Chapter 1 Moravian Traditions and the Evolution of the Holiday

“The Moravians know how to keep Christmos [ sic ].” — The Wachovia Moravian , December 1894

What was an early As December 25th approaches, through town households are being southern Moravian a rosy-cheeked girl, excused by her tidied and doorsteps and yards Christmas like? Nowhere did parents from school for the day, swept (if the mud is not too great). anyone write down in one place rushes importantly from one of the In between their everyday chores a detailed description of all of clapboard houses, quickly returning some mothers, older sisters, aunts, the activities at church and at with a small collection of the and grandmothers find time in their home leading to the celebration neighbor’s tin cookie cutters bundled orderly houses to hem a small of one of the most important in her checked apron. Eventually woolen petticoat or cut out a striped events in his - the spicy aroma of freshly baked short gown for a little girl, knit some tory: the birth of the baby . Christmas cakes drifts from the warm socks or sew up a new linen However, through diaries, jour - outside oven sheltered in a lean- shirt for a growing boy. If they finish nals, church reports, and letters, to at the back of the narrow lot. The in time, these useful gifts may be along with an informed specula - mouth-watering smell mingles with placed on a table in the sitting room tion, we are able to piece togeth - the honeyed odor of warm beeswax to be distributed when the family er a narration. So, to begin, let us emanating from a nearby shed returns from the part the curtains to the past on where several women are dipping lovefeast at the church. an early southern Moravian for the lovefeasts. Two A few days before Christmas Christmas. young men emerge from the commu - the schoolteacher and some of his nity store with some loosely- It is a brisk, cold day in late pupils, all wearing closely knit warm wrapped sugar candies, purchased November about two hundred years caps, pass by on a borrowed horse- for their godchildren, and walk ago in Salem, . The drawn wagon bound for the country briskly down the dirt street. As they cacophony of tradesmen’s tools, the where they will seek out a supply of stride along, deep in conversation, creaking of wagon wheels, and the pine, cedar, laurel, and moss to use indistinct German phrases float rhythmic clip-clopping of horses’ in the church decoration. When upward, linger, and fade. All hooves mingle with the shrill squeals they return, the teacher and several of pigs being readied for butchering in adult friends from the Single several backyards along Main Street. Brothers’ house begin to construct Children scurry about to help their their essential Christmas decora - parents in this arduous, but neces - tion, the Putz . During the construc - sary task, a job so essential that tion they hang some bedsheets to it takes precedence over school. conceal the unfinished project. In readiness for the making of They painstakingly build a cider, wine, and brandy, the framework to be placed at pungent odor of fermenting the back of the minister’s apples wafts from the direction table and then piece together of the brewery and distillery the green garlands, festoons, west of town. Faint sounds of and swags, attaching to music issue from the church where them large cut-out paper the organist practices a special letters of German words that anthem. The first whisper of when translated read “Glory to God Christmas is in the air. in the Highest.” A small watercolor Let them believe in , or St. Nicholas, or Kriss Kringle, or whatever the name the jolly Dutch saint bears in your region. Marion Harland The Christmas Holly, 1867

Putz at the Salem Tavern, early twentieth-century. Historic Photograph Collection, Old Salem Museums & Gardens (hereafter OSHPC).

transparency of the Holy family is nied by musicians playing violins, a placed in the center of the arrange - viola, trombones, clarinets, and ment, and a number of candlesticks French horns. There are a dozen or are arranged beside and behind it to more visitors in the sanctuary, many effectively illuminate it when the of them guests at the tavern, and time comes. After many hours or they sing the familiar tunes softly in even days of work, on completion their own language, while the they celebrate at the afternoon ves - enslaved African Americans seated per with a glass of wine, a slice of on the long bench at the back of the apple cake, coffee, and perhaps a church follow along as best they can, good cigar. some in German and some in Christmas Eve arrives at last. To English. By the soft light of the gold - simplify matters, a late vesper and en-colored candles the devout group early supper may be combined. As drinks warm tea or sugar-sweetened the afternoon fades, mothers with lovefeast coffee mixed with milk and their babies and small children walk savors the hearty and substantial to the church at the corner of the yeast bread. The children receive gifts square for the five o’clock lovefeast that have been neatly tied to two service especially designed for the small evergreen trees arranged on little ones. Two hours later families, either side of the . Cries including their larger children, return of delight indicate their appreciation for the Christmas Eve service. They of the printed Bible verses lovingly divide into their special choir sections embellished by the minister’s wife, upon entering at the two separate shiny red apples , and spicy cakes doors, the men and older boys sitting (Lebkuchen) . The older boys and on one side, the women and older girls recite their verses received at last girls on the opposite side. Children sit year’s celebration before they are all at the front. Led by the minister, who presented with lighted candles to rep - reads the Christmas story from the resent Christ as the light of the second chapter of Luke, they enjoy world. It is quite dark now, and the singing in unison as well as flickering flames dance and weave, antiphonally (responsively) some forming giant shadows on the walls. carefully selected hymns accompa - Stepping into the cold night air, the

2 congregation observes snowflakes tallow candles, and English, and of course gently cloaking the trees in white. the parents are con - there is much music. As they tread gingerly through the tent with their efforts At home for dinner pow dery mixture, some of the to bring the story of A few neighbors served at about noon older adults reflect on their own long the beloved Jesus into with their there is a piece of ago childhoods in , as their home. A song is roasted pork, or maybe well as various countries of Europe, sung, a prayer is said, children may a turkey, sauerkraut England, and Africa . and the young people or cabbage, potatoes, may again repeat visit each pickles, bread and but - Upon reaching home, the parents their memorized Bible ter, a fruit pie, pound stir up the coals from the ashes of the other’s Putz verses. As the family cake, and beer, wine, fireplace, add more wood, and retires, they hear the decoration. or cider. Later in the observe that a bucket of water on the night watchman’s afternoon there are opposite wall has begun to freeze. voice calling the hour short choir meetings While the children remove outer gar - and chanting a verse where a vesper of cof - ments and nibble on their cache of from one of the hymns earlier sung fee or tea with the Christmas ginger sweet cakes from church along with at church. Tomorrow morning the cakes is enjoyed. A few neighbors apples and cider, a fire is built in the children will carefully place the tiny with their children may visit each sitting room and finally that door, infant in the empty crib and linger other’s Putz decoration. A supper of which had concealed the adults’ there, repositioning the animals and leftovers is taken in haste so as Christmas preparations including the adding to the straw as they relish to hurry again to church for more Putz and some small gifts, is opened each tiny detail of their own Putz . music, worship, and fellowship. At with a flourish. Revealed on the table this meeting perhaps some of the is a small carved wood or paper Christmas Day begins with school girls present a well-rehearsed nativity set, lovingly unpacked from chores and perhaps some work proj - ode, a recitation and musical a chest in the garret and carefully ects. There may be two morning dialogue about the birth of Jesus, nestled in moss and evergreens with church services, the first liturgical which has been prepared by the a few sheep grazing close by on a and the second a longer preaching minister. rocky slope. The young people are service at which there are again mesmerized at the sight of such a some visitors to whom the minister As Salem grows and evolves over diminutive scene highlighted by the may offer a portion of the sermon in time, the English language becomes

Salem Putz at Home Moravian Church’s Tea. Courtesy of Women’s Fellowship, Home Moravian Church.

3 MORAVIAN prevalent and many more goods small presents. The Putz grows to The scene fades. The years pass. are brought from afar. As a result, include buildings, running water, Additional elements of Christmas sometime in the mid-century, and an expanse of space. Trees are celebration are introduced. Moravians in Carolina begin to laden with homemade as well as observe increasingly elaborate store-bought gifts. A drink of The vignettes above illustrate Christmas traditions. However, the eggnog is enjoyed upon arising on the active participation of chil - church services are still at the Christmas morning, and imported dren in all of the Moravian center of the celebration. The Fries oysters, oranges, figs, nuts, and Christmas traditions. Although children are curling up at home chocolates are part of the day’s fare the nineteenth century was the with a little book in which the gift for those who can afford such real beginning of the American bringer is pictured coming down the extras. An assemblage of useful model for Christmas as we recog - chimney with a pack of toys. and edible items gathered for the nize it today, the Moravians had Another picture book shows a deco - few enslaved helpers is passed out indeed been known as partici - rated tabletop tree covered with in a little ceremony during the day. pants in a meaningfully celebrated

Bethlehem: “The Christmas City”

Moravian archivist Dr. “In 1741 Count Zinzendorf Count presiding. During the Adelaide Fries called ’s was spending the Christmas season service, on a sudden impulse, the name “a Christmas souvenir. ” i with the Brethren in the log house Count arose and led the company Although contemporary histori - which had been built near the into the stable, there continuing banks of the Lehigh,—a house the service and singing a very ans have asserted that the name constructed Continental fashion, old Christmas hymn which began Bethlehem had already been with dwelling rooms and stable ‘Not Jerusalem, Rather Bethle- picked in Europe, the following under one roof. Following the hem, Gave us that which Maketh story is a charming one of the custom of that day the Brethren life rich.’ The little village, thus little settlement’s first Christmas, on the Lehigh were holding a far without a name, took the name as related by Fries: Christmas Eve Watch Service, the Bethlehem from this idea.” ii

Engraving of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1750-60, engraved by J. Noual, London. Collection of Old Salem Museums & Gardens (hereafter OSMG). Christmas Day for much longer. As a writer in The Moravian in 1863 wrote, “In our own Church, it has ever been the custom to dedicate [the festival of Christmas] almost exclusively to [children’s] instruction and enjoyment.” 1 In 1870 the editor reminded adults “Let us rear the for them [the chil - dren], and make the house full of joy and Christmas warmth and light. But let us not neglect to tell them what it all means [emphasis added].” 2 The reason for that attention was well explained in the Southern Church publication some years later: “The manner in which the Son of God entered our human nature has sanctified the estate of childhood. He came as a babe laid in the manger in order that the little children might be loved and prized as they never had been before. If, therefore, in homes and Sunday schools we make children happy, we are doing what Jesus did in his birth at Bethlehem.” 3 Perhaps the greatest contrib - utor to the value that Moravians gave to the nurturing and educa - tion of children was the promi - nent church leader and bishop John Amos Comenius (1592- 1670). Comenius, known far and wide as the “Father of Education,” instituted many positive and still enduring theo - Early gift bringer image, mid-nineteenth century. Courtesy of the ries of an early and broad educa - North Carolina Office of Archives & History. tion for children. Teaching by pictures as well as by text and historians that the miracle plays or Bible verses, the light of candles, a entertaining children as they were “Moralities” presented in medieval star, a lamb, and even Christmas learning were creative approach - European churches of Bible stories trees and pyramids to inform and es used by Comenius in his book (such as Adam and Eve with a enlighten. Orbus Pictus , published in 1658 Paradise tree hung with apples ) Underscoring that the and con sidered the “first illustrat - was the scene from which came Moravians were always mindful ed school book,” 4 or “the first the forerunner of the Christmas of their children and of the children’s picture book.” 5 tree and probably the Putz . The importance of visual refer ences Employing pictures, visual Moravians were also adept at using to reinforce their faith, Bishop images, and even plays to mental - these techniques effectively and August Gottlieb Spangenberg, ly and emotionally teach and meaningfully, not only with chil - in his definitive exposition of inspire churchgoers had long been dren but also with adults. They Moravian beliefs published in a successful method of the understood the impact of images 1778, wrote “God gives his Catholic Church, particularly for and symbols and used such things to the service of children; and those who were illiterate. For as greenery-enhanced illuminated therefore children, who are of so example, it is said by many nativity scenes, colorfully executed much value with God, should

5 MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS likewise be precious and dear to in-law of Count Zinzendorf, mission work had emphasized a us.” 6 As a group in the church told the children of the birth of Christ-centered focus above all very young children themselves Jesus and to remind them of His else. In Europe, and even occasion - were known as angels. 7 Religious great sacrifice presented each lit - ally in Salem, to carry out God’s support groups called choirs tle one with a burning taper, tied work sometimes meant departure were formed to correspond to the with a red ribbon. Holding their and separation from family for children’s ages, and thus suitable lighted candles high as Brother months or years, but with the instruction was ongoing in the Johannes sang, the children secure understanding that other progressing stages of life. 8 Angels clearly grasped the symbolism of responsible adults were always were an important and common Christ’s redemptive love as the available to act as surrogates for theme at that time; nineteenth- light of the world in the hearts their children in choir groups, in century Christmas pic tures of people. 10 the church, and in homes. 11 sometimes depicted children Seemingly in contradiction While the communal aspects as angels and the gift bringer to to this long Moravian tradition of eighteenth- and early-nine - the children as a young . 9 of recognizing children as mem - teenth century Salem made the The use of Christmas candles bers of the congregation in need Moravians distinct from their on 24 December 1747 in Marien- of special attention is the fact Carolina neighbors, by the mid- born (near Herrnhut, now in that the Moravians emerged from nineteenth century Salem society Germany) for a Christmas Eve an unmistakable European com - had changed significantly. The watch service illustrates the munal society. In Salem, the eighteenth-century model of a Moravians’ early use of visual Moravians had lived in family congregation town with service to symbols for children. Brother units from the beginning, but God and the church placed above Johannes von Watteville, son- their strong sense of church and all else had all but disappeared and

A children’s lovefeast, 1760, engraved by I. Rod Holzhalb, France or Germany. OSMG.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 6 The Maxims for Parents on Rearing Children

The Moravian published some maxims for parents in 1863. iii Originally appearing in a handbill published in Birmingham, England, they began with a quote: “When the ground is soft and gentle, it is time to sow the seed; when the branch is tender, we can train it easiest; when the stream is small, we can best turn its course.”

1. Begin to train your children from the cradle. 15. Teach your children to pray, by praying with From their earliest infancy, inculcate the neces - and for them yourself. Maintain the worship of sity of obedience. God in your family, if you desire his blessing to 2. Unite firmness with gentleness. descend on you and yours. 3. Never give them anything because they cry for it. 16. Impress upon their minds that eternity is before them, and that those only are truly wise 4. Seldom threaten; and be always careful to keep who secure eternal blessings. your word. 17. Above all, let parents be themselves what they 5. Never promise them anything, unless you are would wish their children to be .” quite sure, you can give them what you promise. 6. Always punish your children for will - fully disobeying you; but never pun - ish in a passion. 7. Do not be always correcting your children; and never use violent or ter - rifying punishment. Take the rod (so Solomon says,) let it tingle, and pray God to bless it. 8. On no account allow them to do at one time what you have forbidden under the same circumstances at another. 9. Teach them early to speak the truth on all occasions . 10. Be very careful what company your children keep. 11. Make your children useful as soon as they are able, and find employment for them as far as possible. 12. Teach your children not to waste any thing; to be clean and tidy; to sit down quietly and in good order to their meals; to take care of and mend their clothes, to have “a place for every thing, and every thing in its place.” (I Cor. XIV, 40. John VI, 12.) 13. Never suffer yourself to be amused by an immodest action; nor, by a smile, encourage those seeds of evil which, unless destroyed, will bring forth the fruits of vice and misery. 14. Encourage your children to do well; show them that you are pleased when they do well. Maxim illustration, nineteenth century. Author’s collection. a recognizably American community emerged with the family unit as the focus. This movement away from communal organization was driven by gradual assimilation of southern Moravians into American society. And not only was the family receiv - ing closer attention in Moravian com - munities in Wachovia, it was becom - ing more important in American homes in general. For both groups, the individual pockets of culture of eighteenth-century, backcountry America had often formed insulated units. By the later nineteenth century, for better or for worse, the American cultural “tossed salad” was beginning to be stirred into a “melting pot.” 12 For the Salem Moravians, assimila - tion into American society had been occurring in increments since Emil De Schweinitz of Salem Anna Paulina De Schweinitz of with his toy train, c. 1868. Salem with her doll in carriage, the town’s beginnings, but official - OSHPC . c. 1868. OSHPC . ly took place in 1857 when Salem ceased to exist as a closed church community or theocracy, less than a century from its founding. 13 As the nineteenth century pro - gressed, the Moravians in Salem and their fellow Americans increasingly made a niche for family, friends, and charges to gather around the figurative hearth for bonding, fel - lowship, and conversation. Painful memories of the Civil War increased ties to home. “Let the fires of home religion be kindled anew,” pled The Moravian of 1868. 14 The editor of The Moravian remarked in 1870, “Christmas is emphatically a home- festival.” 15 “Home, sweet home” was becoming an American goal, although it poignantly had not always been so in the American reality. A Civil War soldier had written in 1863 in “The Children’s Column” of The Moravian in Bethlehem to express his “New-Year’s greeting from the army.” He described his life as a soldier in realistic terms: the tent- covered “pine twigs” and “corn- blades” makeshift bed dug into a

“Marie Agnes von Zinzendorf” (1735-84) by Johann Valentine Haidt. Courtesy of the Moravian Archives, Herrnhut, Germany.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 8 trench, and the “cracker- box” table on which he was writing. A positive touch was a “nice fire,” so life was not totally unbearable, although he stated, “‘Home, Sweet Home’ is far preferable.” 16 Religion was an integral and influential part of a large segment of eighteenth- and nineteenth- century life in America, especially as the country became more set - tled and traveled, industrialized, urban, and materially endowed. Many people were moving from rural farms to take jobs in facto - ries in the cities. The middle class was expanding and becoming more educated and refined as it purchased cheaper and more affordable manufactured goods, thereby increasing its comforts and leisure. As some mothers had fewer children, and health care and improved sanitation helped those offspring to live longer, a heightened interest in the family emerged. The broader dissemina - Home Sweet Home die tion of printed materials in the cut decoration, Germany. form of books, periodicals, and Author’s collection. newspapers increasingly served to inform and enlighten people tion.” 17 Such writers as Mrs. year’s gifts, and snow and ice, on many topics. The results of the Lydia Maria Child, Marion and sleds and skates, and warm Industrial Revolution were more Harland, and the Beecher sisters firesides and home comforts rise and more apparent in the various wrote manuals with compila - up before you at the sound of Moravian communities. The tions of recipes and remedies as their names.” 20 A number of years trades town of Salem found it well as advice on housekeeping, later in a story in the same publi - harder to sell its more expen - domestic economy, and raising cation entitled “The Christmas sive handmade goods, and so children. 18 The Beecher sisters Blessing,” home was given its mills and factories began to be “affectionately inscribed” The important place. “Christmas is established and manufactured American Woman’s Home in 1869 preeminently also a family, as goods were brought in from out - to “The Women of America in well as a Church, festival...cele - side, thus contributing to the whose hands rest the real des - brated in the domestic circle as in demise of the little church town tinies of the republic, as moulded the Church with particular refer - as a closed community. by the early training and pre - ence to the children... .” 21 served amid the maturer influ - One national social trend The loving scene described by ences of home.” 19 Such books that occurred was that children Mr. Moravian did not always were immensely popular and gradually began to receive more embrace America’s early children, sometimes went through as many attention and status within the however. For them, life was some - as a dozen printings. family from what had been a times a litany of “dos and don’ts” more repressed condition. Young In 1856, in the first volume with their infrequent appear - mothers did not necessarily know of the newly started paper The ances at adult functions strictly how to cope with children in this Moravian , “Mr. Moravian,” the controlled and regulated by the new role, and so magazine and children’s editor, highlighted the idea that children were often nei - book writers dispensed needed pleasures of winter, Christmas, ther to be seen nor heard. advice not only in straightfor - and the comforts of home in the Consider the 1805 edition (origi - ward treatises, but in the guise of following passage: “ Apples and nally appear ing in 1783) of a “domestic fiction,” “woman’s grapes, and chestnuts, and hicko - popular and widely used text- fiction,” or “sentimental fic - ry nuts, and Christmas and new- book for American students,

9 MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Old Salem Museums & Gardens (hereafter MESDA).

Adam and Eve Charger

This delftware charger “ Adam of the publication in 1667 of John longer performed sometime in and Eve ” was made in Bristol, Milton’s poetic immortalization the fifteenth century, people England, about 1650-1690 by an “Paradise Lost.” It also has a remembered the depiction of unknown potter. Polychromed Christmas significance coming the “Paradise” tree representing dishes like this were more decora - from the Christian medieval immortality and the Tree of Life tive and meant to be hung on the church “mystery” or “miracle” and Adam’s fall, all as associations wall or prominently displayed as a plays, popular in the fourteenth of Christmas. On the early saints sign of some affluence. The sub - and fifteenth centuries, in which calendar Adam and Eve Day was ject here is the fall of Man and stories of the Bible were depicted on December 24. It was, therefore, includes an apple tree entwined with props to visually teach the only natural to erect a tree deco - by a serpent to represent evil. This mostly illiterate parishioners. rated with apples for this signifi - motif was in part popular because Even after the plays were no cant event. Noah Webster’s The American place, , Cherokee Mission otherwise, often sold by peddlers Spelling Book . Some of the rules established by the Moravians, had and containing all kinds of stories, of behavior for children were thirty-eight books, which includ - became very appealing and, thus, outlined: ed Noah Webster’s The American popular. Moral instruction was Spelling Book .24 being encouraged by the Second Be a good child; mind your Great Awakening, which swept book; love your school; and strive to Webster’s occasionally laborious through the country from 1795 learn. Tell no tales; call no ill book nevertheless was considered to 1836 and hence promoted names; you must not lie, nor swear, a welcome respite from the even upright, enlightened living. The nor cheat, nor steal. Play not with heavier scholastic materials for - Sunday School movement, having bad boys; use no ill words at play; merly employed, with the excep - started in England in the 1770s for spend your time well; live in peace tion of Comenius’s writings. Books underprivileged children, began in and shun all strife. This is the way solely for the pleasure of children 1816 in Wachovia. It fostered to make good men love you, and save had only become available in the memorization of Bible verses, as your soul from pain and woe... . As second half of the eighteenth well as some general education. 26 for those boys and girls that mind century, and many of these Salem children, of course, already not their books, and love not the “wagged their fingers in print” received both, so a local Sunday church and school, but play with against anything “playful and School for them was not begun such as tell tales, tell lies, curse, imaginative,” as the child had to until 1849. 27 The Sunday School swear and steal, they will come to be early converted to save him Union and the American Tract some bad end, and must be whipt from a quick and unexpected Society both issued moralistic till they mend their ways. 22 death with the eternal accompa - tracts, and churches sponsored nying damnation. 25 An earlier edition of Webster’s men called colporteurs (an effort book was in use in Salem in May Up until such books as in which the Moravians participat - of 1791 when President George Webster’s, the catechism and ed), who traveled the countryside, Washington visited the classroom hornbooks for learning the alpha - passing out tracts, Bibles, and the of Samuel Kramsch where a read - bet were considered the basics for dispensation of religion by word ing session was in progress. 23 the few children who were privi - of mouth in order to reach each During this period Anna Rosina leged to learn to read and write. and every uninformed soul, Gambold, at the remote Spring- Then chapbooks, religious and including children.

An image of a family Christmas, early-nineteenth century, from an American Tract Society publication. Author’s collection.

11 MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Long before the advent of from the Bible and thus become way of creating traditions mean - Sunday Schools, however, stronger Christians, so it is not sur - ingful to families and their chil - Moravian children at Christmas prising that schools were an early dren and bringing them not only had been given pretty colored or part of the establishment of their to each other and the church, illuminated Bible verses as part towns. As Comenius wrote in The but to the larger community as a of their gift from the church, School of Infancy about Solomon’s whole. For the Moravians, music along with the aforementioned wisdom, “A young man duly was an essential ingredient in candles and perhaps a tasty instructed as to his way, even their faith. treat, like a ginger cake. They when old will not depart from it.” 29 Outside the church in the were encouraged to take the The Moravians’ “heart religion” South, revelry associated with verses home and memorize encouraged a simple, direct, famil - the holiday had long been them. When African Americans iar, and joyful communion with manifested by such activities as in Salem obtained their own God to whom one could always shooting matches, fox hunts, church, they, too, benefited from turn in times of need, whatever cock fights, races, dances, balls, some education. On 26 December the age. In knowing God, one parties, dinners, games, lotteries, 1841 at the African American log knew oneself and grew in that noise making, and the inevitable church, the children recited the knowledge. This, not doctrine, was drinking, an issue that eventual - Christmas verses they had the essence of Moravian theology. ly led to the temperance move - learned and then received cakes. 28 Such activities as singing ment. Some of these activities The Moravian Church together bound people to each were escalating into what could believed that educated people other and to the church. They become a population out of could enhance their lives by were used on a national scale by control, particularly in the cities. reading the word of God directly certain influential adults as a America needed its own solid,

Illustration from Harper’s Weekly , December 1886. Author’s collection.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 12 suitable, inspiring celebrations change into a model of charity was one of the gift bringers, including for special occasions, not the very influential. 35 Pintard and the names of Santa Claus and St. drunken, boisterous, unruly, Irving concentrated on Nicholas, Nicholas, and even the antecedent loud, and destructive behavior, the Dutch bringer of gifts, and of Kriss Kringle, Christ-Kindlein (the which was increasingly becom - Moore, of course, wrote the now Christ Child who brought presents ing a problem, both locally and immortal poem “An Account of a to Protestant children in Germany elsewhere. Social reform was Visit from St. Nicholas,” 36 which and in America). 37 This little book required, and so a renewed inter - may have had as one of its sources had on the cover the picture of an est in religion had developed, the poem from The Children’s elfin gift-bringer in the act of ranging from temperance meet - Friend , although Moore portrayed placing toys on a small tabletop ings to Bible societies, mission - the gift-bringer as a genial and Christmas tree, thus introducing ary societies, Sunday Schools, non-threatening character. many American children who saw and gospel tract ministries. Some the book to some of the symbols local agnostics, like the outsider A Pennsylvania-published associated with the secular Christ- (non-Moravian) 30 Dr. George Christmas book said to have an mas. Wilson of Bethania, thought the enormous impact on the devel - One entry in the Kriss Kringle proliferation of such organiza - oping Christmas in America, book is a poem called “The tions stifling, but many citizens according to that state’s Christmas ” in which a boy is thought them essential. 31 historian Alfred Shoemaker, was offered by a charitable lady his Kriss Kringle’s Christmas Tree , pub - The various tract and Sunday choice of one item from an array lished in 1845 and widely distrib - School writings, as we have of “baubles and toys.” 38 He is uted. It validated Kriss Kringle as noted, were particularly pro - great ly attracted by a toy white lific in advancing the state of horse, a warrior’s accou - morality in children and Old SANTECLAUS with much delight trements, and some books, but adults. The earliest so-called His reindeer drives this frosty night, ultimately settles on a Bible, Christmas books for children O’er chimneytops, and tracks of snow, which he knows his mother were usually filled with sto - To bring his yearly gifts to you. loves most and that he can ries about naughty boys and share with his siblings. Along The steady friend of virtuous youth, girls who learned valuable with the obvious lesson of The friend of duty, and of truth, lessons to improve and the choosing the Bible over tempo - Each Christmas eve he joys to come good children who became ral objects, this story represents Where love and peace have made their home. better by example. the charitable giving to under - Through many houses he has been, lings and the less privileged A poem (right) appeared And various beds and stockings seen, that became so prevalent as in 1821 in The Children’s Some, white as snow, and neatly mended, a theme in literature and in life Friend , a little illustrated vol - Others, that seem’d for pigs intended. of the nineteenth century. ume in which “Santeclaus” Chapter Three will explore arrived on Christmas Eve. It Where e’er I found good girls or boys, some of the Moravian instances taught a number of lessons That hated quarrels, strife and noise, of youthful giving. and warned of punishment I left an apple, or a tart, for transgressions: the “birch, Or wooden gun, or painted cart; Emphasizing the good will logic, and religion” 32 aspects towards children long expressed To some I gave a pretty doll. sometimes delineated by well- by the Moravian Church, Mr. To some a peg-top, or a ball; meaning but autocratic adults. Moravian wrote affectionately No crackers, cannons, squibs, or rockets, 33 to his young readers on This poem was only one in To blow their eyes up, or their pockets. Christmas Day, 1857: “We what proved to be an increas - No drums to stun their Mother’s ear, haven’t forgotten the delight ing abundance of Christmas Nor swords to make their sisters fear; with which we used to look material. In the 1820s, New But pretty books to store their mind. forward to Christmas Eve Yorkers John Pintard, Washing- With Knowledge of each various kind. and morning; and whilst the ton Irving, and Clement feeling has become deepened Moore (responding to unseem - But where I found the children naughty, and hallowed, it is as joyous ly public rowdiness as well In manners rude, in temper haughty, as ever... . It does us good to see as the need for American Thankless to parents, liars, swearers, your smiles, and to hear your traditions) had begun to lay Boxers, or cheats, or base tale-bearers, merry, ringing laughter. It the groundwork for the new I left a long, black, birchen rod, wakes up the memory of early American Christmas, and, in Such, as the dread command of God days, when we used to run to the 1840s, Charles Dickens’s Directs a Parent’s hand to use our stockings, and tables, and redemptive story of Scrooge’s When virtue’s path his sons refuse. 34 Christmas trees, to see whether

13 MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Mr. Santa Claus had remembered ciations of childhood cluster ney corner; or the tree, decked in us or not. He was sure to do it. around this Christmas festival secret, to be revealed in glad pomp Candies, cakes, nuts, fruits, wax- and influences proceed from it upon the festal day-if these and candles, books and gifts of all which are never lost.” 40 many other features of the anniver - sorts for juveniles were there; sary are tedious or contemptible in The development of the and though we don’t care quite your sight, you are an object of pity; American Christmas is epito - as much for some of these things but do not defraud your children mized by what many such writers now, as we did then, we are glad to of joys which are their right, merely as Mr. Moravian were promoting. see you enjoy them, and are happy because you have never tasted One of them said it thusly: if you are happy.” 39 In the middle them. Let them believe in Santa of the Civil War in 1863, Mr. Never deny the babies their Claus, or St. Nicholas, or Kriss Moravian again reiterated, “It is a Christmas! It is the shining seal Kringle, or whatever the name the season rightly devoted to childish set upon a year of happiness. If the jolly Dutch saint bears in your joy. Blessed are the children who preparations for it—the delicious region. Some latter-day zealots, are spending a happy Christmas... mystery with which these are more puritanical than wise, have [as] they sported around the invested; the solemn parade of felt themselves called upon, in Christmas-tree... . The holiest asso - clean, whole stockings in the chim - schools, and before other juvenile audiences, to deny the claims of the patron of merry Christmas to popular love and gratitude. Theirs is a thankless office; both parents and children feeling themselves to be aggrieved by the gratuitous disclosure, and this is as it should be. If it be wicked to encourage such a delusion in infant minds, it must be a transgression that leans very far indeed to virtue’s side. All honor and love to dear old Santa Claus! May his stay in our land be long, and his pack grow every year more plethoric! And when, throughout the broad earth, he shall find, on Christmas night, an entrance into every home, and every heart throbbing with joyful gratitude at the return of the blessed day that gave the Christ- child to a sinful world, the reign of the Prince of Peace shall have begun below; everywhere there shall be rendered, ‘Glory to God in the highest,’ and ‘Good-will to men’ shall be the universal law—we shall all have become as little children. 41 This thought brings us back to the Moravian bishop Comenius’s statement “The Lord himself declares ‘Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ Since God thus wills that children be our precep - tors, we owe them the most Cover of Kriss Kringle’s Christmas Tree , 1846. diligent attention.” 42 In addi - Author’s collection.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 14 tion, Comenius made another century progressed and as fewer England during the Civil War. On statement which the Moravians fathers worked at home, the Christmas, the four sisters were may well have taken to heart in mother found herself as one of the asked by their mother to give up regard to Christmas: “Parents cornerstones of family life, who their presents in recognition of ought to be especially careful came to be largely responsible for the war and to take their holiday never to allow their children to be the religion, culture, behavior breakfast to a poor family, a type without delights,” for “the joy and manners, education, clothing, of charitable offering, which of the heart is the very lifespring food, household furnishings, and became increasingly popular in of man.” 43 management of her children. In the new society. They did, in fact, each receive a gift of a small Bible As a result of this recognition essence, in the burgeoning middle tucked under their pillows, the of children there was the develop - class she was the managing partner, colored covers carefully selected by ment of a new kind of Christmas, as her spouse was the financial 44 their mother (beloved “Marmee”) one which centered on the family, partner. Expansion of education in to correspond to their tastes, with the home, and the gifts that began childhood would ultimately allow a few inscribed personal words. to be offered as tokens of friend - adults to be better equipped to The girls gave no gifts to each ship and love. If happiness did act responsibly, a desirable goal in other but took their bit of money not reign supreme at the hearth, this growing republic. Carefully to buy or make some small which was the symbol of family molding children with positive tokens for their mother, which bonding and togetherness, moth - religious principles would assure they planned to put in a basket ers were told how to achieve success in our democracy. Just on the table in the parlor. domestic bliss through the afore - such a foundation was exemplified mentioned religious tracts, advice in a familiar classic of the period, Thus melds the sacred and books, magazines, and other Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, the secular in our path to the publications. As the nineteenth written in 1868 and set in New modern day Christmas, and we

Engraved illustration from an American Tract Society publication, 1820s. Author’s collection.

15 MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS can begin to see why a Charles- Frolicks and Other ton woman in 1912 called the holiday the “great domestic festival.” 45 Back in Salem in the Christmas Temptations 1920s, Winifred Kirkland’s book Where the Star Still Shines , spon - Succumbing to the exhilaration of hunting and other such tempta - sored by the Woman’s Auxiliary tions was a continual problem in Wachovia through the years. of Home Moravian Church, On 21 May 1806, the Elders in Salem recorded, “A public warning invited adults to drop the shall be given in all our congregations, reminding our Brethren not to “crippling pack of maturity and go to horse races, musters, shooting matches, or frolics, with notice become once again a little child that failure to observe our rules will not pass unnoticed.” iv “Frolick” (a stepping along a Christmas period spelling) was a commonly used word during this period. An road.” 46 As a writer in the 1828 dictionary with a provenance from Salem described it as a Wachovia Moravian stated in wild prank, a flight of whim or gayety. v Frolicks took place during December 1895, “The Moravians Christmas, as well as other times, and the mere fact that the know how to keep Christmos Moravians were warning against them meant that they were being [sic ]”, but “the simple secret” of held by the outsiders all around. Examples of local frolicks included such a Christmas is “that the harvest corn huskings and other such farm-related activities, as well Lord Jesus Christ must have the as country weddings, planned during the winter months when more first place in it.” 47 Now, let us, leisure existed. Putting up Christmas decorations at church could too, step on the path to discover even be construed as such an occasion, especially if accomplished by even more of the Christmas a group of young people of both sexes not properly chaperoned. vi roots of the Moravian past, par - Consequences of participating in a frolick could be momentous ticularly in the South, but also to for a Moravian. The Bethania Committee reported in 1816, “that some extent in America and the single Anton Hauser here in the village, on the second even Europe. During the journey Christmas Day of the past year, took part in a Negro-frolick in this we will explore some of the most neighborhood. Hauser was excluded from the community.” vii loved and recognized traditions, which bring to us all “the myste - MESDA’s Cherry Grove Parlor. rious quickening to life of...[our] buried childhood.” 48

Salem’s Home Moravian Church .

Chapter 2 The Christmas Tree and the Pyramid

“a treat for our young ones with a little decorated tree” — John and Anna Rosina Gambold, Springplace, Georgia, Moravian Indian Mission, 24 December 1814

Moravian sister Anna wreath” with a text inside that was a delight to the children... .” 5 Rosina Gambold record - read, “Unto You is born a These shrubs would have been ed the first written documenta - Saviour!” During the week after part of the frequently erected tion of the Christmas tree in Christmas “many Indians” came Moravian Putz 6 decoration,which the South on 21 December 1805, to look at the “Christmas decora - included assorted greenery and at the Moravian Indian Mission tions.” 4 the Nativity at Christmas; “the in Springplace, Georgia. She little trees” were probably intend - The next year, again on 21 wrote: “Soon after breakfast we ed as Christmas trees. December, Sister Gambold wrote, drove with our pupils in our cart “In the afternoon Brother Byhan One wonders about the to the Connasaga River, about went with our children on horse appearance of those early Christ- 3 miles from here, to fetch a to fetch shrubs and little trees for mas trees. To enhance our imag - small green tree for Christmas... .” the Christmas decorations. This ination we may consider one [ grune Baumchen fur Weynachten ]. 1 of the earliest pictorial depictions That same year, at the beginning of an American Christmas tree of Advent on December 1, created by Lewis Miller (1796- Missionary Gambold remarked 1882). Miller, a German carpenter that the children had been asking and chronicler of people and for a long time how many Sundays events by his folk drawings in there would be until Christmas York, Pennsylvania, sketched a and smilingly rejoiced that the picture of Seifert, a blue dyer, with number was dwindling. On his family, and in the back - Sunday the 8th there was a ground was a Christmas tree, Singstunde , a song service, at which appears to be decorated the conclusion of the regular with springerle cookies and service. Then, on the 24th, fruit, perhaps apples .7 The “a happy lovefeast” was date on the drawing is 1809, held at which “burning which would make Miller wax candles were distrib - sixteen years old when he uted” and selected verses made the picture. However, were sung. Spruce branch - he was a neighbor of Seifert es had been strewn on the at that time, and the curator floor 2 and a wreath hung of the collection of the in the window. Soon after Historical Society in York breakfast on Christmas believes it to be an accurate Day the children received date, although the possibility small presents and “verses exists that Miller may have with colorful borders.” On drawn the picture later, as part the 26th they presented to of his reminiscing collection of the Cherokee chief’s wife, “a looking glass for the mind.” 8 Mrs. Vann, 3 “a little painted

19 Another source sets the date for German script of this document of this age would probably have the Miller drawing between 1819 reads as follows: “Soon after the been guided in such a decorating and 1821. 9 Regardless of the service [which was held in the project by his teacher. The exact date, it does afford a visual evening] the party left Brother “Brother” was probably John rendering of an early American and Sister Gambold’s to go to our Gambold’s brother Joseph, and Christmas tree, such as the Brother’s house where Gonstadi the reason that they went to his Gambolds might have put up at had prepared a treat for our young house was to keep the tree a com - Springplace. ones with a little decorated tree , plete surprise in order to heighten [mit einem gepuzten Baumchen ] and the drama until the moment of There is a lapse of some years we sang as if with one heart and revelation. The dra matic unveil - before the mention by Gambold mouth, ‘I will rejoice in God my ing of Christmas trees was com - of the next reference to a Saviour! ’”10 Gonstadi was a young mon behavior at that time. decorated tree in Georgia, which boy of about five who had been appeared on 24 December 1814. One may well ask why the brought by his father to be The translation from the old Gambolds instituted the use of educated at the mission. A child Christmas trees at the Georgia Moravian mission. The Reverend John Gambold (1760-1827) and his wife Anna Rosina Kliest (1762-1821) were the couple in charge of the mission at Springplace beginning in 1805 and were devoted to service in God’s kingdom. They had both been part of the Moravian community of Bethlehem, and he maintained close connec - tions as well in Nazareth, Lititz, Salem, and Wachovia. The founders of these com - munities had ties to Germany where the birth and death of Jesus had long been honored with visual images. The upper Rhineland is thought to be the source of the first European Christmas trees. 11 The Moravians in Bethlehem may have had the first Christmas tree in America. For a synod in 1748 the church minutes described a lovefeast for the children in October, which included what appeared to be a Christmas-like tree. At that church meeting in the Saal (meeting hall and chapel) of the Single Brothers’ House there was a green tree from which hung gifts of apples and Bible verses for the boys and girls of the con - gregation. 12 If such decorations were used for a synod lovefeast in October, then they were undoubtedly used for Christmas as well. The Gambolds were simply following such beloved traditions for festive occasions at Springplace. Embellished wreath from Springplace Moravian Indian Mission, 1807-13. OSMG.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 20 The Gambolds of Springplace

To better understand the undivided attention, under the undertaking of the Gambolds at most favorable circumstances. And the Springplace Moravian Indian yet this person, banished as she Mission, one may read the com - is from civilized society, cheerfully ments of distinguished scholar laboring year after year with Henry Steinhauer who was head scarcely any promise of success, of the in England yet undauntedly persevering was to train the ministry and was the first teacher in the Bethlehem then principal of the Young Young Ladies’ Seminary, and Ladies’ Seminary in Bethlehem. seemed its main support... .” iii Steinhauer wrote: Anna Rosina took her study The indefatigable exertions of of natural history seriously and Brother Gambold and his wife are valued her collection. After her almost beyond credit. Besides provid - death, Reverend J. R. Schmidt wrote to Salem from Springplace Embellished wreath from ing food, raiment, shelter and fuel for Springplace Moravian Indian to say that “Anna Rosel” (an themselves and their scholars, attend - Mission, 1807-13. OSMG. ing to the school daily, acting as advis - endearing moniker) had given ers and physicians to the whole neigh - him her botanical collection, and sons of a Cherokee Regulus learning borhood, entertaining every visitor— he intended to apportion it along their lesson, and reading their New and they are numerous who draw on with some of his own additions Testament in the morning and draw - their hospitality—writing letters, and to three people: Von Schweiniz (a ing and painting in the afternoon, on Sundays teaching, admonishing, noted botanist) and Van Vleck in though to be sure, in a very Cherokee iv etc., they find time, even, to oblige Salem and Huffel in Bethlehem. style; and assisting Mrs. Gambold in their friends in various ways. i In a similar testimonial, her household work or Mr. Gambold vi Steinhauer went on to marvel Correa de Serra, Portuguese in planting corn. at the ability of Sister Gambold to minis ter to the United States John Gambold had written reply to his request for “botanical and a “distin guished naturalist after his wife’s death, “We could products” by sending “between and linguist” himself, spent a hardly do without her and a Sister twelve and fourteen hundred day and night in Springplace and will never be found again who specimens of dried plants, besides wrote in a letter: works with such engagement for near a hundred packets of seeds, Judge of my surprise, in the midst the salvation of the poor Indians. several minerals, specimens of all of the wilderness, to find a botanic I love the Indians sin cerely. She the Indian manufactures of cane, garden, not indeed like that at too.” vii He was never able to etc. and a number of other Paris, or yours at Kew; but a botanic write her Lebenslauf (Memoir), viii curiosities,” with apologies for not garden, containing many exotic and although former pupils like John having done more. ii His opinion medicinal plants, the professor, Mrs. Ridge wrote from Connecticut to was that it represented at least a Gambold, describing them by their ask about a published testimonial half year’s work “for one person’s Linnean v names... . I there saw the of her life. ix

Watercolor of girls and teachers at the Bethlehem Girls’ School presenting a program, 1801. Courtesy of the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Anna Rosina Gambold, a rare delicate paper treasures. Whether person for any era and truly a the children executed wreaths or woman for all seasons, was a other designs of their own imagi - gifted teacher who enjoyed using nation, some were obviously well imaginative, inventive tools in done, as the Gambolds sent sam - her roles as innovative leader, ples of artwork of a boy named linguist, naturalist, and botanist, Darcheechy to the Super- so it is not surprising that she intendent of Indian Trade, in would choose the Christmas tree Washington, D.C. in 1817. 22 To for the pleasure of her students their gratification, Superinten- in Georgia. While “principal dent Thomas McKenney respond - tutoress” at the girls’ boarding ed with a gift to the mission of school in Bethlehem, Sister $100 and to the boy “a box of Gambold was “willing at all times crayons [pastels] and brushes and to vary the monotony of its rou - a very elegant penknife.” 23 tine by the offerings of her fertile Such wreaths could have been inventions.” 13 She was described used to decorate the Springplace as having a “superior facility in Christmas trees. This speculation oral instruction,” 14 and was is based on a letter from the “sprightly...in fancy and imagina - Gambolds to Christian Benzien in tion.” 15 Leaving the comforts of Salem about a birthday party at Bethlehem for the wilderness, she the mission on 15 August 1810, married late in life, at the age of where water-colored wreaths were 43, greatly attracted by the idea Springplace that he saw the fastened on a white cloth on a of being a missionary to the Cherokee boys studying and wall as part of the festive decora - Cherokees with her new husband. reading the New Testament in tion, along with greens and Sister Gambold brought con - the morning, and “drawing and flowers. The honoree had received siderable talent to the mission painting in the afternoon, the painted wreaths “for her all year long but most particular - though to be sure, in a very Christmas and birthdays since 18 ly at Christmas. One of her spe - Cherokee style.” That the our being here... .” 24 Although cialities was the creation of little wreaths were produced with cer - we do not know exactly how the painted flower wreaths into tain identifiable characteristics Springplace Christmas trees were which she printed verses from such as distinctive borders is tes - decorated, Anna Gambold’s men - the Bible, a task in which her tified by Anna’s husband John in tion of flowers as decorations husband sometimes assisted. 1813 when he remarked on the on 25 December 1807 provides Indeed, they were unique, as gifts to the children of “the another possibility. She wrote that Brother Gambold referred once Christmas wreaths painted by a in the children’s house they had in a letter to the “verses with the well-known hand with verses “made a putz from pine branches 19 Springplace borders.” 16 However, written on them... .” The little and had tied little flowers onto the idea of creating small paintings were given as gifts and it.” 25 As a botanist, Anna had col - paintings as gifts and tokens of as reminders of the Savior’s love lected hundreds of specimens remembrance was not unique to for His children, and they were from the area, so even if nothing Springplace. Old Salem Museums treasured by the recipients, old was blooming in December she & Gardens’ Paula Locklair wrote and young, who kept them from may have had dried specimens. that there was “a distinctive one year to the next, often Flowers were often used as body of work... produced bringing them back to the Christmas decorations. 26 See in Salem in the eighteenth Christmas service and reciting Chapter Three for other related and nineteenth centuries.” 17 them from memory. As incen - references to their use. Such paintings also existed tive, the wreaths were withheld The beautifully executed in Pennsylvania. Did Anna from those who showed apathy 20 wreaths combined the words of Gambold teach the children to to God’s word. Thus, rewards the Gospel with small flowers create these little wreath-encir - for good behavior helped in pro - and apples from God’s own cled verses as gifts to their par - ducing tangible results. hands along with perhaps a few ents and friends? Certainly, Christmas at the mission at candles to represent Christ as the drawing and writing were part this time included “a public light of the world—what better of a child’s education. Henry examination in Bible and decorations could the devout Steinhauer from Bethlehem 21 Christian Doctrine” and awards, sister have desired for the remarked once after a visit to which probably included these little trees!

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 22 After Anna’s death of dropsy of the chest (heart edema) in 1821, the new mission leader, the Reverend J. R. Schmidt, wrote to Salem to reiterate the importance of the little decorat - ed wreaths. He emphasized this pressing matter well ahead of time in anticipation of Christmas that year. I almost forgot an important request. It is customary here [illegi - ble]...Christmas Eve for the people [illegible]...are distributed. Now dear Anna Rosel, who made the [wreaths] is not here any more. Perhaps our dear Brother Van Vleck would be so good as to make a request for us in the boarding school. Perhaps the pupils will feel moved and make us about 150 wreaths for here and Oochgelogee [a nearby newly created mission where widower John Gambold had moved]. The Savior will bless them for this, and it brings great joy to our dear ones here. 27 There is a possibility that a Christmas tree existed in Salem as early as 1786, nineteen years before Anna Rosina Gambold erected the Springplace Mission Christmas tree. A brotherly dispute reported in the church records in Salem on 27 Decem- ber 1786, reads: “Br. Schnepff complained that last Sunday, during preaching, John Tesch, the apprentice of Charles Holder, cut a small pine tree in his field which he [Schnepff] had been taking special care of. John Tesch shall be asked whether he was told to cut this particular tree, for Holder has said he had sent for one from the woods.” 28 This complaint was registered on a Wednesday, two days after Christmas, and referred to an incident taking place on Sunday (Christmas Eve), which was when Christmas trees were generally put up at that time. Dr. Adelaide Fries , editor of the Moravian Records and a church archivist who translated more material from Wachovia church records than any other person, append - ed a footnote to this quote, mids were not actual trees, but tri - been “no greater celebrators of stating that the cutting of a tree angular structures probably creat - Christmas...than the Moravians” on Christmas Eve produced the ed with sticks of wood and green - in Pennsylvania...who “were assumption that it was a ery. Nevertheless, their appear - among the very first to put up Christmas tree, and therefore ance was quite similar to a Christmas trees.” 32 He cited an “the first mentioned in the Christmas tree. A more detailed article of 1855 in an Easton Salem records.” 29 The statement discussion of the pyramid is given newspaper in which “the inhab - is hard to dispute, because with later in this chapter. itants of Bethlehem...are chiefly all the trees available at the time, In contrast to the Moravian noted for their great taste they it is peculiarly relevant that this pyramid citations by some display in arranging Christmas 33 one was of such great impor - scholars and the circumstantial trees.” His validation contin - tance to these two men on evidence for southern Christmas ued with the statement that that particular day, unless they trees already presented, noted “The Moravians made more both recognized it as a perfect Christmas historian Alfred Shoe- of Christmas than any other specimen for a Christmas maker established the date of religious denomination in this tree. Unfortunately, nowhere 1821 in Pennsylvania as the ear - country—from colonial times does anyone refer to the tree liest mention of a Christmas on.” 34 It is important to reiterate specifically as a Christmas tree. tree in this country. His reference that Anna Rosina Gambold, who put up the first Christmas tree Strongly related to Christmas is from the diary of Lancaster in Springplace, Georgia, in 1805, trees were conical-shaped decora - resident Matthew Zahm, who came out of the Bethlehem envi - tions known as pyramids. Some recorded that on 20 December ronment. scholars have cited pyramids three young people were “out for Christmas trees” on a nearby hill. 31 erected on 25 December 1747 Undoubtedly, trees were in and 1748, by the Bethlehem, Although apparently unaware some Salem homes as early as Pennsylvania, Moravians as the of the Springplace references, they were in Bethlehem. How- “first Christmas trees” in Shoemaker did, nevertheless, ever , to date, the following is the America. 30 However, those pyra - acknowledge that there had earliest written specific domestic

“Christmas Eve” by John Lewis Krimmel, 1812-13. Courtesy of The Winterthur Library: Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 24 “Christmas Tree, 1809,” from the Journal of Lewis Miller, vol. I, p. 16. Collection of the York County Heritage Trust, York, PA. reference so far found to a placement of the gifts on the tree The implication here appears Christmas tree in Wachovia. In in the German manner. “Filling” is to be that before “wartimes” the Salem in 1861, Caroline “Carrie” synonymous with other common - tree was decorated more extrav - Fries noted in her diary on 24 ly used period terms of “dressing,” agently. As to the “tipping over at December: “We fitted the tree “fitting,” or “fixing” the tree. 38 the ceiling,” there is a colored ink 35 drawing of Zinzendorf’s coffin in tonight.” The next day Carrie Another lengthy reference to the salon of the Herrnhut manor wrote: “Loula [her two-year-old a Christmas tree in the Fries house in 1760 in which two ever - sister Louise Sarah] went down family was in 1864 in a letter from green trees droop gracefully from stairs for the first time to see the Mary Fries Patterson at Palmyra the top to form almost an arch as tree...Mother and I went to the Plantation on the Yadkin River to the background. 40 The landscape Christmas dialogue and were her sister Carrie in Salem. quite well pleased.” 36 This is a “decoration” at the base of the very matter-of-fact reference We moved the little bed away Patterson tree is the Putz , so fre - alluding to what appears to be a from the window, in Mother’s room, quently mentioned in Moravian commonplace custom in Salem & put the tree in its place... . A large descriptions of Christmas and one by 1861, which is as one would white pine stands in front of the that usually includes the Nativity. expect, given the close connec - window, which tips over at the ceiling In an article on “Moravian tion to Pennsylvania where trees ‘in German style’ & extends to the Customs,” written in 1936 by 41 were widely used in the 1840s. bureaus on either side.—At its base is Adelaide Fries , she noted that a large hill with a spring & pond & the Putz , sometimes called “a Caroline noted on 24 covered with most beautiful mountain Christmas garden,” was arranged December 1862: “Mary John and I moss... . You know I gave out no around the bottom or beside went to church, and afterwards we presents when I came up, but hung the Christmas tree in Moravian filled the tree.” 37 The choice of the them all on the tree. It is quite loaded homes, thus uniting two binding word “filling” the tree indicates for wartimes & looks very pretty. 39 symbols of the holy day. This

25 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID concept of a “garden” may Germans. The story, which in dif - which was said to have been explain the frequent placement ferent sources varies in the details, brought to England in the first of a fence around the tree, as tells of his coming upon a group century by Joseph of Arimathea. 47 depicted in John Lewis Krimmel’s of pagans ready to make a human The custom of cutting drawings and elsewhere. 42 sacrifice in front of an oak tree. He branches of flower- and fruit- struck the huge tree with such Other historians have recog - bearing trees to bring indoors and force that it fell with one blow, nized the lavishness of German force into bloom for Christmas impressing and instantly convert - settlers in “providing Christmas became widespread in Europe ing the pagans to . trees for the amusement of by the late Middle Ages. Some Then pointing to a small ever green the young folks.” 43 In so doing, people brought into the house fir tree, the saint suggested it as a the celebration gradually moved cherry tree branches on St. fitting symbol of their new faith. 45 from public to private and by the Barbara’s Day (4 December) to mid-nineteenth century focused According to another source force blooms by Christmas. on the children in the home as the use of fir trees supposedly These were then sometimes dec - the primary theme within the helped make the custom more orated. The cherry thus connect - family. 44 acceptable for Christianity. The ed to this saint’s day is still story is set in the Garden of Eden one of the folk symbols used to European Roots of the when Eve bit into the apple, at decorate springerle cookies. 48 Christmas Tree which time the leaves of Christ- These anise-flavored cakes were mas trees became sharp needles impressed with motifs from a The European roots of the and the fruit hard cones. On the mold or a carved rolling pin and Christmas tree are not easy to night of Christ’s birth, however, fir then enhanced with colored identify, but most certainly the trees bloomed and produced fruit icings. They made excellent trails lead to the Germans. Folk and flowers together—clearly a Christmas tree decorations. The legends intermingle with the facts, miraculous event. 46 reader will find further mention and there are many conflicting of cookies in Chapter Five. speculations. An eighth-century In the tenth century other sto - legend of the Christmas tree’s ori - ries were told of trees miraculous - A related German legend gins concerns St. Boniface, who ly blooming at Christmas. One about the Christmas tree was was an English missionary to the was the Glastonbury hawthorn, that of a poor, ill-clothed child

Rolling pin for springerle cookies by John Vogler , nineteenth century. OSMG.

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 26 appearing at the door of a wood - of Adam and Eve and the ser - Many scholars believe that the cutter and his wife to ask for help pent” were sometimes placed lavish use of greenery by the one bone-chilling night. The under the “Tree of Life,” or Romans in the celebrations of next morning their little guest Christbaum (Christ Tree), as it Saturnalia, Kalends, and such revealed himself as the Christ often came to be called. 52 rites as the winter solstice at child and presented them with a the end of the year established a twig from a fir tree to plant An ancient Celtic custom of precedent for the Christmas and blossom yearly thereafter. To tree worship manifested in the tree. Greenery represented their amazement it took root and custom of maypoles as the fore - eternal life and the promise of grew into a splendid fir tree runner of a Christmas “May rebirth in the midst of a seem - adorned with gold and silver Pole,” was used particularly by ingly endless, cold, and lifeless apples and nuts. Each year there - Germans from the Palatinate season. Thus, magical properties after it miraculously bloomed at and Alsace. Many American were attributed to the greens, Christmas. 49 Moravians came from the and they also helped to dispel Palatinate. This Christmas may - A mid-nineteenth-century the gloom of winter when days pole evolved into a limb set in a legend, particularly popular with were short and sunshine mini - tub and decorated with such Lutherans, concerned Martin mal. Branches and then trees Luther. This story was fostered by items as apples , wafers, honey were hung upside down from a fictional painting depicting the cakes, and perhaps marzipan or the ceiling beams. This cen - 53 Luther family with a Christmas other sugary treats. turies-old folk custom of hang - tree in the sixteenth century. Luther was said to have been walking out under the stars on Christmas Eve when he had the idea of affixing candles to a little fir tree that he brought into the parlor to provide a symbol to his children of Christ as the light of the world. 50 The most plausible explana - tion of the origin of the early Christmas tree dates from the late Middle Ages (fourteenth and fifteenth centuries) when the Catholic Church used enact - ments called miracle plays or “Moralities” to teach the mostly illiterate parishioners certain Bible stories. 51 A popular scene depicted the Garden of Eden in which a fir tree hung with apples as a symbol of human sin was used to present the story of Adam and Eve driven from paradise, but always with the promise of redemption at the end. On the Church calendar, 24 December was the special saints’ day for Adam and Eve . Thus, long after the plays ceased to be performed, the symbolism of the paradise tree and eternal life remained in the minds of certain people at this time of year, and they began to erect similar trees in their homes. As Title page from Kriss Kringle’s Christmas Tree , 1846. late as the nineteenth century in Author’s collection. some sections of Germany “figures

27 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID ing decorated trees upside down other in 1514, it was recorded “on Whatever its exact origin, continued in Germany into the Christmas Eve, after a festive din - the tree is widely accepted as a nineteenth century. ner, black-hatted...merchants car - German-developed tradition. In 1531 in Alsace, Christmas trees Christmas scholars do not ried an evergreen tree decorated were purchased at the market in agree on what is the first docu - with artificial roses to the market - Strasbourg to be set up in homes mented reference to a Christmas place” where they danced around 54 undecorated. Curiously, in the tree. Phillip Snyder notes that the it and then set fire to it. Whether same area in 1561, an ordinance earliest historical references to this scene describes a pagan rite or was passed that no individual Christmas trees appeared in Latvia a celebration with the revered tree “shall have for Christmas more and Estonia where in two differ - burned as a sign of respect, we will than one bush of more than eight ent towns, one in 1510 and the never know. shoe lengths.” 55 Whether this was to encourage conservation or limit iconic representations for the solemn holy day is unknown. There is a citation of a decorated tree ( Dattelbaumchen ) in a guild hall in Protestant Germany in 1570. The custom may have spread and become popular from such municipal celebrations. The decorations on that tree consisted of dates (datteln ), apples , pretzels, nuts, and paper flowers. The tree was shaken by children on Christmas Day or in order to obtain the goodies. 56 Twelfth Night, also called , celebrated the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem. An English visitor to Strasbourg in 1605 spoke of “fir trees set up and hung with paper roses of many different colors and with apples , flat wafers, gilded candies, and sugar.” 57 The flat wafers were related to the communion host, a symbol of the body of Christ, and so a wafer-decorated tree was termed a Christbaum, or Christ Tree. A tree with edible ornaments, such as cookies and candies, was some - times also called a “sugartree.” 58 The rose was a symbol of beauty and love and in Christian art represented the Virgin Mary. 59 Gilded decorations, including fruit, nuts, cakes, and even on one occasion potatoes, were pop - ular for centuries. 60 As Christianity replaced pagan religions, people, especially in northern Europe, con tinued to use evergreens for special Twentieth-century Thanksgiving postcard. Author’s collection. occasions, although the Catholic

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 28 Church in particular sought to But now landlords and tenants too I have been looking on, this discourage this carryover practice In making feasts are very slow; evening, at a merry company of before finally embracing it by children assembled round that pret - reinterpreting it as a Christian One in an age, or near so far, ty German toy, a Christmas tree. custom. Eventually the tree, so Or one perhaps each blazing star; The tree was planted in the middle ensconced in German culture, The cook now and the butler too, of a great round table, and towered became transformed into a high above their heads. It was bril - Christian symbol, but not with the Have little or nothing for to do; liantly lighted by a multitude of little approval of everyone. In about And fiddlers who used to get scraps, tapers; and everywhere sparkled the middle of the seventeenth Now cannot fill their hungry chaps; and glittered with bright objects. century, a Strasbourg theologian There were rosy-cheeked dolls, hiding Yet some true English blood spoke of “the Christmas- or fir- behind green leaves; and there were still lives, tree, which people set up in their real watches (with movable hands, houses, hang with dolls and Who gifts to the poor at at least, and an endless capacity sweets, and afterwards shake and Christmas gives, of being wound up) dangling from deflower.” He did not approve And to their neighbors make a feast, innumerable twigs; there were French and thought they were “far polished tables, chairs, bedsteads, I wish their number were increast, better...to point the children to wardrobes, eight-day clocks and the spiritual cedar-tree, Jesus And that their stock may never various other articles of domestic Christ.” 61 decay, furniture (wonderfully made in tin) Christmas may come again in play, perched among the boughs, as if At about the same time the in preparation for some fairy 63 English Puritans who came to And poor man keep it holyday. housekeeping; there were jolly, America did not approve of broad- faced little men, much more Christmas pageantry either. They Prince Albert’s trees were agreeable in appearance than many were reacting to the carnival-like decorated with small containers of real men—and no wonder, for their atmosphere of sometimes sinful expensive sweets of all kinds, heads took off, and showed them and lewd behavior, a significant including gilded and to be full of sugarplums; there degeneracy that had developed at sugared fruits. In 1848 an engrav - were fiddles and drums; there were Christmas in England, which was ing appeared in the Illustrated tambourines, books, work boxes, represented by the verse, “Let’s London News of the royal family paint boxes; there were trinkets dance and sing, and make good around the tree. Two years later the for the elder girls, far brighter than chear, For Christmas comes but same engraving, but without the any grown-up gold and jewels; there once a year.” 62 An English almanac royal trappings, appeared in were baskets and pin cushions in publication called Poor Robin in America in Godey’s Lady’s Book . Its all devices; there were guns, swords 1702 wrote of the change there in influence was unmistakable. Sarah and banners; there were witches Christmas celebrations during the Josepha Hale, the publication’s standing in enchanted rings of Reformation, which ultimately energetic editor, had long cam - pasteboard, to tell fortunes; there limited the festivities and decora - paigned for the recognition of were teetotums [a child’s toy similar tions in New England for a longer Thanksgiving as a national holi - to a top but spun by the fingers period than in the rest of the day, and a Christmas holiday was instead of string], humming tops, country. another of her top priorities for needle cases, pen wipers, smelling American families. Using her influ - Although Prince Albert, the bottles, conversation cards, bouquet ence she published stories on the German husband of Queen holders, real fruit, made artificially Christmas tree in 1853, 1855, and Victoria, is credited with bringing dazzling with gold leaf; imitation 1860. 66 In the latter, for the first the Christmas tree to England and apples , pears, walnuts, crammed time in print, “a floor tree in a making it fashionable, a member with surprises; in short...everything, domestic setting” appeared. 67 68 of the court recalled a tree in 1800 and more. in the lodge of Queen Charlotte, The redemptive story of Although Dickens’s stories who was also German. 64 He wrote, Scrooge and Tiny Tim in A attracted much attention to the “In the middle of the room stood (1843), created by spirit of Christmas and to the an immense tub with a yew tree the popular English writer Charles Christmas tree, the Moravians, placed in it, from the branches of Dickens, had a profound effect on as we have already observed, which hung bunches of sweet - the development of Christmas. made use of Christmas symbol - meats, almonds, and raisins in Some years later in 1850, Dickens ism much earlier. Former Salem papers, fruits, and toys, most taste - described a laden tree, which he schoolteacher Peter Wolle, living fully arranged, and the whole illu - called a “pretty German toy,” for a in Lititz, Pennsylvania in 1828, minated by small wax candles.” 65 magazine article: wrote: “Our tree

29 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID mas tree and Kriss Kringle to children all over the nation. Trees started going up everywhere in the state, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. 73 The editor of the Kriss Kringle book prefaced the 1846 edition with what is curiously called an “Advertisement,” which it certainly was! He wrote: Fashions change, and of late Christmas Trees are becoming more common than in former times. The practice of hanging up stockings in the chimney corner for Kriss Kringle to fill with toys, pretty books, bon- bons, &c., for good children, and rods for naughty children, is being superseded by that of placing a Christmas tree on the table to await the annual visit of the worthy Santa Klaus. He has, with his usual good nature, accommodated him - self to this change in the popular taste; and having desired a literary gentleman to prepare his favourite Christmas present in accordance with this state of things, the follow - ing volume is the result of the new arrangement, and all parents, guardians, uncles, aunts, and Cover of The Christmas Tree by Hans Christian Andersen, nineteenth cousins, who are desirous to con - century. Author’s collection. form to the most approved fashion, will take care to hang one, two, or a draws considerable attention later in Salem in 1885, the dozen copies of the book on their and was visited by a good many Reverend Edward Rondthaler Christmas Tree for 1846 .74 friends.” 69 made an observation on “...the Most people, particularly in poor children’s Christmas tree, rural areas cut their own trees. It The Christmas Tree In for which as an experiment very is interesting to note for those poor children were gathered Early America who did not cut their own, from far and near.” 72 The novelty of a “famous Christmas trees were on sale in Christmas tree” 70 attracted atten - Christmas scholar, Dr. Alfred Philadelphia markets as early as 75 tion, as Peter Wolle observed, Shoemaker, portrayed Pennsyl- 1848. In 1851, entrepreneur and some enterprising people vania as richly decorated with Mark Carr from the Catskill began to exhibit one to raise trees by the 1840s: Mountains brought the first trees to Washington Market in money for charity. One such In the 1840s the Christmas New York City and thus created group was the Dorcas Society tree began to become more or less instant success and the begin - of York, Pennsylvania, in 1830. commonplace. Literary pieces, allud- ning of that city’s ongoing holi - This association of charity- ing to the custom of putting up day tradition. 76 minded women, also organized trees at Christmas, began to appear later in Salem, may have dis - with some regularity each returning In Charleston, South Carolina, played the first public tree in this Christmas season. The very popu - in 1850, a lighted tree was country. The profits from the lar, and widely advertised children’s arranged for Jenny Lind, the sale of a ticket for six and 1/4 book, Kriss Kringle’s Christmas famous singer called the “Swedish cents would provide clothing for Tree , published in 1845 in Philadel- Nightingale,” who toured the “the poor widow and the phia, brought a pictorial representa - country sponsored by P. T. friendless orphan.” 71 Similarly, tion and knowledge of the Christ- Barnum. 77 Some ladies of the city

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 30 saw to it that the tree under her in Washington. A “Pageant of window was illuminated on Peace” was attached to the cere - Christmas Eve. 78 One of Jenny mony “after the Korean War” 85 Lind’s friends was Hans Christian and has since then been intro - Andersen, a Dane who became Although decorations duced sometime each year well known as the father of the modern called the Putz along before the traditional Christmas fairy tale. Five years before Lind Eve. In recent years, Old Salem was in South Carolina, Andersen with green trees had Museum & Gardens has joined had produced a story, translated in the national celebration by variously as “The Christmas Tree,” long been used in the contributing handmade orna - or “The Little Fir Tree,” which Moravians’ ments to be placed on one of the became very popular in the moral - outdoor trees for this pageant. istic literature of the times and was Springplace Indian A Christian newsletter included in numerous children’s Mission, in speculates that American cul ture publications, along with another was so influenced by the of his poignant Christmas tales, Bethlehem, and Puritans’ negativity towards the “The Little Match Girl.” Andersen’s desecration of the holy day of fairy tales often depicted characters in Wachovia, the Christmas that there were only who find happiness in life (or at official Moravian eighteen states that officially rec - the end of it) only after adversity. ognized Christmas by the 1860s. 86 In “The Christmas Tree,” the little Records first began When that happened, the first fir tree longs for recognition and to mention Christmas states to legally acknowledge the fame reaching far beyond its tran - day were southern—Alabama in quil forest home. Sadly, the trees at church in 1836, followed by Arkansas and moment of glory and adornment Louisiana in 1838. Surprisingly, for which it had yearned soon Wachovia in the Pennsylvania waited until 1848, passes, and its final humiliation is 1870s. perhaps due to its many Quaker to be burned to ashes, leaving only citizens. North Carolina adopted the overlooked gold star that the official holiday in 1881. crowned its peak on the happiest day of its life. 79 It was sometimes at a Sunday President Andrew Jackson, who is School gathering that American Along with stories like said to have loved Christmas, children had their first intro - Andersen’s, American newspapers had a pine tree frosted and encir - duction to the Christmas tree. and magazines such as Harper’s cled with little flavored ice ani - Although Sunday Schools, a Weekly, Godey’s Lady’s Book, Good 81 mals in 1835. In 1856, President nineteenth-century phenome - Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal , Franklin Pierce (1853-57) from na in America, embraced the and Peterson’s National Ladies New Hampshire had the first Christmas tree, it was not without Magazine all helped to spread Christmas tree set up in the White heated opposition. The earliest knowledge of the custom of erect - 82 House. During his presidency, schools to adopt the custom in ing and decorating a Christmas Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919) the 1840s and 1850s usually tree. As a telling example, Mahala banned a tree at the White House charged admission to the festivals Eggleston, a niece of Jefferson for reasons of ecological conserva - and used the money for supplies. Davis who had married James tion, but his determined son In 1840, a newspaper reported at Roach and lived in the Vicksburg, Archie revealed to the family a lit - a German Protestant Church in Mississippi, area, wrote in her tle Christmas tree secreted in a Rochester, New York, that on diary of Christmas in 1851: “The closet on one Christmas, thus Christmas evening the children children had such a number of embarrassing his father and celebrated “according to the cus - gifts that I made a Christmas tree prompting a lecture, but not tom of the Old Country” 87 with a for them; Mother, Aunt and Liz 83 changing the presidential mind. religious exercise and an ever - came down to see it; all said it was Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) green tree of ten to twelve feet something new to them. I never was the first president to preside high, “brilliantly illuminated saw one but learned from some of over a “national Christmas tree and adorned with a great variety the German stories I had been read - ceremony” on 24 December 1913, of toys and sweetmeats suspended ing ” [author’s emphasis]. 80 and Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) from the branches.” 88 However, in Many other Americans learned initiated the first official lighting Puritan-influenced New England, 84 from newspaper and magazine of such a tree in 1923. During as a carry-over from the Reforma- articles about important citizens’ the Second World War from 1942 tion, Christmas was still a work - Christmas celebrations. Former to 1945 there were no official trees day for the common man in

31 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID Young people sledding in Salem’s God’s Acre, c. 1885. OSHPC.

1855, and in Boston in 1870 having been removed. It reached By the 1870s, many school children were in class on up to the keystone of the arch American Sunday Schools had December 25. 89 behind the pulpit, and was deco - joined the Moravians in cele - brating Christmas with gifts and Although decorations called rated and hung with numerous trees as the centerpiece of the the Putz along with green trees ornaments and beautifully illu - 90 event. Mississippian Mahala had long been used in the minated with wax candles.” In Roach noted as early as 1860 Moravians’ Springplace Indian 1874, the Bethania decoration that her family went “to the Mission, in Bethlehem, and in included “finely proportioned” Episcopal Church to see the Wachovia, the official Moravian pine trees decorated “with bright Christmas tree for the Sunday Records first began to mention gilt and other coloured paper School (both white and black).” 95 Christmas trees at church in and illuminated with wax tapers Wachovia in the 1870s. This as Christmas trees.” 91 By the late 1800s, descrip - does not necessarily mean that tions proliferated of trees for the In Salem at the African there were no local Christmas children at Moravian churches. American Church, St. Philips, a trees earlier. It could be that In 1897, in Friedland near Salem tree was noted on 25 December either certain diarists did not at the close of the Sunday School consider such decorations wor - 1874: “A Christmas tree occu - exercises, “the Christmas tree thy of mention in the records or pied the platform before the was made bare of its contents.” 96 92 that perhaps they were so com - pulpit.” Trees were also men - In other years, trees were men - monplace as to need no men - tioned in 1872, 1873, 1875, and tioned in Bethania, at Mt. tion. In Salem in 1871, there was 1876; on the fourth occasion “it Bethel, and at Carmel where “a a Christmas concert given by the was lit up.” 93 On Christmas Day beautiful Christmas tree graced Sunday School, and Albert Oerter in 1879, “the church had a large the occasion heavily laden with described the sanctuary: “A large [illegible: tree?] which was [illegi - candies, apples and many other Christmas tree had been erected ble: laden?] with gifts for the presents which were distrib - on the platform, the pulpit children.” 94 uted.” 97 In 1898 at Wachovia’s

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 32 Christ Church for the Sunday dressed in a twinkling. We made A Salem resident spent School entertainment, volunteers our way down stairs in the grey Christmas Eve of 1936 in created a vignette of a room in dawn of the early morning, to Herrnhut, Germany, and described readiness for Christmas. Curtains find our rooms resplendent. The the evening service at the church were drawn from across the plat - Christmas trees, which had been with “two large fir trees... form at the front where was placed in every room, were brilliantly adorned with lights” flanking the revealed the “interior of an old illuminated, and on all of our desks pulpit. Afterwards the minister’s fashioned room on Christmas were lighted tapers and curious family celebrated with “a large night. Over the fireplace hung looking bundles. 99 tree all alight with candles.” They sang Christmas carols, opened the filled stockings; near by was By 1885, for those who their presents, and had refresh - a cradle with its sleeping dolls; remained at school, there were ments. 103 In Germany the typical and in the opposite corner stood sleigh rides while covered with 98 pattern was, and to some extent a lighted Christmas tree.” buffalo robes, and “richly filled still is, to gather on the night of boxes, Christmas trees, surprises The students at the Salem Christmas Eve for the opening of given and received”. 100 In 1886, Girls’ School were not overlooked presents around a candlelit tree. 104 at Christmas, as the following there was a Christmas tree description attests: flanked by “two pyramidal trans - The Pyramid parencies” in the church for the On Christmas morning we Sunday School cantata. 101 “Most Earlier in this chapter the girls, usually so sleepy, needed no of the dwelling-rooms had trees, pyramid, described in both second warning to make us quit our and evergreens wreathed around 1747 and 1748 in Bethlehem, comfortable beds, but were up and the pictures, nothing more.” 102 Pennsylvania, was mentioned as

Salem Girls’ School students riding in a sleigh , c. 1894. OSHPC .

33 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID Four-tiered pyramid from Erzgebirge, Germany, 1910-20. Collection of the Old Salem Toy Museum (hereafter OSTM) . a brushwood creation used by popular tradition at Christmas A paucity of quotes concerning the Moravians as a decoration at in Germany. Sometimes it was pyramids in Salem exists, although Christmas and was even called a garnished and suspended from they were almost certainly there Christmas tree by some scholars. the ceiling. 107 at an early date, since they were mentioned in Pennsylvania in A 1747 quote from Beth- Although not a Christmas 1747. In describing the Jubilee lehem reports: reference, the following quote Festival of 19 February 1816, contributes to the lavishness of For this occasion several small Peter Wolle wrote that there was celebratory Moravian decora - pyramids and one large pyramid an elaborate pyramid with fifty tions. In an eighteenth-century of green brushwood had been burning tapers along with twenty- description of a use of a pyramid prepared, all decorated with candles 113 by the Moravians in Germany five other candlesticks. On and the large one with apples and 1 January 1818, Wolle wrote, pretty verses. On either side were for the consecration of the dor - mitory of the Brethrens’ House “This afternoon Herman took pictures drawn in perspective and, apart and put away his beautiful also, illuminated with candles. in Herrnhut on 31 October 1745 included what was pyramidal Christmas Putz with One represented the angels and 8 inscriptions.” 114 After his move their care of the children. The other remarked as “an incompara - ble sight,” as the entire house to Lititz, Pennsylvania, Wolle represented the Child Jesus in the recorded fixing a frame for a arms of his mother. Close by were “resembled a sea of flames from top to bottom. Pyramids and pyramid and purchasing greens on to be seen the Bethlehem stable, 115 individual candles turned... . 23 December 1829. Susanna with the oxen and the asses, as Kramsch wrote of decorating a also, the shepherds, to whom, first, These lights and the illumina - tion of the other two Brethrens’ pyramid on 22 December 1822 the joyous tidings of the Savior’s 116 Houses were probably the most in Salem. Also in Salem, on birth had been brought. Below all Epiphany (6 January) in 1872 at of this the word Children!” 105 beautiful thing we have had in Herrnhut... .” 108 the church, “A pyramid had In a similar vein, it was been made and placed on the recorded in the Bethlehem Diary A variation of the pyramid upper platform of the pulpit... .” on 25 December 1748: held a propeller at the top, which The text “Go ye into all the by heat of the lighted candles world...appeared on the pyra - Quite early, the little children turned the revolving shelves on mid in illuminated letters.” Four enjoyed a delightful festal occasion. an axis. This type is still made long festoons of greenery and Their brethren had decorated various today, sometimes by Germans in artificial flowers were draped pyramids with candles, apples , and the same area of Saxony where with the number fifty at the hymn stanzas and, also, drawn a building pyramids became a top in white. 117 In 1874 at the picture in which the children were thriving cottage industry by the represented as presenting their Ave to Bethania church “a pyramidal mid-nineteenth century. The spe - four-sided transparent inscrip - the Christ-child all of which Brother cialized craft was an outgrowth Johannes [von Watteville] explained tion with three representative of the construction of full-size scenes occupied a place before to them in a child-like manner, so wooden structures like ventilat - that the love-feast conducted for them the pulpit, and on each side of ing windmills in the local salt this a finely proportioned pine at the same time had a very blessed 109 mines. Saxony continues to be tree was placed, decorated with effect upon them as well as upon all known for its diminutive, wooden the brethren and sisters present. 106 bright gilt and other coloured Christmas folk items, such as pyr - paper and illuminated with wax 110 The candles as ornaments are amids, , “smok ers,” tapers as Christmas trees.” 118 thought by some to be the most and ornaments. One scholar Cedar garlands in festoons com - believes that a tree and a pyramid, important element of the pyra - pleted the display. mid, and one German name for it the first unlighted, the second is the Lichtstock, or light stick. lighted, stood side by side in many No early Christmas pyramid Traditionally the nativity was German homes by the late- structures exist locally, under - placed on the broadest shelf along eighteenth century. 111 Another standably so, since if they were with other adornments such as scholar believes that the pyramid constructed from brushwood they apples , gingerbread cakes, green - became a “common substitute” 112 were simply discarded or burned ery, and illuminated Bible verses. for the tree in Saxony and other for kindling after the intended If the decoration was in the country places during the nine - use. However, as Wolle observed, church, the items on it would teenth century, and that a grad - Brother Herman’s structure was later be distributed to the children ual shift of the candles from the special enough to be packed in the congregation. By the seven - pyramid to the Christmas tree away, at least for some period of teenth century, the pyramid was a took place. time.

35 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID Christmas Other Types of Trees feather tree , nineteenth- One type of artificial century. Christmas tree from Germany OSTM . that became very popular in the last third of the nineteenth century was the feather tree. These were patterned after the widely spaced limbs of the German fir tree or white pine tree and provided ideal display space for ornaments. Again, the industry was a German cottage- based one with some basic parts factory made, such as wire, wood, and berries. Feathers most com - monly used were from turkeys and geese and sometimes swans. They were dyed and stripped from the quills and attached to the trunk with wire. Red berries on the tips of the branches and a sturdy wooden base completed the ensemble. A variety of sizes and colors was made. The trees were easily collapsed for storage and brought out year after year, thus making them convenient and economical. 119 Another somewhat unique regional tree was created by wrap - ping the branches of a bare tree Twentieth- century with cotton batting to simulate a Christmas snow-covering and was docu - postcard. mented in Lancaster, Pennsyl- Author’s vania, in 1897. Shoemaker calls collection. it “a not uncommon practice in Berks County since at least 1900.” 120 Snyder ascribes the custom to “thrifty German farmers in Penn- sylvania [ who] stripped Christmas trees of their needles after they were dried out and placed the skeleton in the attic. The following year the tree was brought down again and wrapped in cotton, so that it resembled a tree in the forest after a snow storm, and then it was decorated. After Christ- mas the tree was returned to the attic, where it was covered with old news- papers to keep the cotton clean.” 121

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 36 Early-twentieth-century photograph of a Christmas tree in the home of the Petersens of Salem. OSHPC .

A cotton-covered Christmas case, Christmas trees continued become nearly a universal part tree was reported to be the cause to escalate in popularity. of the American Christmas.” 125 122 of a domestic fire in Indiana. By 1900, one family in five Harkening back to those Cherokee Fires have long been a hazard had a Christmas tree in America, 124 pupils at the Moravian Springplace for Christmas trees, but few who although most children knew Indian Mission, on Christmas Eve used candles seemed deterred by about them from Sunday School, of 1805, countless children in that fact. Some took precautions, school, or a neighbor’s house. The the last two centuries have experi - such as having on hand a wet custom continued to spread, and enced the same awe of the magical sponge tied on a long stick, or by 1910 in most parts of the coun - tree that those few must have felt several buckets or cups of water in try “nearly all children had a tree in that simple room in the Georgia readiness, 123 but whatever the at home... . By 1930 the tree had wilderness so long ago.

37 THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE PYRAMID The sanctuary of Salem’s Home Moravian Church decorated for Christmas. Courtesy of Home Moravian Church. 38