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