Christmas for our ancestors. was it a joyous celebration? In Early America the settlers brought many different attitudes and ways of celebration of Christmas to America. Christopher Columbus celebrated Cristmas in 1492 in Haiti, he built a fortress there in that days honor naming it, La Navidad. John Smith and his followers held their Christmas feast on January 6 1608/09. The Puritans around 1620, denounced the celebration as pagan. The reason being mainly, not the Christmas meaning nor content but the way it was celebrated. Carousing, drinking, and many costumed males roamed the streets invading homes, demanding money, and liquor in exchange for songs, called wassailers. Irish Catholics brought mumming to America, Music and verse. Which later turned to Caroling French Catholics brought charivaris, to Louisana, making music with anything that would make a noise. African Americans brought jonkonnus which favored, fantastic colorful costumes, and demands of gifts from their masters. By the 1800's Christmas was more tamer mostly celebrated in great feasts of food and music. Christmas worship centered on the Christ Child and celebration of the Old Twelve Days of Christmas. Feasting and celebration were a big part of the Early American traditions in Virginia, Maryland,Delaware, and Pennsylvania in the 18th century. Then, as now, families and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday with the best their tables could offer. In eighteenth-century Virginia, the holiday season began on December 24 and ran through Twelfth Night on January 6. For centuries, Twelfth Night was really the highlight of the holiday season. Garlands of holly, ivy, mountain laurel, and mistletoe were hung from the church roof, the walls, and the church pillars and galleries. The pews and the pulpit, and sometimes the altar, were bedecked with garlands The Christmas season in Virginia was filled with festive entertainment, which included singing and dancing to the accompaniment of musicians. Traditional carols and contemporary hymns were sung in the company of friends and family in 1775. Reverend John Wright, a Presbyterian minister active in Cumberland County, Virginia, during the 1760s. On the Feast of the Epiphany, 1761, he wrote to several benefactors in England and described the following Christmas scene: My landlord tells me, when he waited on the Colonel [Cary] at his country-seat two or three days [ago], they heard the Slaves at worship in their lodge, singing Psalms and Hymns in the evening, and again in the morning, long before break of day. They are excellent singers, and long to get some of Dr. Watts Psalms and Hymns, which I encourage them to hope for. Watts most famous hymn is "Joy to the World," a beloved Christmas carol. During the Christmas season Virginians enjoyed singing popular English carols. Among them were "The Snow Lay on the Ground," "The First Noel," "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," "The Holly and the Ivy," "I Saw Three Ships," and, appropriately sung on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, "Lully Lullay" ("The Coventry Carol"). During the eighteenth century carols were not sung in the liturgy of the Anglican Church. The Pennsylvania Dutch were the first, that was noted, as using a Christmas Tree. The emphasis on Christmas as a magical time for children came about in the nineteenth century. We must thank the Dutch and Germans in particular for centering Christmas in the home and within the family circle. Santa Claus too is an American invention, while many countries and ethnic groups have a Christmastime gift bringer, the "right jolly old elf" dressed in red and white fur and driving his sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer sprang from the pen and imagination of Washington Irving and Clement Moore in 1822 when they created the Santa Claus. They took several customs, one from Switzerland, the sleigh and reindeer, from Northern Europe, the fireplace, that parents told their children, with a promise of good behavior would bring St Nicolas down the chimnery with a present. St Nicolas himself, was from the early legend of St Nicolas, a fourth century bishop, who gave presents to the poor. In his 1823 poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," Moore created the look for the Christmas gift-giver. Cartoonist Thomas Nast completed the vision with his 1860s drawings that still define how we see Santa Claus, Ole Saint Nick, Father Christmas, and several other names we use.. Christmas that we celebrate today, would not be recognized by our forefathers. In this celebration we are many many cultures blended together in Yultide observances. As we research our genealogy we see that the past is alien to us, where our ancestors lived entirely different, perhaps more complex and less tolerant of other religions or customs. We respect and admire their strength and fortitude in paving the way for this great nation. The freedom to celebrate this holiday would not be possible if not for them and their sacrifices they made. Probably because customs then were fewer and preparations simpler, colonial Virginians looked to the twelve days beyond December 25 as a way to extend and more fully savor the most joyful season of the year. We cannot compare our Christmas celebration to theirs nor even comprehend how they lived or felt. Each generation celebrates its own traditions, some are handed down from ancestors others are started in our own families. We live in our world today and celebrate with great anticipation and joyousness the birth of the Christ child. and in the end that is all that matters or is important. Gayl Wells Christms 2003 |