In the east most homes displayed newly cut or purchased evergreen trees with glass decorations harboring brightly wrapped presents. Families commonly enjoyed Christmas goose dinners. Westerners used their determination and resourcefulness to share the holiday joy.
Americans caught the Christmas spirit more fervently than gold fever in the 1800’s. Across America children eagerly awaited visits from Santa Claus as his legend grew thanks to Washington Irving’s Sinterklass adventures described in History of New York (1809) and Clement Moore’s wildly popular poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1823). Americans loved Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1842) and embraced many of its holiday traditions. But frontier festivities, food and family celebrations differed greatly from their eastern urban cousins’.
Lewis and Clark’s Corp of Discovery celebrated a rainy 1805 Christmas at their newly built Fort Clatsop (Oregon). The leaders gave gifts of tobacco and handkerchiefs for the non-smokers. They ate some spoiled elk and fish for their holiday meal, while the Freemont expedition of 1842 dined on better quality fresh meat- mule obtained from one of their spent animals. Typically a home cooked Christmas dinner for most westerners was an eagerly awaited meal of game or pork, with lots of preserved foods- pickles, fruit, jams, root crops, and freshly baked breads, pies, cookies and perhaps a plum pudding or fruitcake.
The scarcity of wood on the prairie often led homesteaders to use cottonwood or even sagebrush for their Christmas trees. Many a soddie homesteader would forgo the Christmas tree due to the scarcity of trees. Far better to let it grow for later use as fenceposts or house supports. Cedar was also a popular replacement for balsam. Tree decorations were often paper cut-outs, painted nuts, dried flowers, candied apples or even hand-carved toys or animals. Many children also liked to string popcorn and cranberries as a garland. Trees were usually decorated on Christmas Eve and, if a homeowner brave enough, tree candles, with tin protection, were lit at the tree’s unveiling Christmas morning.
Since money was scarce, transportation of goods limited, and well-supplied stores rare in newly built towns, Christmas gifts were often homemade and planned well in advance. Scarves, socks, mittens, sachets, cornhusk dolls, carved toys or checker/chess games were often exchanged. Store bought items might include a pencil, yarn, paint set, comb, first penknife or some candies. New clothing, rather than hand-me-downs or homespun, would have been a well-received surprise. Gift wrap was rarely used. Most gifts were unwrapped and put in a stocking. Paper was saved and used for writing, insulating, holiday decorations and notes.
Christmas on the western frontier brought wonder, hope and the much needed social interaction; as well, as a break from the never ending work. Townsfolk looked forward to attending the school children’s Christmas plays with their homemade costumes. Local musicians shared Christmas tunes on fiddle, banjo, horn and even bagpipes. Christmas dances were greatly anticipated and people would sing carols at school or church since caroling door to door would require days! These festivities held in town, either at a schoolhouse or church, acted as a beacon drawing townsfolk, farmers, and ranchers from the outskirts. Most westerners attended Christmas Day services with carols and readings, followed at home with toasts, and dinners with family and friends.
By the 1890’s expanded railroad lines, refrigerator cars, and the beginning of mail order service influenced western Christmas meals and gifts. But the true meaning of Christmas, community spirit, and appreciation of thoughtful handmade gifts continued to flourish throughout the west.
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