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Because I love Christmas
Origins of Santa Claus
Frugal Articles
Recycle Those Old Christmas Decorations
Articles published elsewhere
Funky, Free and Frugal Christmas Decorations
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Nineteenth Century Christmas in AmericaHow the Christmas we know developed in the USAby Pat Veretto Christmas had been celebrated around the world, in many languages and many ways, from pagan to Christian, but when the nineteenth century came to America, Christmas as we know it, was born. In 1822, Clement Moore wrote "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas"), as a gift for his children. The following year, it was published without his knowledge or consent, and it's been a favorite of children and grown-ups alike ever since. As a matter of fact, much of what he wrote about (and what the children's books picture) is the basis of what Christmas became in the United States during the nineteenth century. Sugar plums and night caps not withstanding, children still dream of Christmas morning and parents still try to get some sleep and the night winds on Christmas Eve sometimes bring strange noises... Christmas trees had been brought to the New World by German immigrants, but were still mostly limited to the German culture at the beginning of the century. Although a few other households decorated trees with cookies and candies, as well as tiny candles and lamps, real decorating with ornaments came to us through England - and its source was, yet again, Germany. Prince Albert, who was from Germany where decorated trees and many of our other traditions originated, set up a tree in the royal palace for his beloved Queen Victoria in 1841. It was lavishly decorated with hand blown glass ornaments. From England, too, came Charles Dickens, who brought the spirit of Christmas in England to the American populace in 1843. It was the second greatest Christmas story ever: A Christmas Carol. In it, old Scrooge's heart was changed by the Christmas spirit - or, in this case, spirits. This tale stoked the fires of imagination and settled a tradition of generosity and good will toward all during the season. Until this time in America, Christmas trees were not well accepted by many religious sects, but the turning point came in 1851 when a minister in Cleveland Ohio nearly lost his church when he allowed a tree inside of it. He didn't, and Christmas trees were soon commom inside many church walls, along with the concept of a season of generosity and charity from everyone who could afford it to those who could not - befitting the legends and stories of Saint Nicholas, whom the church had long honored. The Queen's tree made quite an impression upon the gentry, who imitated it with trees and hand blown glass ornaments themselves. It quickly became the fashion of the day, even across the sea and in America. Then President Franklin Pierce put a "German tree" in the White House in 1856 and soon a brightly ornamented Christmas tree was an important part of Christmas. And then, in 1870, Thomas Nast painted the first picture of our modern idea of Santa Claus. He was the "jolly old elf" lauded in Clement Moore's "A Visit From Saint Nicholas," now called "The Night Before Christmas," where was also born the eight tiny reindeer and an airborne sleigh. No more the somber old saint in dark robes, the brightly clothed, white haired elf soon stole the hearts of all boys and girls, as well as their parents. Sir Henry Cole had so many friends that he despaired of writing Christmas greetings to each one, so he commissioned John Calcott Horsley to paint a card showing the need to care for the poor - yet another vote for charity and kindness in the season. The idea took hold and for 30 years, the New World imported Christmas greeting cards from England, but by 1881, Louis Prang, a German immigrant who opened a lithographic shop for the purpose, was producing more than five million Christmas cards each year. Glass ornaments were precious and few until the 1880's, when F.W.Woolworth (of the five-and-ten fame) stocked his store with German made hand blown and hand cast ornaments and, within 10 years, sold $25 million worth of ornaments. Christmas was slowly becoming more and more a mercenary affair, with the emphasis on "boughten" ornaments, cards and gifts and more and more music written especially for Christmas to keep reminding people that it was, indeed, Christmas. And there you have it. From the Christmas tree in the living room to the Santa at the mall, Christmas in the New World started in the 19th century. We haven't added much to it since then. Back to Christmas! |
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