Christmas Traditions of the Civil War

These days we read so many articles detailingClaus for Harper's Weekly around 1863. The
the origins of various Christmas traditions - thebillowing white beard, nose like a cherry, and
placement of a ornamental tree inside the home,wide-girthed figure bearing a sack full of toys
egg nog and other culinary delights, and thesoon became synonymous with the secular
Christian adoption of the season to celebrate theaspects of the holiday. These days, contemporary
birth of Jesus. Many would be surprised to know,depictions of St. Nick do not stray from Nast's
however, that a number of seasonal traditionsoriginal vision.
actually have their origins in the Civil War era.Christmas Carols
During this tumultuous time of brother againstDid you know that many of the songs we sing
brother, the holidays were still celebrated (mainlyduring this joyous occasion had originally been
in the South) with the hope of a swift conclusionwritten during the darkest time of our nation's
to the conflicts that divided our nation for manyhistory? Indeed, one could argue that some
years. It is said, too, that the states were split onChristmas carols are actually the forerunners of
the issue of celebrating the holiday as much asthe modern day protest song, as some carols
they were on subjects that led to the war in thepenned in this time were actually thinly veiled
first place. Being that the nation was young, thiscommentary on the war. "It Came Upon a
generation grew from a Puritan time whereMidnight Clear," written by minister Edmund Sears,
celebrating Christmas was considered sinful, duetouches upon the desire for peace during this
to the roots of many traditions being steeped intime, while Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "I
paganism that the early Christians sought toHeard the Bells on Christmas Day" contains strong
suppress. It wasn't until the early nineteenthanti-war sentiment. Of course, one likely doesn't
century when US states finally legalized thesense this because the more blatant verses of
holiday - the first three being Alabama, Lousiana,Longfellow's poem are omitted in the traditional
and Arkansas.carol we sing today. By contrast, Phillips Brooks'
These days, we might catch a glimpse of"O Little Town of Bethelem" touches on the hope
traditions we observe now in the Christmasfor peace in the aftermath of conflict.
scenes in Gone With the Wind and other moviesCare Packages
depicting the time. They, however, only tell partWhile the troops were out to war, it was not
of a story. Here follows just a short list ofuncommon for a soldier to receive gifts while at
Christmas mainstays and traditions that evolvedbattle. Barrels of food and drink, warm clothing,
from this time in history.and trinkets from home were especially prized
Santa Clausand brought a modicum of cheer to an otherwise
While the legend of Santa Claus has its roots in adismal situation. One could easily liken these
much earlier time - reaching as far as the originsgestures to traditions we hold today in sending
of Christianity itself - it is the modern depiction ofcare packages to our men and women overseas.
this jolliest of elves that saw its creation in theFrom the songs we sing to the icons we identify,
mid-nineteenth century with Thomas Nast. Nast, aone would be surprised to know how the Civil
widely-known cartoonist of the day (arguablyWar influenced our contemporary observance of
credited with being the father of the modern-daythe Christmas season.
political cartoon), created the visage of Santa