SHOP LOCAL Jingles Christmas and Country Shop Westmoreland, NH A Christmas spirit you simply cannot find at a department store

Jingles Christmas and Country Shop in Westmoreland is Christmas past, present, and yet-to-come all wrapped in a single store. &emsp;Located on Route 12 North heading towards Walpole and the Vermont border, the first thing that cues visitors into the Christmas memories is the old clapboard building painted dark, Christmas-red and trimmed with seasonal garlands, lights and the Amish-made wooden furniture that owners and life partners Matt Lilly and Karen Robinson haul up from Pennsylvania every few weeks. &emsp;Inside, the first thing to catch the eye is the large display of handmade fudge on the front counter. The fudge has been a fixture of Jingles since Larry and Jan Muchmore founded Jingles in 1984. When Lilly and Robinson took over in 2018, the Muchmores insisted they keep the fudge. The recipe is a closely guarded secret. Along with the standard chocolate and peanut butter flavors, seasonal flavors such as pumpkin, pumpkin chocolate, cranberry nut and peppermint patty are so popular Robinson and Lilly routinely make upwards of 300 pounds of fudge every week during this time of year. &emsp;During my visit in October, I sampled pumpkin chocolate fudge. As someone who is a curmudgeon when it comes to pumpkin spice anything, I will happily admit that, besides my father's pumpkin pie, the pumpkin chocolate fudge at Jingles is insanely good. &emsp;Then, turn left from the fudge display, and you will be immediately hit with ... Christmas! &emsp;"I like it when people see what's on the shelves and get excited," says Lilly. &emsp;Shelves are packed full of clever New England-themed ornaments, balsam-scented burlap sachets, cherry- or peppermint-scented candles, plug-in window candles, locally made Bunny Boogie soaps, Amish-made taper dip candles, knit stockings, artificial garlands and wreaths, tree lights, and plenty of Santas and snowmen. &emsp;The memories of Christmas past grow more vivid the farther you venture into the store. &emsp;"There are some things people can only find here," notes Karen Lilly. &emsp;A whole corner is devoted to nostalgic Christmas items such as Byers Choice Carolers, Snow Babies, Willow Tree figurines, and AnnaLee dolls. In another section, an entire wall is taken up by the Fontanini Collection, hand-painted Nativity sets and figures imported from Italy, which Robinson says are incredibly popular. &emsp;"People will buy these as wedding gifts so the new couple can start their own tradition," she says. "All of these bring back so many happy memories for people." &emsp;"They come here to have fun," Matt Lilly chimes in. "They come to find things that they can only get here." &emsp;Between October and New Year's are Jingle's busiest times. Robinson points out there is also an uptick during the "Christmas in July" rush of vacationers summering in the Monadnock Region who come in to do all their shopping early. Then there are always those men and kids who burst into Jingles two days before Christmas, hurriedly searching for gifts. Robinson and Lilly love these customers because they'll buy whatever the couple recommends. &emsp;Back in the center of the store, the focus shifts to less Christmas-specific gifts. New Hampshire-themed mugs, magnets and postcards sit alongside maple candies from Stuart and John's in Walpole. The braided rugs and Amish furniture are another holdover from the Muchmores. The BBQ corner is one Robinson says many husbands will explore while they wait for their wives to finish shopping. There are even hardwood floors and carpets for anyone looking to renovate their homes for Christmas — this is the showroom for Monadnock Flooring, also owned by Lilly and Robinson. &emsp;The spirit of Christmas throughout the ages is alive in this store. It's not uncommon for several generations of a family to shop together, sharing items they loved as children and hope to pass on to future family members. Then there are those looking to start an entirely new tradition, hoping to become just as beloved as those they cherished. &emsp;That spirit is something you simply cannot find at a department store. &emsp;So, if you're looking for a real Christmas, unattached to the latest marketing trends and rooted in tradition, check out Jingles. Chances are you'll find something to love. BOX:Jingles Christmas and Country Shop1024 Route 12 • Westmoreland, NH603-399-4972monadnockjingles.com/jingles-christmas-shopHOURS: Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sun 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.