12
fjfiow BOKOPMN CHILDREN
cW/ TZEPLAND
sled. And the children are right. For, after all, is it not
a festival that we grown-ups participate in with the en
thusiasm of the little folks?
Long since the shops have been stocked to their capa
city with toys and the myriad of gewgaws that goto
attract the attention of the millions of shoppers wno
throng the streets, all bent upon one common mission
—the making ready f«r Christmas. A visit to the
cities, small towns, as well as to the little country stores,
all bespeak the ease with which preparations for Christ
mas can be accomplished nowadays, as compared with
these of 50 years ago.
It might he well to pause awhile in this money-mad
age of commercialism, when the pursuit of the dollar is
paramount to all else, and go back half a century or so
and recall Christmas as it was celebrated in the fair
Southland before the war. To those who knew the south
before its broad green fields were crimsoned with the
life blood of invader and defender, a Christmas then was
a festival long to be remembered; the climax of patient
and arduous preparation, the culmination of months
of painstaking care, yet withal a labor of love. Those
were days of never-ceasing joy, which fairly breathed
the spirit of "Peace on earth, good will to men."
"Christmas giff, misliss! Christmas giff, marster!"
as the wards of the slave-holding planters gathered about
the "great house" front porch on Christmas morning, was
a greeting none could forget who beheld the upturned
and eager black faces of the plantation help as they
came forward to receive the traditional gift.
Good old days, we say? Days that are gone, but. the
memories of which are as green and fresh in our hearts
to-day as the holly and mistletoe we are engaged in twin
ing into wreaths for the Christmas of to-day.
"Christmas Before the War" had the same significance
for the children of the south as it has for those of to
day, but how much more it meant to the mistresses of
those plantations where a hundred or more slaves had
to be remembered than it does to the grand dames of
to-day, who have but to enter their carriages, visit the
nearest shop and there purchase whatever their fancy
might dictate. To-day it is little else than one of many
shopping tours, so dear to the hearts of all womankind.
HUISTMAS is near. Its approach Is heralded by the thou
sand and one symbols that from babyhood wo have
learned to lovo and associate wif;, (h e festival of the
nativity of Christ. This festival | s joyously celebrated
in every country on "vc- globe' where the enlightening
rays of Chrip""»>''y and civilization have penetrated.
CljjV en it'll us that Christmas is in the air—that it
d~ not require a glance at the almanac hanging' upon
'he wall to apprise them of the near approach of a sea
son which to them is synonymous with feasting, merry
making, 'Tie exchanging of little gifts with loved ones, and last but not
annual visit of fat and Jolly old Kris Kringle and his reindeer
Then it meant endless work; for months the needles
flashed in the busy housewives' hands, as a gift then
was almost invariably handmade.
Preparations for Christmas in antebellum days gener
ally began early in September, when milady paid her
semi-annual \isit to the nearest city or town and there
laid in her supplies. Groceries were purchased by the
wholesale, staples for the field hands, and all the deli
cacies the market afforded for the "great house"and the
horde of guests who were to invade it.
A visit to the dry goods stores resulted in the pur
chase of cloths, cottons, flannels and silks by the bolts.
Of course, materials for fancy work were purchased in
large quantities, t'oj every southern-born woman spent
her spare moments at work of this sort. Arriving home
the fall campaign was mapped out. Every plantation
boasted of half a dozen or more women and girls among
the slaves, who designated themselves by the proud
titles of "seamsters." Each day the "*eamsters" would
come to the room set apart in the manor house for sew
ing and, under the watchful eye of the mistress of the
house, sew up the seams of the garments she herself had
cut out. Dresses for the smallest baby on the plantation,
as well as those for the little pickaninnies, half-grown
girls, young and old women alike, were made and laid
away for Christmas. Bright prints, gayly checkered cali
coes and domestics were the materials generally em
ployed, as the negro ever had an eye for color. Garments
for the women complete, those for men and boys were
next taken up, so that on Christmas morning each negro
who came to the house could be assured of returning
to his quarter with arms laden with good warm clothing,
including everything from a pair of shoes that "cried" to
his heart s delight to a warm new cap, or hat, as his
fancy elected. This sewing circle generally extended
its operations over a period of two months, but the work
was invariably gotten out of the way before December
1, for the three weeks just prior to Christmas were busy
ones and had to do with the mysteries of the well-stocked
pantry.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 1908.
The succeeding days were ones of
never ceasing delight to the housewife
and her corps of well-trained cooks and
helpers. Cakes by the dozen were
mixed, baked and set away; cakes the
recipes for "Which are priceless to-day;
pastry of every description, and invari
ably these were made in sufficient quan
tities to carry the family and their
score of guests through the holiday
season, for Christmas always extended
over the New Year's day. With prep
arations for Christmas complete, the
house is set in order for its influx of
guests. The choicest linen, spiced and
snowy in its cleanliness, is brought forth
from the great linen presses, and all
the spare beds in the house made up.
Then follows the decoration. In each
room, living-rooms as well as bed cham
bers, blazing logs crackle upon the
hearth; windows are festooned with
ropes of Christmas greens, and everywhere the Christ
mas spirit prevails. In the great open halls, some so he
roic in proportion as to permit of a four-in-hand being
therein turned, is set the huge Christmas tree, fairly
groaning beneath its burden of presents, for here dis
played are gifts for each member of the household, guests
and house servants alike. The trees of those days, how
ever, were illuminated by myriads of vari-colored tallow
dips, since electric lights were as far in the dim, dim
future as many of the other predictions of that wonder
ful old prophetess, Mother Shipton.
Promptly at six o'clock on Christmas eve the peace
and quiet of the great hall was disturbed by the men
servants of the house as they staggered in beneath the
burden of the yule los, in reality tlvi massive trunk of
a well-seasoned hickory. This was set upon the carefully
polished andirons and served as a "back log" for the
cheerful fire of Christmas eve and Christmas day. Sup
per over, members of the household gathered around.
Chestnuts and popcorn were brought forth; the evening
was spent in roasting chestnuts, popping corn and spin
ning Christmas yarns for the little folks, who hovered
near. As the grandfather clock chimed out the hour
of nine a hush would fall upon the family group and
every ear was strained to catch the plaintive melody
that floated in from without. The Christmas serenaders
had arrived. The servants of the plantation, grouped
about the front porch, to the accompaniment of a banjo,
would sing the old plantation melodies until invited into
the kitchen, where liberal potations of "a little drap to
warm them up" was served, and each was asked to drink
to the health of ole mistiss, ole mars, the little folks and
the household guests. This closed thu ceremonies for
Christmas eve. Candles were passed around and warm
beds sought, there to dream of Santa Claus and the
morrow and what was to be found in the score of stock
ings left hanging about the great open fireplace.
Christmas morning breaks clear and cold. The house
hold bestirs itself early, awakened by the entrance of the
Louse servants, who rush from room to room calling
HOLLAND
"Christmas Riff!" to all within as they bear to each the family loving
cup containing the morning grog, a sip from which each is supposed to
take. Gathering in a great dining-room, a huge punch bowl, filled to the
brim with the snow-capped Christmas egg-nog, greets them. This is the
beginning of the day's good cheer. Hreakfast over, the gift-giving begins
among the servants, for those within the house had all descended in
the wee sraa' hours to scan the contents of their stockings, there to find
that which was most ardently desired. When the army of slaves arrived
on the front lawn gifts over which the mistress and her helpers had
labored so arduously were brought forth and bestowed, while groceries,
extra allowances of provisions, sweetmeats and flasks of egg-nog or spirits
were passed around. Then the household made ready for church, which
was followed by the midday Christmas feast, capped by the blazing plum
pudding, prepared months ago.
And what feasts they were, to be sure! Roasted turkeys, roasted'
geese, roasted capons, huge sirloins of beef, home-cured hams and a myr
iad of good things that only a housewife of long ago could conceive l ,
were heaped upon the snowy table, while at the end, in front of the
master's plate, was placed the piece de resistance, a suck
ling pig, roasted whole, a glowing red apple gripped
tightly between its glistening teeth. In the center of the
table burned the stately candles, surrounded by a bank,
of holly, gleaming with its scarlet berries. On the side
tables stood the bowl of wassail, the big pitchers of port
and cider, plates of nuts and fruits and sweets and plat
ters of Christmas cakes of every description; not forget
ting the yule dough, those plain but well spiced, thin cook
ies, made as were the ancient cakes in the form of e
human body, with slits for the nose and mouth and cur
rants for the eyes. Other evidences that the feasting
was to be continued throughout the day were contained
in the two large baskets on either side of the open fire
place, one filled with chestnuts, the other with apples,
these to be roasted at will on the glowing coals, while
in the corner were the irons with which to mull the port
and cider.
A custom of beauty was one rarely revived nowadays.
While the afternoon festivities were at their height and
as the hot-mulled beverages were passed around, toasts
were freely given. The guest of honor, with glass aloft,
would open the front hall door and from shelter of
the piazza he toasted the fields and orchards, that the
host might be assured of a successful summer and a rich
harvest. Returning to the hall, a well-pitched voice would
burst forth into that delightful old carol:
God rest you, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born upon this day.
This carol usually closed the afternoon's diversions.
Chambers were sought and siestas snatched that eyes
might be bright for the crowning event of the day, the
Christmas ball!
The huge hallway was cleared of its furniture and the
glistening floor waxed until its surface shone like a mir
ror. The fiddlers took up their position in the corner of
the room as carriages began to drive up laden with the
young folk from the countryside for miles around.
Round dances and square dances, reels and quadrilles
followed in quick order until the faint streaks of dawn
lined the horizon; then came the Virginia reel, in which
old and young participated, and the Christmas day had
faded into the past. A round of gayeties are crowded in
to the week, each a replica of the one that went before.
Feasting and merry-making goes on unabated until New
Year's day has been ushered in; then guests depart and
once more the household takes up its routine.
Where there is a general obser\«nce of the Christmas
holiday, there you are sure to find Christmas spirit and
as a consequence general good-fellowship. For while the
day has developed into purely an occasion for the deliv
ery of gifts of more or less cost, good feeling prevails
because of these gifts and as a consequence enemies
are often made friends.
Not only is this true in America, but R is true in every
country where celebrations of the sort are held. Even
police annals point to that fact, for then crimes are at 4
minimum.