Author John Babin will speak on Longfellow’s inspiration for the poem “Christmas Bells,” written during the American Civil War, and explain how this classic Longfellow poem became the beloved Christmas carol.

John William Babin is the author of three books on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s life and poetry. John’s work as a research assistant has been acknowledged in several books and articles published worldwide about the Longfellow Family. He works at the Maine Historical Society as the Visitor Services Manager of the Wadsworth Longfellow House. 

In 2025 Babin published a children's book, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. This book contains a story about the poet, the poem, and explains how the poem became the carol we all know. There are colorful illustrations accompanying the words of the carol.
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Longfellow Days is an annual month-long cultural and community program, with support from Bowdoin College, Brunswick Downtown Association, Midcoast Senior College, Nathaniel Davis Fund, Pejepscot History Center, The Senter Fund, Thornton Oaks, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick:

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE.

To see a complete listing of Longfellow Days events click on Longfellow Days Schedule: https://www.uubrunswick.org/programs/longfellow-days-2026/