December 9, 2023

I am always at Hanna’s Town events to volunteer, to help out, to be part of the staff or background. Well, today I went as a paid guest! Hanna’s Town was presenting their Three Centuries of Christmas and it’s one of my very favorite events that they put on. I made reservations, paid the fee, and showed up today with my note pad and pen to absorb everything I could about Christmas celebrations from the 1700’s (and before) through 2023.

May be an image of 1 person, christmas tree and text that says 'Sạturday, December 2nd Saturday, Deceinber 9th Three Centuries of Christmas WESTMORELAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY'

Currently, the most popular holiday in the US is Thanksgiving; the second most popular is tied between Christmas and Memorial Day! There is also a self-guided walk-through with signs describing the most popular celebrations and traditions.

May be an image of text that says 'HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING! Wassail beverage made mulled cider, The word Old and good meaning Wassailin the k drinking ft.'

We started the tour with Kelton and his daughter leading us over to Hanna’s Tavern. There was a fire in the grate and the room was decorated somewhat like it would have been — although Christmas was not officially celebrated as we know it in those early centuries. I could not even begin to post everything that I learned, but I loved learning it! Dan was guarding the tavern and escorted us in.

Dan standing guard

Let’s see – a few facts from early centuries. Belsnickel was a prototype of Santa, but he (unlike Santa) did not stay hidden. He knocked on doors, asking the children if they were good. If not, they were ‘whipped’; if they were, they were given a treat. Belsnickel also went house to house and took donations from the rich and gave to the poor. Houses were decorated with items from nature: Fruit and candles and holly. There was a Paradise tree and the children acted out Bible stories, especially the creation and fall of man. Christmas was banned several times during those early centuries, perceived to be too pagan and not focusing on the birth of Christ. I liked these decorations best.

Joanna led us through the early centuries
Natural decorations
Paradise tree
You can barely see Belsnickel peeping in the window – lower right corner with green hat!
Scary looking Belsnickel handing out candy and coal
Belsnickel leading the group

The Nineteenth Century: Trees were decorated with dough ornaments, walnuts, candles, and cranberry or popcorn garlands with a wooden angel on top. Gifts for the children were left in stockings hung on the mantle, or even on the tree. Clement C Moore’s NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS was a very important part of Christmas celebrations, as well as A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens. Silent Night was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818.

LeFevre House
Lisa – shared influence of literature in the 1800’s
Carol explaining traditions
Beautiful fireplace mantel
Candles and nuts and ornaments
Candles on the tree – representing Christ, the light of the world.
Holly for good luck; poinsettias for color
Sprucing up the wood pile.
Santa digging in his sack for Candy Canes
Santa was our tour guide to the mid 1900’s

In 1870 President Grant declared Christmas a national holiday. During the 1900’s Queen Victoria had a lot of influence on US celebrations; German glass manufacturing did, as well.

Lillian explaining the 1800’s
Angels on the mantle
The glass ornaments on this tree are authentic German, hand-blown ornaments that belonged to Lillian’s husband’s grandparents!
Typical stocking ‘hung with care.’
Christmas cards came into being – but were costly and hand delivered
Toys and games – maybe from the Sears & Roebuck catalog?
More toys

Cathy shared experiences and celebrations held during the Civil War. One item she shared was that after Sherman took Atlanta, he dressed his horses up as reindeer and delivered food to the families that needed help. This was probably my favorite part, information wise.

Cathy

While during the 1800’s trees were small and placed on table tops, they moved to bigger sizes and were sat on the floor in the 1900’s. Decorations were manufactured. Santa was based on Clement Moore’s poem and eventually the image presented by Coca Cola – jolly man in a red suit! I liked the memories in this segment.

Barb shared information about the 1900’s through current
Collectible houses and the ‘popcorn’ decorations
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Trees were larger, and had electric lights. Also, Shiny & Brite ornaments replace the German hand-blown ones.

In 1939 Montgomery Ward introduced Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as a storybook and stuffed toy; we still embrace Rudolph in our celebrations, along with Gene Autry’s recording of Rudolph’s story in 1949. Electric lights were offered in 1903, and in 1923 President Coolidge erected the first National Christmas Tree on the White House lawn. In 1915 John C Hall (Hallmark) mass-produced the first affordable Christmas cards — see what they started? It was said that it took one month to get ready for Christmas and two weeks to get over it!

Traditional Santa and Rudolph’s story; toys that I remember!

Radio, TV and movies became prevalent and increased in popularity, even having a broadcast from space from Apollo 8 in 1968. It appears that people were searching for a way to renew their connections with their past. I know that’s a strong motivation to me during the holidays!

7 'White Christmas' movie facts you might not know | CNN

So that will be my post for the day. If anything exciting happens during the rest of the day I will post it tomorrow!

Scripture:

Philippians 1 3 Bible Poster Scripture Wall Art Christian Wall Decoration  Hanging Dining Room Canvas Prints for Bedroom Pictures for Hallway ...

Quote:

Top 40 Quotes About Memories (2024 Update) - QuoteFancy

TOMORROW December 10th is:

National Lager Day; Nobel Prize Day; Human Rights Day; Dewey Decimal System Day.

Tomorrow is HCC’s Christmas dinner and program. I’ll stick with that. God bless…

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