A Visit to Christmases Past

Financially, my family never had a lot. I can remember years, especially when I was small, where we struggled to just get by. Remarkably, however, I was never disappointed on Christmas Day. Santa always visited on Christmas Eve night and left presents under the tree. It might not have been an abundance by today's standards, but I was always excited and happy and felt I had plenty.

Both of my parents had grown up in Watauga and Ashe Counties, North Carolina, and they were lucky to get an orange and a piece of candy

for Christmas. I don't think my father got anything much, and Mother only occasionally got a piece of candy or fruit. They wanted to make sure my Christmases were different.

My birthday comes on December 22. People always felt sorry for me, because it was so close to Christmas that they felt it got lost. It didn't, because my parents always made the day special, and I always got to open one present three days early. I loved it!

Some of the best early presents I remember was a small wooden rocking chair with a wicker seat, a metal dollhouse complete with furniture, and my Little Red Riding Hood doll. Later came a record player with records and a birthstone ring that I still have and can still wear. Of course, there were always books, too. I began reading for pleasure between the first and second grades and never stopped.

Mama ordered most of my presents from the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Since we were customers, the company mailed us catalogs ever year, including the special Christmas edition. I loved looking at all the pictures, and we always saved the old ones to use later. Sometimes, I'd cut them up and make artwork or paper dolls out of them. What great memories! What are some of yours?

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Frosty Morns

When I was in elementary school, I set rabbit traps (we called them rabbit gums) for a couple of winters. I got up early, before the school bus came, and went to check them. I never caught anything, but I discovered a special peace on those cold, solitary morning treks. I wrote a poem about it:

Checking Rabbit Gums

The sky had just begun to lighten,

When I scrambled up and into clothes

And hurried out into the wintery cold

To where the persimmon tree grows.

The grass with its silver coat of frost

Crunches loudly beneath my feet.

As the crisp morning air hangs silent,

Not a single creature do I meet.

Usually I find the trapdoor still open,

And the food as left, way in the back.

But sometimes the gum would be sprung,

And there I stood without even a sack.

What might that wooden box hold?

With hesitation, I’d open the door.

Is there a rabbit, a coon, or a possum?

Could it be a skunk or something more?

Through the season, it was always the same.

No animal was ever caught.

But no greater peace have I ever found

Than on a stark morning walk.

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How Do You See the Christmas Story?

How do most Christians view the story of the Savior's birth? How do you really view it? Of all the miracles in the Bible, I've always found that the virgin birth is the hardest part for many to believe. Why? If you believe our God created everything that exists, if He has that kind of power, if nothing is impossible for Him, then He can certainly cause a virgin to have a holy child.

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.... Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:30, 31, 34 & 35).

Apart from that bit of unbelief, another problem seems to be that some of us have grown up in church. From as far back as we can remember, we've heard the Bible stories. Every year, year-in and year-out, we've listened to and often seen the Christmas story and the Easter story acted out. Have we lost the wonder, the awe, the majesty? Has it all become so

common place that we have a ho-hum attitude? Do we just go through the motions of another Christmas season without really thinking about what a great sacrifice this was on God's part and the great gift it was for us?

"And there were in the same county shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:8-11).

Take time to meditate on these things. Most Christians probably don't spend enough quiet time before God, meditating on Him and listening for His message to us. Pray that He will help you approach the Christmas story with the heart of a child and the understanding of those early church leaders who wrote our New Testament. And take time this Christmas season to enjoy the glorious wonder of it all.

"And when they [the wise men] were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him...." (Matthew 2:11a)

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German Christmases in the Colonies

Most of the immigrants coming to the colonies came from the British Isles and Germany. Christmas celebrations varied among the Germans, depending on which groups you mean. The Brethren, the Mennonites, and the Amish didn't celebrate at all. Lutheran, Reformed, and Moravians looked forward to the holiday and loved to celebrate.

By 1700, thousands of Germans, mostly from the Rhine provinces, poured into the colonies, especially to the Pennsylvania area. They likely brought the idea of having a Christmas tree with them, although some scholars think that the first one may have been with the Hessian soldiers at Trenton in 1776. The German tradition of secret gifts given to children on Christmas Eve night eventually turned into Kris Kringle, a forerunner of Santa Claus.

Moravians settled mainly in North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. They believed in a strict interpretation of the Scripture and considered food and music a good way to worship. For Christmas, they held a love feast with Bible readings, singing, lighting candles, and food. The congregation gathered

together and shared a holiday meal. Lebkuchen, a cookie made with honey, orange peels, and almonds was a traditional Christmas favorite. The Moravians also brought the putz, an elaborate nativity scene placed under the Christmas tree or somewhere in the home. The putz was really a series of scenes depicting different parts of the events leading up to and after the Christ Child's birth.

In Cleared for Planting, my historical novel scheduled to be released next month, Edgar's family, the Moretzes, are Germans living in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. They celebrate Christmas with a tree, presents, and a meal. As you can see, many of our Christmas traditions today originated from early German immigrants.

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A Colonial Christmas Among the Dutch and Others

New York had one of the largest Dutch populations, for it had once been New Amsterdam, but there were Dutch immigrants scattered throughout the other colonies as well. Like the English, they sometimes held parties and open houses for Christmas. All business normally ceased from St. Nicholas Eve on December 5th until Twelfth Night on January 6th. Dutch children left their wooden shoes beside the fireplace on St. Nicholas Eve. Sinterklass or St. Nicholas would ride in on a white horse and put small presents in the shoes of the good children.

Some of the Dutch preferred attending church services, singing carols, and having quieter family time over the holiday. Many of the different nationalities brought family recipes with them to America, and food was often an important part of celebrations. In fact koekje, the Dutch word meaning "little cake," is where our word cookie originates.

Christmas was also celebrated differently by the different religious denominations. At first the Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians rejected any special Christmas celebrations. The Puritans had stiff laws against such festivities, largely because they associated them with Catholicism. 

The Dutch Reformed, Anglicans or Episcopalians, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic loved to celebrate.

The Dutch and Germans added much to form the Christmas traditions we know today. Tomorrow's blog will cover some of the German celebrations.

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A Colonial Christmas, Virginia Style

Christmas in the colonies differed according to the location. In Virginia, it wasn't just a day, but a season. The harvest had been put up, fall plowing done, and it was time to celebrate. The wealthy opened their homes, and guests came and went as they chose. Invitations were rarely sent, and a hostess had no idea how many visitors might be there for supper or even spend the night. In 1746, a London magazine proclaimed, "All over the Colony, a universal Hospitality reigns" (Christmas in Colonial and Early America. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 1996).

During the day, men often hunted or "rode to the hounds." At night the merriment might include food, music, dancing, and games that lasted until nearly dawn. Most of the elite in Virginia had been English born, and they tried to recreate the party atmosphere and Christmas traditions they'd known there:

• Yule logs were immense, hardwood logs that were burned in the fireplace to bring good luck. They were originally a Norse custom adopted by the English.
  
• An abundance of evergreens, holly, and mistletoe decorated halls, dining rooms, parlors, and ballrooms.
• Servants and slaves were given Christmas presents, and some were given time off, if they weren't needed for entertaining guests.
• On Christmas Day, men fired muskets, set off firecrackers, shot canons, and beat pots and pans to make noise. This became a tradition in the South.
  
• If religious services were held, they were normally shorter than usual.
• Special foods and drinks included: mince pies, plum pudding, fruit cakes, wassail punch, spiced wine, and eggnog.
• Twelfth Night on January 6th officially ended the Christmas season.

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Cookies for Christmas

Cookies have long been a Christmas tradition. Here are some historical cookie recipes coming from the Colonial Period or the first half of the 1800's. Of course, these have been slightly adjusted for today's cooks.

Crisp Gingerbread Men Cookies
1 cup dark molasses
1 cup lard or vegetable shortening
1 cup brown sugar 
1 egg
3 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
6 cups flour
cinnamon sugar
Dissolve soda in the vinegar. Melt lard, sugar, and molasses in a double boiler and cool. Add egg, ginger, and soda mix. Blend in flour and roll out until thin. Cut with a gingerbread man cookie cutter, place on a greased cookie sheet, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 8 - 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 375 degrees.

Colonial Sugar Cookies
3 sticks butter or margarine
4 1/2 cups white sugar
5 cups all-purpose flour
5 eggs
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Combine flour, cream of tartar, soda, and spices and set aside. Cream butter and sugar, gradually mix in eggs, add extracts, and blend well. Slowly add in flour mixture until completely blended. Place in a greased bowl and chill overnight. The next day, roll out on a floured pastry board or cloth. Cut with cookie cutters and bake on a greased cookie sheet in a 350 degrees, preheated oven until golden or about 12 minutes. Makes several dozen depending on the size and shapes.

Christmas Coconut Drops
1/2 pound of butter or margarine
1 pound white sugar
1 large coconut
1 pound self-rising flour
Take the meat from the coconut and shred it or grind it in a meat grinder. Cream butter and sugar together and stir in coconut. Gradually stir in the flour. Spoon drop onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in an oven preheated to 375 degrees for 12 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

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