VOICE ONE:
I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE TWO:
And
I'm Shirley Griffith with THE MAKING OF A NATION – American history in VOA
Special English. Today we present a special program on Christmas traditions in
the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century.
VOICE TWO:
During this period, Christmas was
a very different kind of holiday than it is today. There was no set way of
celebrating the day, which was not yet an official holiday. Communities around
the country honored the day in different ways. Some observed Christmas as an
important Christian religious day honoring the birth of Jesus. Others
celebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. And, some
communities did not celebrate the day at all.
VOICE ONE:
But,
it was during this period that Americans began to reinvent the holiday by
combining ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern
American influences. You can think about
the historical people we have been talking about, Andrew Jackson, Martin van
Buren and others, and the ways they too might have celebrated Christmas.
(MUSIC)
![Washington Irving Washington Irving](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090110191120im_/http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/images/wirving_loc_210_se.jpg) |
Washington Irving |
VOICE TWO:
In eighteen
nineteen, the popular American writer Washington Irving wrote a series of five
essays published in a book called "The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent."
VOICE TWO:
The
essays describe a wealthy British landowner who invites his farm workers into
his home to celebrate Christmas. The landowner recreates a traditional
Christmas as it would have been celebrated in the distant past. Irving praised this looking back to ancient
traditions. He liked the idea of different levels of society coming together to
enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday. Washington Irving seemed to express
concern about the lack of such unifying Christmas traditions in modern America.
VOICE ONE:
Penne
Restad wrote a book "Christmas in America: A History." It shows how Americans began to slowly shape
Christmas into a unifying national holiday during the first half of the
nineteenth century. She describes how
Christmas had different meanings for Americans who came from different cultural
and religious backgrounds. Many immigrants brought Christmas traditions from
their own countries.
VOICE TWO:
Religion played a big role in how an American might
celebrate the holiday. Calvinist Christians banned the celebration of
Christmas. But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravians honored the day with
religious services and seasonal decorations.
VOICE TWO:
By
mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over the
meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways.
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![Traditional Christmas decorations Traditional Christmas decorations](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090110191120im_/http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/images/xmasdecor_butterworth_210_s.jpg) |
Traditional Christmas decorations |
VOICE ONE:
Christmas became an important time for families to
celebrate at home. More and more Christian Americans also began to follow the
European traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts. Christians believed
that the tree represented Jesus and was also a sign of new beginnings. German
immigrants brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on the
branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes.
VOICE TWO:
This
tradition of setting up a Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes. So
did the practice of giving people presents. As these traditions increased in
popularity, the modern trade and business linked to Christmas also grew.
VOICE ONE:
As Christmas became more popular, some states declared the
day a state holiday. Louisiana was the first state to make the move in eighteen
thirty-seven. By eighteen sixty, fourteen other states had followed. It was not
until eighteen seventy that President Ulysses Grant made Christmas a federal
holiday.
VOICE TWO:
Americans already knew old
Christmas songs that came from England and other areas of Europe. But many new
American Christmas songs started to become popular. For example, in eighteen
forty-nine, a religious leader from Massachusetts wrote the words to "It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear." The song "Jingle Bells" appeared seven years later.
And, a year later, a religious leader in Williamsport, Pennsylvania wrote the
song "We Three Kings of Orient Are."
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![A nineteenth century drawing of Santa Claus A nineteenth century drawing of Santa Claus](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090110191120im_/http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/images/santa_stnicholasorg_210_se.jpg) |
A nineteenth century drawing of Santa Claus |
VOICE ONE:
And of
course, no discussion of Christmas would be complete without talking about of
one of the holiday's most famous representations, Santa Claus.
VOICE ONE:
This character is based on the story of Saint Nicholas,
a Christian holy person believed to have lived in the third century. Saint
Nicholas became known as a protector of children. In his role as a Christmas
hero, different cultures have given him different names. These include
Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. But for most Americans his most
popular name would become Santa Claus.
VOICE TWO:
In the nineteenth century, many Dutch immigrants living
in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas on December sixth. Saint
Nicholas was especially important to New Yorkers because of their history as a
Dutch colony. In eighteen-oh-nine, Washington Irving published his "History of
New York." It lists Saint Nicholas as
the patron saint of New Yorkers. He describes the saint wearing a low hat,
large pants, and smoking a pipe. Does this description sound familiar?
![Clement Clarke Moore Clement Clarke Moore](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090110191120im_/http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/images/moore_nyise_210_se.jpg) |
Clement Clarke Moore |
VOICE ONE:
In
eighteen twenty-two, an American professor named Clement Clarke Moore wrote a
poem that redefined the image of Saint Nicholas. It was called "Account of a
Visit from Saint Nicholas." He did not expect it to be published. He wrote it
as a Christmas present for his young children. In recent years, experts have
questioned whether Moore actually wrote the poem.
VOICE ONE:
Some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, a map
maker in New York who wrote and published funny poems in his spare time.
VOICE TWO:
But whoever wrote this classic poem, it has since
become a favorite around the world. This
poem combines the traditions of Santa Claus, seasonal decorations and
gift-giving that have come to define Christmas in America. We leave you with Clement Clarke Moore's poem,
popularly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
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![The cover of a nineteenth century version of the poem The cover of a nineteenth century version of the poem](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090110191120im_/http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/images/Avistfrom_guttenberg_210_se.jpg) |
The cover of a nineteenth century version of the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" |
VOICE
THREE:
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Our program was written and produced by Dana Demange. Jim
Tedder read the poem. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE TWO:
And
I'm Shirley Griffith. Transcripts, MP3s
and podcasts of our programs are online at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again
next week for THE MAKING OF A NATION. And happy holidays from all of us in VOA
Special English.