Christmas Time

[ElizabethClark]

Here's a new topic: many of us will use the holiday season as an excuse to add to our 19th century supplies. The questions for discussion are two in number:

1: What references have you read (please share the citation) regarding home-produced or purchased Christmas gifts in our period?

2: What projects are you planning for the Christmas season?

I'll answer #2 first, and pop back in later with some things for #1:

Most of our Christmas endeavors are not related to mid-century this year, but I am dressing an 1850s doll for my mother-in-law's collection. Dolls are mentioned fairly frequently as gifts, and the level of complexity in items that *could* be purchased (some of which could be made at home) is really astounding.

My daughter has requested a red quilted hood in an 1850s/60s style, but for modern use, and I may do a similar one for our littlest daughter. My daughter wishes to knit mittens for her brother, as well.

[Mutt]

Great questions to think over. I can recall of a few requests made by soldiers for certain items, but will have to go back and re-read some letters and a diary I know of to see if anything was sent as a present. Same for homefront gifts to each other.

As far as #2: A pinner apron for my girlfriend is on the list. I have one started already. I plan on painting a nice watercolor for my grandmother and one for the church. Not sure what to do for the ol fellow reenactor dad. I've made him a housewife for a past gift so we'll see.

I'll get back to #1 in a bit.

Cheers,

[celtfiddler]

1) I'll have to get back to you on

2) Possibly a shirt or two for darling hubby and since I'm trying to teach myself how to do some new embroidery techniques (whitework, schwalm, broderie anglaise) and trying to learn to net my sister might benefit this year.

[Jubilo]

Here's a new topic: many of us will use the holiday season as an excuse to add to our 19th century supplies. The questions for discussion are two in number:

1: What references have you read (please share the citation) regarding home-produced or purchased Christmas gifts in our period?

2: What projects are you planning for the Christmas season?

I'll answer #2 first, and pop back in later with some things for #1:

Most of our Christmas endeavors are not related to mid-century this year, but I am dressing an 1850s doll for my mother-in-law's collection. Dolls are mentioned fairly frequently as gifts, and the level of complexity in items that *could* be purchased (some of which could be made at home) is really astounding.

My daughter has requested a red quilted hood in an 1850s/60s style, but for modern use, and I may do a similar one for our littlest daughter. My daughter wishes to knit mittens for her brother, as well.



Dear Miss Elizabeth ,
For period Christmas I read Dickens and Mary Chestnut. My musical group is performing at the Lincoln Museum for a Civil War Christmas show and the period songs , with the exception of "One Horse Open Sleigh " written by Confederate veteran James L. Pierpont , are all religious ; not exactly the kind of song the academic types appreciate nowadays .
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett / BATTLEFIELD BALLADEERS

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Richard Eppes (who I am chastised about my obsession with but not my fault he leaves great records and I work where he lived...lol) notes more on his giving slaves their money as Christmas gifts than he notes what he gave his family or what they gave him. The amount of money he gave his slaves varied by year and what he thought they should get. In general the range was 50 cents to $5.00. Deductions were made based on his pleasure with their work, disobedience to him or overseer, inability to live in harmony with other slaves on the estate. Increases were made based based on his happiness with their work and extra work accomplished during the year that he had failed to give them money for at time of that action.

Emily Sinkler, Philadelphia born but married a South Carolina slaveholding planter noted in letters 1842-1861 about Christmas preparation and shopping trips to Charleston. Perhaps most amusing is that every year the slaves come to her to sell their chicken eggs or chickens themselves and she wrote I believe her first Christmas in the south that there were so many eggs and chickens she had no use of them and yet she couldn't turn them away. She also describes in detail to her Philadelphia parents the fact that the slaves dance on the porch for days during their Christmas holiday.

See: Between North and South: The Letters of Emily Wharton Sinkler, 1842-1865 Edited by Anne Sinkler Whaley LeClercq.

Louis Hughes, sold from Richmond to a Mr. McGee who relocated him to Mississippi was presented as a Christmas gift to Mrs. McGee (who would shortly be a pain in Hughes' side as she daily hit or beat him).

See: http://docsouth.unc.edu/hughes/menu.html

According to Charles Ball's 1859 account of slavery in South Carolina, the field hands on a particular plantation received the annual meat ration at Christmas which amounted to "about three pounds of pork." (Slaveowners were frequently looking to save money and cut corners in rations. Substitutions to meat included increasing fish, cornmeal, potatoes, and molasses.)

See: http://docsouth.unc.edu/ball/ball.html

These comprising just a few Christmas references. More to follow later.

[Drygoods]

Greetings all,

Well, in my own opinion, no one did Christmas better than Dickens. I would suggest reading his Christmas Books collection of stories. They not only describe the decor, food, and preparations, but also what the shops were busy with at that time. If you look for the Oxford Illustrated Dickens Christmas Stories, you will have a good volume. If you have trouble understanding Dickens and need an interpreter, than I would suggest Dickens' Christmas A Victorian Celebration by Simon Callow.

Another Great book is The Victorian Christmas Book by Antony & Peter Miall. Great book, kind of hard to find these days but filled with great detail and illustrations. I have another collection of Christmas stories, but could not find them this morning so will have to post them later.

At any rate, I think the best thing to do for holiday ideas is to read the stories that our ancestors read in 'their' time. This forum has been a great reference for me as I've printed all articles that I found were terrific sources.

I picked up God Rest Ye Merry, Soldiers by James McIvor, this summer to save as a holiday read this year. If anyone else can suggest a good period holiday novel or source book, I'd really appreciate it.

I know that some folks don't care for the commercialization of the holidays this early, but I know that it takes me some time to get holiday projects done, and if I want to order something, it takes them time to deliver as well. Generally, September 30th is the start of our annual holiday party plans. :(

I could use some tips on holiday gifts if anyone cares to suggest some.

[Drygoods]

Yesterday while poking through the cottage, I came across two other books that I know would be useful in this discussion.

Classic Christmas Stories by Julia Livshin is a sweet little book with period stories reproduced in a paperback form. You can get some great ideas from these stories. $10

The Battle For Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum is another great book that not only gives you the great details of what to do for the holidays, but why they did it. $16 The chapter of Wassailing Across the Color Line is an excellent chapter about plantation life and how the slaves celebrated the holiday, before and after the war.

[58th C]

Great questions- I am hoping to glean some more gift ideas here. So far I am working on a handsewn shirt for one son, a quilted silk hood for my daughter, socks for my husband and son , and a housewife . Nothing like waiting till the last minute- I am one of those folks that end up working frantically on projects until the last minute. After receiving our copy of Civil War Historian yesterday, my daughter is anxious to try out some of the candy recipes that Mrs. Mescher supplied in her article.

Lauren Kaye

[redleggeddevil]

An excellent work to read at Christmas is Washington Irving's "Bracebridge Hall" section from his work, The Sketch-Book . It was written about 40 years before our period, but it was one of the "spurs" that influenced America's celebration of the season. Besides, it is great fun.

As for myself, my wife and I will be performing a selection of period Christmas music but-- alas-- from the wrong century (18th). Still, it is great fun to dress up in period finery and sing some fine, obscure tunes.

[springkeeper]

In "The Diary of Dolly Lunt Burge, 1848-1879," Mrs. Burge was unable to provide gifts for Christmas 1863 and 1864. My eyes welled up when I read this...

"December 24th 1864, I have nothing to put even in Sadais stocking which hangs so invitingly for Santa Claus. How dissapointed she will be in the morning though I have explained it all to her why he could not come. Poor children! Why must the innocent suffer with the guilty?"

"December 25th 1864, Sadai jumped out of bed very early this morning to feel her stocking. She could not believe but she would find something in it. She crept back into bed pulled the covers over her face and I soon heard her sobbing. The little negros all came in 'Christmas gifts mistress Christmas gifts mistress'. I pulled the cover over my face and soon was mingling my tears with Sadais."

"December 26th 1865, Made Sarah a balmoral which she found attached to her stocking."

I have not even begun to think about Christmas gifts!

Carrie Craddock

[Carolann Schmitt]

It's interesting to follow the changes in Christmas celebrations mentioned in A Maryland Bride in the Deep South: The Civil War Diary of Priscilla Bond by Kimberly Harrison. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2006).

In 1858 in Maryland, Bond has been ill with consumption for eight weeks. She gives thanks for now being convalescent, mentions the beautiful weather and a visit from a cousin, but there is no other mention of celebrating the holiday with gifts.

In 1859, she writes that she spent the holiday with friends in Baltimore. "Received several very handsome presents. A very handsome writing desk, a pretty book, pair of sleeve buttons, another gold button, a very pretty dress, several others." (p.136)

In 1860, she expresses her concerns about marrying, leaving her home and family, and moving to southern Louisiana. Visits from friends and family, but no mention of gifts.

Christmas 1861 finds her living with her in-laws in Louisiana. On Christmas Eve she attended a tableaux vivante, a supper and a ball at the Academy. "Got a pretty bouquet" on Christmas Day. (p.211)

There is no entry for Christmas 1862. In 1863 she spends the day alone but with "sweet and pleasant thoughts. (snip) Dickens has proved an agreeable companion in the reading of Christmas Carol. (snip) Mr. Aleman was here this morning - brought me a duck." (p.260) The duck was a provision rather than a gift, I suspect. :)

December 24, 1864: "Had a little kitten brought me for a christmas gift."
December 25, 1864: "Mrs. Guidry sent me a feather fan for a christmas gift, the two gifts are the only ones I expect I'll get." (p.323)

Bond returned to her home in Maryland in late 1865, and died on January 2, 1866 at age 27.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

I have to get her diary (shame she died so young, she was pretty from the image of her on the cover).

Much of the same can be said for the equally young and pretty Lucy Breckinridge of Botetourt County, Virginia (Lucy Breckinridge of Grove Hill: The Journal of a Virginia Girl 1862-1864, edited by Mary D. Robertson, Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994).

On December 24, 1862, she wrote: "This is Christmas and how have we spent it! Pa, Ma and I sitting in the dining room talking as gravely as if there was no such thing as Xmas. No little socks to hang up a Grove Hill now! Just think how desolate it must be! Not a brother! And only one sister, and she sick! I have been restless and I think wretched today. [snip]"

The next day she wrote: "George [her brother] came home today. He looks very badly and does not seem to have enjoyed his visit to 'Soldier's Joy' verymuch. The servants have all been busy in the kitchen making cakes, etc., for Jim's wedding [slave wedding]. Emma and I both have such bad cold that we could not help them much. Ma, Emma and I walked over to the graveyard this evening.[This was the first Christmas in whcih one of her brothers was dead.] [snip] After supper Matilda and Virginia came in [slaves] to let us see how nice they looked dressed for the wedding. Both looked lovely, attired in white muslin with black trimmings [mourning attire for their young master]."

On December 26, 1863, she catches up with her diary by noting that she had egg nog on Christmas Eve and seven guests. There was violin music but she was still lamenting over the death of her young brother, Johnny. [As I previously noted he was killed in 1862 and what she didn't know is that in 1864 another brother of hers would be killed.] She said in this day after Christmas entry "I had been for a long time, thinking of the happy Xmas eves long ago when our little band was unbroken; thinking too, of Johnny's grave over in the moonlight until I longed so to go there and stay beside him. Anything like merriment makes me yearn so intensely for him--even the thought of the joy he now feels does not comfort me."

By Christmas 1864, Lucy was engaged and perhaps starting to recover mentally from the loss of Johnny.

Her Christmas Day 1864 entry said: "How different this Xmas from last--and, strange as it may seem, last evening was far more happy than last Xmas eve. I was busy all day fixing a doll for Mary and Sister and I sat up late to fulfill the duties of Santa Claus for him. Today the little ones are so merry and happy--it recalls my young days very vividly. This is the first Xmas I ever spent away from my precious Mamma and Grove Hill, may it be the last! Tonight a trunk of presents came for Sister and the children from home. There never was such a sweet mother as ours. [snip]"

Unfortunately, it was to be the last Christmas of Lucy (nee Breckinridge) Bassett's life. She and Thomas Bassett married in January 1865 and five months later she died of typhoid fever. She was twenty-two.

[Drygoods]

Thank you both for writing these diary entries. I enjoy reading old diaries for pleasure and those with Christmas entries I find especially appealing....I suppose because I enjoy the holiday very much as it reminds me of relatives who have past on and the splendid memories I have of those long ago times.
many thanks. :D

[OlszowyTM]

The following are diary entries from a young well to do girl in upstate NY
Caroline Cowles Richards

Christmas 1857-(age 15)

Grandfather & Grandmother do not care much about making Christmas presents. They say when they were young no on observed Christmas or New Years, but they always kept Thanksgiving Day. Our cousins the Fields and Carrs, gave us several presents & Uncle Edward sent us a basket full from New York by Express. Aunt Ann gave one of Lucy’s books & a Franconia story book & to Anna “The Childs Book on Repentance” When Anna saw the title, she whispered to me & said if she had done anything she was sorry for she was willing to be forgiven. I am afraid she will never read hers but I will lend her mine. Miss Lucy Ellen Guernsey of Rochester gave me “Christmas Earnings” and wrote in it “Carrie C. Richards with the love of the author. I think that was very nice. Anna & I were chattering like two magpies today & a man came in to talk to Grandfather on business. He told us in an undertone that children should be seen & not heard. After he had gone I saw Anna watching him a long time till he was only a speck in the distance & I asked her what she was doing. She said she was doing it because it was a sign if you watched the persons out of sight you would never see them again.

Dec 23 1859 (age 17)

We have had a Christmas tree and many other attractions in Seminary Chapel. The day scholars & townspeople were permitted to participate & we had a post office & received letters from our friends. Mr. EM Morse wrote me a fictitious one, claiming to be written from the North Pole ten years hence. I will copy it into my journal for I may lose the letter. I had some gifts on the Christmas tree and gave some. I presented my teacher Mr. Chubbuck, with 2 large embroidered handkerchiefs with his initials embroidered in a corner of each. As he is favored with the euphonious name of Frank Emery Robinson Chubbuck it was a work of art to make his initials look beautiful. I inclosed a stanza in rhyme:
Amid the changing scenes of life
If any storm should rise
May you ever have a handkerchief
To wipe your weeping eyes
Here is Mr. Morse’s letter:

“North Pole”, 10 January 1869
Miss Carrie Richards

My Dear Young friend—It is very cold here & the pole is covered with ice. I climbed it yesterday to take an observation and arrange our flag, the Stars & Stripes, which I hoisted immediately on my arrival here 10 years ago. I thought I should freeze & the pole was so slippery that I was in great danger of coming down faster than was comfortable. Although this pole has been used for more than 6000 years it is still good as new. The works of the Great Architect do not wear out. It is now 10 years since I have seen you and my other 2 Christian Graces & I have no doubt of your present position among the most brilliant & excellent women in all of America. I always knew & recognized your great abilities. Nature was very generous to you all and you were enjoying fine advantages at the time I last knew you. I thought your residence with your Grandparents an admirable school for you and your sister were most evidently the best joy of their old age. You certainly owe much to them. At the time I left my 3 Christian Graces Mrs. Grundy was sometimes malicious enough to say that they were injuring themselves by flirting. I always told the old lady that I had the utmost confidence in the judgment & discretion of my pupils & that they would be very careful in all their conduct. I confessed flirting was wrong and very injurious to any one who was guilty of it but I was sure that you were not. I could not believe that you would disappoint us all and become only ordinary women, but that you would become the most exalted characters, scorning all things unworthy of Ladies & Christians & I was right & Mrs. Grundy was wrong. When the ice around the pole thaws out I shall make a flying visit to Canandaigua. I send you a tame polar bear for a playfellow. This letter will be conveyed to you by Esquimaux Express—Most truly yours, EM Morse

I think someone must have shown some verses that we girls wrote, to Mrs. Grundy & made her think our minds were more upon the young men than our studies, but if people knew how much time we spent on Paley’s “Evidences of Christianity” & Butler’s Analogy & Kames’ Element of Criticism & Tyler’s Ancient History & Olmstead’s Mathematical Astronomy & our French & Latin & arithmetic & algebra & geometry & trigonometry & bookkeeping, they would know we had very little time to think of the masculine gender.

December 1862

Hon William H Lamport went down to Virginia to see his son & found that he had just died in the hospital from measles & pneumonia. Their only son, only 18 years old!

Christmas Eve 1863-

Sarah Gibson Howell was married to Major Foster this evening. She invited all the society & many others. It was a beautiful wedding & we all enjoyed it. Some time ago I asked her to write in my album & she sewed a lock of her black curling hair on the page & in the center of it wrote, “forget not Gippie”

Excerpts taken from---Village Life in America 1852-1872, Caroline Cowles Richards, Corner House Historical Publications, Gansevoort, and NY1997 (there were no entries re: Christmas for the intervening years)

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Did you mean December 1860 since it is out of order with the others if it was 1869?

[OlszowyTM]

Em-

Nope- the date is right.

The journal entry was 1859 & the "letter" from Mr Morse was given in 1859 but written as if it were 10 years in the future.

"Mr. EM Morse wrote me a fictitious one, claiming to be written from the North Pole ten years hence. "

I had the same problem when I read it the first time, until I had reread it several times(reinforcing a bad 1st read). Caroline had transcribed it into her journal & even said that it was post dated 10 years, but doing my usual speed read skimming, missed that important little comment.

Here's another set of memories from upstate NY--

The following are excerpts from “Hard Breathing Days-The Civil War Letters of Cora Beach Benton, Albion, New York, 1862-1865”, Almeron Press, Albion, NY 2003.

Cora was born Sep 11, 1838 & married Sep 10, 1856.

Her writing is very detailed about life at home in NY & she is a bit on the whiny side, but there is a ton of little nuggets in the book, including pregnancies, details of items sent to the soldiers & daily life activities in general. It definitely shows the side of a woman less than enamored with the fact her husband joined the army.

Dec 23rd, 1863

...went to Frye’s this noon & bought Lena a little set of china dishes, 50cts. Tonight I have been marking the children’s things for the tree. I’ll tell you what they are—Lena’s a box of letters, beautiful white apron & a long handled broom from her parents; the dishes from me. For Belle, a goblet full of candies in a lace bag with a string, a little primer from me & an apron like Lena’s & a broom from Mr & MRs P.......I go up to Father’s to stay all night & Thursday Christmas Day with the children... I shall not enjoy it much, though I want to go home, for I shall only mourn & weep all day here, tis so different from the past..

Dec 25th 1862

Have you had a merry christmas darling? It being 9 ½ oclock in the evening it is too late to wish you one. I went to Father’s last evening ...left the baby with mother & went over to the church to see the presents distributed. It passed off pleasantly. Lena & Belle were delighted with their things but not more than I was surprised & pleased to her my name called & for a large bundle. It proved to be a nice dress from Father, Emma & Maria. Just what I needed most, as I had no waisted dress save my double gown...It cost $5.95...The Christmas present that did me the most good was your letter. I found it on ma’s bureau when I got home first...

Dec 13th, 1863

....Christmas is nearly here you know & I had work for the children I had to get done, before I could make a present I have on hand for a certain lover of mine, who is far away. Do you imagine who he is darling?...I think I shall stay at home Christmas & New Years unless you are here with me for it is too painful to try to keep such days. I can see no reason why they can’t let you come either then or sooner...Father said it is absolutely necessary to preserve just such discipline in the army & that it is great help to even be a corporal. I believe I hate military.

Dec 20th, 1863

....It rained until Thursday night, when it began to snow & has been snowing nearly ever since as hard as it can come. It is very deep now & fine sleighing, but that part will do me no good. Christmas promises to be a very merry one for those who can enjoy it.....I did a very foolish thing yesterday & fully realized it at the time, but let desire overcome judgement. I went into the jewelry store with Ella & seeing some little rings, got one for Belle’s Christmas present (Belle had broken one her father had made several days prior).Mother Benton did not blame me, but I know all my folks will when they find it out, but I could have got nothing for the child she’ll be more delighted with...Are you going to scold too? I was going to ask you to get her one when you came home...The present for you is begun & if I am not interrupted much this week I hope to finish it.

Dec 27th 1863

How did Christmas pass with you? Less sadly than Thanksgiving I hope. I was lonely without you, but less wretched as on Thanksgiving day for there was a joy I could not help feeling caused by the very name—Christmas!....Mary & Ella were both gone so I spent the day with mother helping her what little I could. Father made me a present of ham & Mother Benton sent up some more peach-blow potatoes, some fresh pork & some graham flour, so you see they do not mean I shall grow poor for want of something to eat. Very acceptable presents all of them. Wednesday Ella gave her cloud (a scarf with a large tassel) & Cousin Jim a book; Marian Harland’s last stories “Husks & “Col. Floyd’s Wards”. You know I am partial to her works...The tree at the church Christams Eve passed off pleasantly. Belle was much pleased with her presents, consisting of a Second Reader, a lava card receiver, a little crocheted basket from her teacher, a little sugar bird, & Mrs Tom Thumb (a little paper doll), dresses, cloak & hat from Cousin Jim. I had given her the ring before we went over & she was delighted with it. She told me to tell you “she had a ring now & you need not make her one.” Ella got some nice presents from Jim- a book, breakfast shawl & a beaitiuful merino dress. I would not have objected to the last nyself as I am sadly in need of one & expect to be some time.....How was the weather Christmas Day with you? Here it was delightful-clear, very mild without thawing & the sleighing tiptop I should judge from appearances

Dec 25th, 1864

This has been a sad & lonely day to me thus far, dear Charlie—that feeling that no other words can so well express as these—“as though something dreadful has happened” has been with me all day. I have been alone in the house with the children nearly all day, as May went to church this forenoon & home with Jennie Sears to dinner. ....Yesterday I was at the church helping to hang presents on the Christmas tree for the children & also present during the evening. ...I had not been able to buy them anything, but both of the children fared well enough. Mother bought Georgie some shoes..& some sugar toys for both of them. Georgie has devoured most of the latter. Belle had a pair of gloves, some candy and a set of dishes, I think Mr Ough gave her—he also gave Georgie a street car & horses....God only knows how thankful I am that I expect their pa-pa will be with them another Christmas. How have you spent the day darling? Has it seemed like Christmas to you? Father’s folks had their holiday dinner yesterday. I must tell you something about that. Friday before dark, a man brought in hurriedly a turkey, chicken, paper of coffee & a pound of sugar & was gone before I could recover ny astonshiment. On a slip of paper was “Mrs Cora Benton” By the Presbyterian Church. It was the first public charity I had receeved & God knows I hope it will be the last. I was never designed to live on charity, else I’d feel differently from what I do now. That was an extremely humiliating moment of my life & when Mrs Hayward came in & saw the things, I covered my face with my hands. They were sent to all the soldiers’ families in town. They have never before classed me among them, but rather have called on me for help.

[MrsArmstrong]

Here is a link about Christmas in the Confederate White House.
http://www.civilwar.org/historyclassroom/hc_csachristmas.htm

Susan Armstrong