History of Christmas

[Patti Feinberg]

I realize decorating trees is a pre-Christian pagan ritual, but, does anyone know if say in 1795 Maine, the Collins' would've decorated their tree?

Again, New England, staid, no-frills.

(False memory I guess, I could swear I can see a decorated tree in the Old House???)

Oh well, historians....also, what about 1840?

Patti

[onyx_treasure]

     I doubt that Abigail would have allowed such a pagan symbol in the house.  The roots of MA and its province would have been puritans.  The parents mentioned by Abigail to her brother Joshua hardly seemed the liberal tolerant types.  Quakers in early colonial times were whipped at the post and sent away in exile.  Many who practiced different customs and religions were persecuted.  Christmas was banned.  However, Collinsport of 1795 some may have celebrated with or without a christmas tree but I don't see the Collins family except for Naomi being among them.
    I have many books on colonial life that I have purchased through some of MA museums.  I was going to put some quotes in but because my children are both in the room celebrating Christmas at high volume I cannot make an intelligent point, at the moment.

[Raineypark]

Colonial New England did not celebrate Christmas AT ALL!!  No trees... (a German tradition that didn't reach England, much less America, until Queen Victoria married her Saxe-Coburg husband Albert)...no parties....no taking the day off....NOTHING!!  They were the descendants of Puritans who thought all of Christmas was a Papist tradition, brought down from paganism.  It was far into the 19th Century before the Christmas we know arrived in America.

[ProfStokes]

(False memory I guess, I could swear I can see a decorated tree in the Old House???)

Patti, a couple of years ago, Castlebee posted a picture of Joshua and Naomi sitting in the drawing rom of the Old House to which she had added a small Christmas tree and a few other decorations.  Maybe that's what you remember.

ProfStokes

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Yes, we have it posted in the fan artwork section of the Members' Archive. But since the archive is offline until we convert to the new system, here it is for everyone to enjoy:

[Luciaphile]

IIRC, Christmas trees were a largely German tradition, which Prince Albert popularized in England in the 19th century.

[victoriawinters]

Yes, I always knew it was those Germans that were responsible for all those pine needles on the floor every Christmas time!