls traditional Christmas sweets. So, inspired by Will's American stage, let's prepare the candied ginger at home! You need 500 grams of peeled fresh ginger, 500 grams of brown sugar and water. Cut the ginger into cubes or sticks. Pour the ginger into a saucepan, also pour in water until the ginger is completely covered. Bring to a boil, then let it simmer for 30 minutes, drain the ginger. Put the ginger back into the pot and pour in the water, but it doesn't have to cover all the ginger. Add the sugar, mix and cook until the water has evaporated. Take the ginger and let it cool and dry on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
