Dressed in 19 th Century finery, Suzanne and Jim appear as carolers from Victorian era parlors and streets. They sing the time-honored melodies accompanied on guitars, flute, courtship dulcimer, recorder, bowed psaltery, penny whistle, bodrhan, spoons, sleigh bells, and banjo.

Using traditional carols as examples they recount the connection between customs from ancient winter solstice celebrations and the Christmas we know today. The music is interwoven with a carefully researched narration that relates the fascinating story of the Victorians' rescue of Christmas from Puritan supression, the restoration of the caroling tradition and the creation of new carols for the Victorians' re-invention of Christmas as a family holiday full of sentimentality and good cheer.