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.
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