Intro - First Draft

The nineteenth century was a time in American history when the culture was developing at a fast pace. The culture and traditions were built upon the cultures of other nations and countries. During this time period, America was becoming the America commonly known today. For instance, holidays during the nineteenth century where really starting to form in the way they are celebrated today. Foreign influences over American culture in the nineteenth century played a large role in shaping our nation’s holidays, especially Christmas. Christmas is a commonly celebrated, and important, holiday in today’s time and was in the nineteenth century as well. Aspects of the holiday today can be linked back to many different cultures in the past. These foreign influences shaped the way Christmas is celebrated in modern time tremendously.
The celebrations of the Christmas season were first brought to America in the colonial times from Europe. Over time, with the vast differences in the new people arriving to the new land, the holiday was shaped. Modern day Santa Claus is a prime example of this occurrence. The development and creation of the modern day figure of Santa Claus has been due to the contributions of many different cultures and their view of Christmas. The development of Christmas really picked up speed in the mid-nineteenth century with the famous poem Twas a Night Before Christmas, which first gave the appearance of Santa Claus himself. Around this time was also when Thomas Nast created the very first, detailed picture of the jolly man in a red suit. Shortly thereafter came the idea to put small, nicely decorated trees in the house, which came from a European influence. Once discovering that the candles being put on the trees were causing too many fires, the first Christmas tree lights were invented.
By the close of the century, there was a new outlook and feeling of Christmastime. The common people were more involved and it was much more similar to the modern day celebrations. An article was sent into a popular newspaper company asking if Santa was a real man who would bring her gifts. The newspaper columnist replied with the a simple answer; yes. This article, and its popularity, shows how the development of Christmas truly did change and morph over the course of the nineteenth century.

Weaknesses

For my final paper, I have a couple worries. At first, I was concerned with the length aspect of the paper, but then I realized that I do probably have enough information. My main two worries are: being too boring and the paper being too all over the place and not fluid enough. I feel like I do have enough information (well I might need a little more), but putting it all together in one organized order is going to be difficult. I am also worried and confused about the introduction and conclusion. We did talk about it in class today, which was a big help, but I'm still a bit confused about how to start the whole thing without being boring or sounding dumb.

Thesis and Outline

Thesis: Foreign influences over American culture in the nineteenth century played a large role in shaping our nation’s holidays, especially Christmas.

I. Introduction

II. Christmas
a. Background
b. Colonial Christmas
c. Saint Nicholas…etc
d. A Visit from Saint Nicholas
e. Thomas Nast
f. First Christmas Tree
g. Christmas Tree Lights
h. Yes, Virginia
i. Compared to today

III. Other holidays inspired by other cultures
a. Saint Patrick’s Day
b. Halloween
c. Thanksgiving

IV. Conclusion

Possible Thesis

Christmas is a good example of foreign influences over American culture in the nineteenth century.

Strengths:
-shouldn't be boring, i mean, it's Christmas
-opportunities to include other holidays

Weaknesses:
-not sure if it'll make 10 pages on just Christmas
-limited sources

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

An article was written in the New York newspaper, the New York Sun, on September 21, 1897 when an eight year old girl, named Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote in asking a question. She wanted to know if her friends were right in that Santa Claus did not exist. Francis Pharcellus Church was the editor at the time who gave her a response that is still famous to this day. The second paragraph is particularly quoted: “Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS.” Church’s powerful editorial stating the existence of Santa Claus seemed a fitting conclusion to a century that began with reserved observances of St. Nicholas and ended with the fundamentals of the modern Christmas season firmly intact. This also remains one of the most reprinted articles to ever run in any newspaper in the English language. Based on this one article, children’s books, a television series, and short holiday films have been created. The original letter is still intact in Virginia’s granddaughter’s scrap book and it is worth between 20,000 to 30,000 dollars.

http://history1800s.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=history1800s&cdn=education&tm=93&gps=372_184_1020_564&f=10&su=p897.6.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/

Christmas Tree Lights

Christmas tree lights first came into the picture in the 1880s. Just like most electrical things during this time, they were invented by Thomas Edison. The first use of the electrical Christmas tree lights was used by a friend of Thomas Edison, Edward H. Johnson. He was also the president of the company that Edison formed to light New York City. Johnson’s tree was considered beautiful and elegant. It made many appearances in magazines and newspapers and was considered a marvel. The Christmas tree had been granted many articles about it and people everywhere wanted to see it. Edison’s company then tried to sell electric Christmas lights, however, they did not become immediately popular. The cost of the lights and the costs to hire an electrician to install them was out of the reach of the general public. However, wealthy people would hold Christmas tree parties to show off electric lighting. And Grover Cleveland reportedly ordered a White House Christmas tree that was lit with Edison bulbs in 1895. In most of the general homes of the general public, Christmas trees were decorated not with lights, but with small candles. However, these candles, for obvious reasons, were not a good choice. The people were putting little sticks of fire on their trees, not a good idea. The use of Christmas tree lights was not common until the start of the 20th century. These Christmas tree lights also were not the product of Thomas Edison, but of a young man named Albert Sadacca. This young man made them in his basement at a much more affordable price.

http://history1800s.about.com/od/electricity/a/electricxmas.htm

Christmas Tree Lights

Christmas tree lights first came into the picture in the 1880s. Just like most electrical things during this time, they were invented by Thomas Edison. The first use of the electrical Christmas tree lights was used by a friend of Thomas Edison, Edward H. Johnson. He was also the president of the company that Edison formed to light New York City. Johnson’s tree was considered beautiful and elegant. It made many appearances in magazines and newspapers and was considered a marvel. The Christmas tree had been granted many articles about it and people everywhere wanted to see it. Edison’s company then tried to sell electric Christmas lights, however, they did not become immediately popular. The cost of the lights and the costs to hire an electrician to install them was out of the reach of the general public. However, wealthy people would hold Christmas tree parties to show off electric lighting. And Grover Cleveland reportedly ordered a White House Christmas tree that was lit with Edison bulbs in 1895. In most of the general homes of the general public, Christmas trees were decorated not with lights, but with small candles. However, these candles, for obvious reasons, were not a good choice. The people were putting little sticks of fire on their trees, not a good idea. The use of Christmas tree lights was not common until the start of the 20th century. These Christmas tree lights also were not the product of Thomas Edison, but of a young man named Albert Sadacca. This young man made them in his basement at a much more affordable price.

http://history1800s.about.com/od/electricity/a/electricxmas.htm

Christmas Tree Lights

Christmas tree lights first came into the picture in the 1880s. Just like most electrical things during this time, they were invented by Thomas Edison. The first use of the electrical Christmas tree lights was used by a friend of Thomas Edison, Edward H. Johnson. He was also the president of the company that Edison formed to light New York City. Johnson’s tree was considered beautiful and elegant. It made many appearances in magazines and newspapers and was considered a marvel. The Christmas tree had been granted many articles about it and people everywhere wanted to see it. Edison’s company then tried to sell electric Christmas lights, however, they did not become immediately popular. The cost of the lights and the costs to hire an electrician to install them was out of the reach of the general public. However, wealthy people would hold Christmas tree parties to show off electric lighting. And Grover Cleveland reportedly ordered a White House Christmas tree that was lit with Edison bulbs in 1895. In most of the general homes of the general public, Christmas trees were decorated not with lights, but with small candles. However, these candles, for obvious reasons, were not a good choice. The people were putting little sticks of fire on their trees, not a good idea. The use of Christmas tree lights was not common until the start of the 20th century. These Christmas tree lights also were not the product of Thomas Edison, but of a young man named Albert Sadacca. This young man made them in his basement at a much more affordable price.

http://history1800s.about.com/od/electricity/a/electricxmas.htm

Colonial Christmas

Christmas was very different in 18th century Williamsburg compared to 19th century. Also, most of our holiday traditions evolved through 19th century traditions. Because of this fact, Christmas is very different now compared to the 18th century. In the 18th century, Christmastime was not on the focus of the children. The adults were invited to balls with fine entertainment, but they left their children at home. The idea of Christmas being a time for the children and family came about in the next century. The gifts given at Christmas were not as extravagant and in smaller quantities as well. Cash tips, small books, and candies were most commonly given. Parents and masters were the only people doing the gift giving. It was inappropriate for a child, apprentice, servant, or slave to give gifts to their superiors. The children, apprentices, servants, and slaves were the only ones to receive the small gifts. Santa Claus was also not present during the 18th century, but arrived later on through poems and pictures. He is purely an American tradition who was created through the ideas of other cultures. Printers have been making Christmas cards since the 18th century, at least in London and other large cities. However, only young schoolboys filled in pages pre-printed with special holiday borders. These were called Christmas pieces. But the Christmas card was technically also a 19th-century English invention. The length of the colonial Christmas season also varies from what we believe today. Today the Christmas season lasts from the end of Thanksgiving to New Years. In the 18th century, the Christmas season only began on the 25th and continued for 12 days; The Twelve Days of Christmas. The Twelfth Night was the main time for balls and celebrations to be held for the adults. They also did not acknowledge New Years Eve as a time for celebration.

http://www.history.org/almanack/life/xmas/customs.cfm#viewMedia

Thanksgiving!

The First Thanksgiving was held in 1621 in Plymouth. This gathering between the American colonists and the Wampanoag Indians is acknowledged as the first peaceful meal and celebration, giving thanks, between the Indians and the colonists. Howeverm even though this is considered one of the first Thanksgivings, the Native Americans had been giving thanks aroung the country during this time for centuries. Natives all over the country had been having celebrations, with food and dancing, giving thanks for their good crops. There have also been other ceremonies involving the colonists and giving thanks that had happened a couple years before the previous gathering. In 1619, in the area near the Charles River, it is reported that a group of settlers led by Captain John Woodleif arrived. Upon arrival, when they landed in Virginia, Captain John knelt down in prayer for their safe journey. Whether the first Thanksgiving really occured in Plymouth, Virginia, or all over the country, the legacy of thanks and feast has survived to this day. The foods that the pilgrims and Indians ate at the frist Thanksgiving differed from what we eat today. THe pilgrims did not eat ham, potatoes, corn on the cob, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, chicken, eggs, or milk. What they did eat was: eel, seal, clams, lobster, goose, duck, swan, Indian corn, wheat flour, walnuts, chestnuts, acorns, onions, lettuce, beans, pumpkins, and carrots. They did eat a cooked wild turkey, but unlike today, the turkey was not the main food of the feast. The pilgrims also didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers. They wiped their hands on cloth napkins which they also used to pick up hot pieces of food.

www.history.com/content/thanksgiving/the-first-thanksgiving/first-thanksgiving

Charles Minnigerode was a European political refugee who moved to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1842. When he arrived he got the job of being a professor at the College of William and Mary. He then became close to Judge Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, who was a professor of law, and lived with him and his family in the St. George Tucker House. At Christmastime, Minnigerode entertained the Tucker children by sharing the European custom of the Christmas tree. They cut down an evergreen tree, brought it inside, and placed it up on the parlor table to decorate. Instead of buying readymade ornaments like we do know, he helped the children create their own. In addition to these ornaments he and the children made popcorn strings. This was the first ever Christmas tree to be brought into a parlor and decorated in America. The next December, most Williamsburg families had Christmas trees in their parlors.
Charles Minnigerode was born as Karl Minnigerode in 1814 in Germany. Minnigerode first arrived in Pennsylvania in December 1839 after all the war and political struggles in Europe. Here, he changed his name to Charles in an attempt to separate himself from the German community. He then found his career at the college as an ancient language professor in the newspaper and moved to Virginia. He then met and married his wife, Mary Carter in May 1843. As his life went on he changed religions, and entered priesthood in 1847.

Source:

"Christmas Trees, the Confederacy, and Colonial Williamsburg : The official site of Colonial Williamsburg." Colonial Williamsburg Official Site. Web. 14 Jan. 2010. .

Biography of Thomas Nast

Thomas Nast was born on September 26, 1840 in Landau, Germany in the army barracks. His father, also Thomas Nast, was a trombonist in a regimental band. He however did not like his family living in Germany among the uncomfortable political climate and military. He then sent his wife and two children to New York City in 1846 and followed them three years later. Thomas Nast Junior had then studied art all his life and had many careers in art. He studied art with Theodore Kaufmann in 1854 and worked at the Jefferson Bryant Gallery. He then, at age fifteen, was hired as a reportorial artist for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. Then he went on to work for the New York Illustrated News and covered a report on Giuseppe Garibaldi. Upon returning to the United States, he married Sarah Edwards and the two of them had five children together. By 1862, Thomas Nast had gotten a position at Harper’s Weekly.
Thomas Nast was a skilled artist. The reason he is related to “Holidays and Celebrations on the Nineteenth Century” is because he is one of the first people to give a definite picture of Santa Claus. He first drew Santa Claus in the Christmas season of 1862. He drew Santa in the way that we see him now; big, jolly, white beard, etc. The first picture drawn was Santa Claus in a sleigh with bags of gifts surrounded by men and children. The image was called, “Santa Claus in Camp” because he was right in the middle of a military scene during the Civil War. This picture was drawn to memorialize the family sacrifices of the Union during the darkest days of the Civil War.

Source:

"Thomas Nast." News Update The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Web. 07 Jan. 2010. .

Possible Future Blogs

• Histories of different holidays for example:
• New Year's Day/Eve
• Memorial Day
• Veteran's Day
• July 4th
• Saint Patrick's Day
• Valentine's Day
• Easter
• Labor Day
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Hanukkah
• Kwanzaa
• CHRISTMAS
• How the holidays mentioned above were celebrated similarily or differently
• Myths about different holidays for example Thanksgiving
• The evolution of Santa Claus
• Saint Nicholas
• Modern vs. early Christmas celebrations

Valentine's Day

The history of Valentine’s Day is very clouded and murky. No one really knows for certain who the figure of Saint Valentine really was. However, there are many legends surrounding this man who became one of the most popular Saints. One legend is that he was a Roman priest who continued to marry young lovers who were in love even though the Emperor banned it. He was then thrown into jail and killed probably around 270 AD. While in jail, apparently he met the love of his life. This woman may or may not have been his jailor’s daughter. He wrote her a message on a small card, which he allegedly signed “From your Valentine”. This phrase is still used today on most Valentine’s Day cards. Some people think that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate his death, while others think it was to Christianize the Roman holiday season of Lupercalica. Later on in the 17th century is when Britain started to popularize Valentine’s Day. At first people of all classes would exchange small tokens of love or hand written notes. By the end of the century, ready-made printed cards were developed and essentially took the place of the handwritten notes. Americans also started to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the 17th or 18th century.


Source:
"The History of Valentine's Day." The History Channel - Home Page. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. .

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight days and nights. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew and the holiday is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which is around November or December. In 165 B.C.E. the Jewish victory over the Hellenist Syrians caused the rededication to the holy Temple in Jerusalem. This is the event that Hanukkah is in remembrance of. Then shortly after the Greek King of Syria ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods and forbade any Jewish rituals. Then in 168 B.C.E. the Greeks seized the holy Temple and devoted it to the worship of Zeus. Most Jews were angry with the Greek soldiers and decided to fight back, however there were some who obeyed out of fear. There was a lot of bloodshed and murder. One Greek officer murdered a man and his five children, which caused the villagers to attacked and kill the soldiers. The Jews tried to attack the Greeks as much as they could. When some of the Jewish people returned the to the holy Temple they found that many things were broken. Once they fixed and cleaned the Temple, they decided to have a dedication ceremony. The people wanted to light the golden menorah for this celebration, however, they could not find any oil. They then stumbled across a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night; remembering the eight-day miracle.

Source:

"Hanukkah Story - History.com - Origins of the Jewish Holiday." The History Channel - Home Page. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. .

Saint Nicholas/Sinter Klaas/Santa Claus

The Legend of Santa Claus first begins hundreds of years ago with a monk named Saint Nicholas. It is said that Nicholas was born around 280 AD in Patara, near Myra in modern day Turkey. There are many stories and legends surrounding Saint Nicholas. The most popular legend is that he gave away all his belongings and wealth and traveled near and far to help the sick and poor. Another popular story is that he saved three sisters who were being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father. It is said that he gave them a dowry so that they could each be married. Over time he became known as the protector of children and sailors. Each year on the anniversary of his death on December 6 a great feast was held in honor of him. By the Renaissance he was the most well known saint. Saint Nicholas entered the American popular culture in the late 18th century. Santa Claus was developed through the name Sinter Klaas. Sinter Klaas was the shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, which was the Dutch spelling for Saint Nicholas. The American version of Santa Claus was first used when a business man, John Pintard, gave out woodcarvings of a fat Santa, giving out toys, with stockings hung by the chimney with care.


Source:
"Sinter Claus in America - History.com - Christmas in New York." The History Channel - Home Page. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. .

Easter

Easter is the annual festival honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is also the key feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday every year but the actual date is not constant. It is somewhere between March 22 and April 25 and is called a movable feast. Other Christian days and events associated with Easter are Lent, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday. Lent is the 40-day event in which a Christian must give up something dear to them, in a way imitating what Christ had done for them. This event begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Holy Week is the week before Easter and includes the days of Palm Sunday and Good Friday. It also ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. This time represents the crucifixion of Christ. This holiday is a Christian’s most important holiday and lasts a season’s time. The meaning and reason of the use of the word Easter is unknown today.

Source:

"The History of Easter - History.com." The History Channel - Home Page. Web. 02 Jan. 2010. .

Labor Day

Labor Day has been observed on the first Monday in September for more than 100 years. Labor Day is associated with the strife and achievements of American workers during the labor movement. The first Labor Day was observed on September 5, 1882. On this day 10,000 American workers marched from city hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade. The marchers took an unpaid day-off in the honor of the workers of America. They also vocalized the issues they had with their employers. As more years passed, more states began to hold these parades. However, Congress did not legalize the holiday until 12 years later. The working conditions at this point in time were dreadful. Americans worked as much as 12 hours per day, all to obtain a normal lifestyle. Children were also cheaply employed. Then on May 11, 1894, workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago started to undergo wage cuts and the firing of union representatives. This then led to, on June 26, the American Railroad Union declaring a boycott of all Pullman railway cars. During this time, 50,000 rail workers agreed to participate and all railroad traffic out of Chicago stopped. On July 4, President Grover Cleveland then sent troops to Chicago. There was a lot of fighting, blood, and rioting which was soon ended due to the government’s actions and the boycott collapsed. The strike brought forth the workers wants and needs and the day became known as Labor Day. Today, there is also still doubt to who the founder of Labor Day actually is, either Peter McGuire or Matthew Maguire.

Source:

"Labor Day History - History.com Holidays." The History Channel - Home Page. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. .