New book tells stories of 2 times Christmas was almost cancelled on P.E.I.

The Christmas season has always been a special time for David Goss.

The New Brunswick native isn't quite sure how his parents were able to "pull it off" with little means but looks back on his childhood Christmases with great fondness.

"We were poor but we didn't know it. Christmas was a highlight," he said.

Now Islanders have the chance to trace East Coast holiday traditions withGoss'snew book,Christmas in Atlantic Canada.

Christmas almost cancelled

The bookexplores holiday stories fromeach of the four Atlantic provinces.

That includestales of the two occasions whenChristmas almost didn't happenon P.E.I.

Gosssaiditwas a close call in 1885 in Charlottetown when several cases of smallpox were reported. Within daysdozens more cases were discovered.

Localschools, churches and shops were closed to prevent the illnessfrom spreading but werereopenedby the middle of December avoiding thecancellationof Christmas.

Islanders had another close call in 1918when theSpanish flu pandemic spread across Canada, P.E.I. and the other Atlantic provinces. Public gathering places in Charlottetown were closed for nearly onemonth before they opened again in early November.

Wish lists sent around the world

The book also tells the story of theAtlantic children who put wish lists on Christmas trees between the1930sand1950s, whichwere headed for export.

The wish lists were sent in the hope they wouldreachan affluent person on the other side of the world whomight send a gift or twoback to the child.

I just got more and more immersed in the topic and began collecting more and more material. David Goss

Gosswas able to get in touch with people who once put their very own wish list on a Christmas tree, including one man who sent a note that ended up in Detroit.

"The next year the family from Detroit decided to go and see where this boy was living."

The family visited the boy's hometown ofMiramichi, N.B., where the boyjoined the family on a drive through the community as neighbours waved to them along the street, almost like a parade,Gosssaid.

Becoming an expert on Christmas

Gosshas built a wealth of knowledge on the topic of Christmas in Atlantic Canada.

"I became known in SaintJohn as somewhat of an expert on Christmas," he said.

He became involved in various community events during the holiday season through workshops atpublic librariesor at church.

"I just got more and more immersed in the topic and began collecting more and more material," he said.

"One thing just led to the other. And all this accumulation led to the book."

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