Form the Diary of Samuel Pepys
December 25 1661
In the morning to church, where at the door of our pew I was fain to stay, because that the sexton had not opened the door. A good sermon of Mr. Mills. Dined at home all alone, and taking occasion from some fault in the meat to complain of my maid’s sluttery, my wife and I fell out, and I up to my chamber in a discontent. After dinner my wife comes up to me and all friends again, and she and I to walk upon the leads, and there Sir W. Pen called us, and we went to his house and supped with him, but before supper Captain Cock came to us half drunk, and began to talk, but Sir W. Pen knowing his humour and that there was no end of his talking, drinks four great glasses of wine to him, one after another, healths to the king, and by that means made him drunk, and so he went away, and so we sat down to supper, and were merry, and so after supper home and to bed.
Reading words from 348 years ago makes can be a sobering thing making one stop and think about how others celebrated this day long before the hustle and bustle of consumerism in the twenty-first century, went to church, heard a “good” sermon, dined at home although in a tiff with his wife, reconciliation, now there’s Christmas up close and personal, took a walk, met up with a friend, helped someone get drunk, (Hummmm), had supper, was merry, went home and went to bed. Pretty full day, Huh? spending time with his church family, wife, and friend. I wonder…
Merry Christmas!
