Reading of A Christmas Carol
at Cottonwood Mansion left most of us inquiring, "What is Smoking Bishop??" (Read by Rt. Rev. D. Ralph Bishop Spence ~ the casting by Catherine Stidsen.)
The drink is hot, spiced wine similar to wassail ~ something like a hot sangria, scented with oranges and infused with port.

Thank you Bishop Spence, Anglican Bishop of Niagara, retired, for your enlivened rendition of The Christmas Carol script. With thanks to Catherine Stidsen for photo.

At the very end of the beloved Charles Dickens holiday classic A Christmas Carol, a reformed Ebenezer Scrooge and his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit share an oddly named libation:

"A Merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon over a bowl of Smoking Bishop, Bob!" Source: CBC

Photo: Deanna and Jill Serving Guests

"Shortly after its publication 150 years ago, The Night Before Christmas spawned dozens of copiously illustrated hand- and paper-bound versions of its charming tale. And Santa lovers collected as many versions as possible. And the Jolly Old Elf, initially depicted by Thomas Nast, soon took on a more expansive life, which was merrily featured in companion volumes. Santa, in other words, was no longer fettered to his December 24th ride through the sky, but was illustrated at work with his elves, relaxing by the fire with Mrs. Claus, and even taking vacations in the South."
~ Country Living COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, Hearst Books, 1990. (Note: that would make it over 170 years ago.)
Santa artist: Florence Sarah Winship ~ only a few surviving pages of The Night Before Christmas. Circa: 40's (?)