The Holly Cart, lithograph by E. Duncan after a painting by George C. Leighton, 1856
Christmas Nostalgia The Christmas Tree The Godey's Magazine publication, in 1850, of an article and illustrations depicting the British royal family's celebrating around the christmas tree is generally seen as a seminal event in the ultimate American adoption of this German (Prince Albert, of course, was German) custom. Although the article did much to popularize the use of trees, it must be said that it was a custom that had already begun to take root across the United States. In fact, some historians argue that American adoption of the Christmas tree predated that of the British. There would seem to be support for this assertion. Successive waves of German immigrants probably packed in their cultural baggage the custom of adorning their homes with a small tree. As they spread through the nation, so too did the decorated tree. Some sources credit Hessian mercenaries with the introduction of the tree during the Revolutionary War. However, as there is no direct, extant evidence to prove this oft-told tale, it may be apocryphal. The likely source was probably a now forgotten German immigrant seeking to recreate a bit of his homeland in his new surroundings. No matter the originator, the christmas tree graced more than a few homes prior to 1850 and nearly every area was witness to its use. Perhaps the first American illustration of this was seen in an 1810 Krimmel painting executed in Pennsylvania. The Dictionary of Americanisms' (1828) inclusion of a definition of "christmas tree" and the publication of Kris Kringle's Christmas Tree in 1845 are indicative that the custom was more widespread than previously thought. With this background it is not surprising that the tree had become established by 1860. So established, in fact, that a "German tree" was placed at the White House by President Franklin Pierce in 1856. Whether the tree was placed upon a table as German customs prescribed or on the floor as Americans were wont to do is uncertain. Trees of the period were decorated with various edibles and home-crafted ornaments, but by 1860 glass trinkets made in Germany were becoming available to adorn the branches. Most, however, were decorated with fruits, strands, and candles. Although, some people were more creative, like the German immigrant in 1847 Ohio who had the local blacksmith pound out a metal star for his spruce, where it was placed alongside paper decorations. Music Music exclusively associated with Christmas was added to songbooks during this period. Caroling became increasingly practiced. The type of music, however, belied the burgeoning secularization of the season, as most of it was of a "sacred" nature or rampant with allusions to Christ's birth. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" 1851), "See Amid the Winter's Snow" (also 1851), "There Came A Little Child to Earth " (1856), and "We Three Kings of Orient Are" (1859) all were composed before the Civil War. Legal Recognition Governments recognized the growing importance of Christmas by dealing with it as they knew best: by passing a law. The first state to make Christmas a legal holiday was Alabama in 1836. Between 1850 and 1861, fifteen states (including Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) followed suit. A significant result of this "legislation" was the states' recognition of December 25th as Christmas Day. This helped standardize the date for celebration. Previously, celebrations took place at varying times during the month (particularly December 6th, St. Nicholas's day), or on January 6th, Epiphany. Thus, events during the period helped cement the date used today. The original impetus for legal recognition seems to have come from the business community. The initial legislation forbade the collection of promissory notes on Christmas day and some judicial activities were suspended. Provisions for the closing of schools, banks, and government offices generally did not appear until after the Civil War. Christmas Cards One modern element all but unknown during this period was the christmas card. They were relatively well-known in England by 1860, but the custom had yet to make inroads on this side of the Atlantic. The first such Christmas greetings in the United States are thought to be those issued by a New York engraver in 1851. Richard Pease printed cards, showing a family dinner scene, that read "A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year, to: From: ." However, it was not until Louis Prang of Boston introduced a line of cards in 1875 that they became widely used. Commercialization Another "tradition" rapidly coalescing during the period--and decried still-- was the commercialization of the holiday. As early as the 1830s newspapers were filled with blandishments designed with "Christmas shoppers" in mind. Every thing from raisins for baked goods to pianofortes for the parlor to uplifting books for the mind and soul were pushed via the papers. Merchants were quick to realize the potential of the gift-giving season and capitalize on the growing importance of Christmas. Santa Clauses had begun to appear on street corners and in stores by 1850. Philadelphia storeowners were among the first to offer seasonal employment to those willing to impersonate Santa. The trend did not go unnoticed. A Terre Haute (Ind) newspaper editor commented on the frivolity associated with the 1855 season. He was bemused by the "gambol," gift exchanges, and the person of "Santa Clause" that seemed to dominate the holiday. He wondered if such behavior was the proper way of celebrating the birth of Christ. In a telling comment, he noted that it was probably already too late to change things, as the trend was already well established. Click here for resources and to get more on Christmas Nostalgia Click here to download the 1901 The Amer. Standard Version of the Holy Bible. |
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