Christmas is always a time when we remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior, and it is also a time when we feel close to our families. This Christmas, I have appreciated my family more by reading some of their journals, diaries, and letters to understand how they experienced Christmases in the past.
About 1872, my 2nd great aunt Ann Fellows, writing from Davenport, Iowa, reminisced on Christmases they celebrated before leaving England: “Xmas Eve was occupied in making plum puddings, mince pies and other preparations. The evening in ornamenting the window with holly and mistletoe. After twelve we often lay awake listening to the carol singers who stood in front of the house to sing. On Christmas morning the church was decorated with evergreens of every description and paper flowers. We were seldom without visitors. The carol singer went out for two or three days and the Band of Music go out and play. We generally had a party of schoolmates and friends. The shops were decorated with Holly, mistletoe, laurel, ivy, yew and other evergreens with paper flowers arranged very tastefully and looked nice by gas light. There were always public amusements, pantomimes, and concerts.”
English Christmases were in stark contrast to what she experienced in frontier Iowa: “No signs of Christmas out here in the country. Yesterday we got some spray of Asparagus. Lizzie put them in a large tin can filled with sand. The red berries on it make look more like holly than anything else we can get here. I made some strings of popped corn and asparagus berries and hickory nuts.”
My ancestor Benjamin Chamberlin Critchlow documented several Christmases in daybooks he kept for many years. His entries showed that the holiday in pioneer Utah was celebrated simply.
1886: Had Christmas dinner
1887: Got 4 letters.
1889: Chopped wood. Christmas. Took dinner at Bishop Caziers.
1891: Took the Organ to the School house for the choir to sing their pieces. Attended the dance in the evening. Danced 3 times.
1897: Split kindling this forenoon. Took supper with Sarah and Jimmy.
1901: Cow on the rampage again. Attend the musical contest in Opera house this forenoon. Girls went to the dance in the meetinghouse.
1904: Played checkers with George.
My grandfather Frederick B. Critchlow served in WWI during two holiday seasons. In 1918, shortly after Armistice Day, he wrote these poignant words to his wife Angelina from Germany:
December 21: Now Christmas is not far distant and naturally my mind is home. I hope next year will find us under different circumstances.
December 31: With many happy memories and much love. May the new year be a happier one. I received the parcel.
It was much appreciated. Christmas was quite uneventful.
During another war, my grandmother Mary Anne Hamilton Frost recorded her feelings at Christmas in 1943 when her only child was serving during WWII, “Christmas Day and a very sad one. Herbert in Dutch New Guinea & may be on the move again. Just went to pick up for Dad who had to work.”
Journals also document Christmas surprises. From my mother’s diary in November 1955: “Got letter from Aunt Mina that nearly floored me. They want us to come to Utah for Xmas with them footing the expense. My gosh. I just can’t believe it even yet. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
Sometimes journals document Christmas disappointments. From my grandmother Mary Anne Hamilton Frost’s journal: “Mr. C. brought up my Christmas present but not my salary.” But, in 1952, she records a happier Christmas when they visited Utah from Newport, Rhode Island: “We had a lovely Christmas; the best since 1936. We opened our Christmas presents and then many of their friends came over. The next day we went up to S. L. C. & were in time for the Tabernacle concert. Then toured the temple grounds & all the places of interest around S L C. Had lunch at the Hotel Utah.”
Other diary entries mention family traditions. My 2nd great uncle Squire Coop was the founder and conductor of the Oratorio Society of Utah. For many years my grandmother’s family yearly attended “The Messiah” as my mother Elinor Critchlow Frost reported in December of 1940: “Went to S.L. to hear Uncle Squire direct ‘The Messiah.’ It was surely grand.”
I’m grateful my relatives took time to detail some of their Christmas memories!
This year maybe YOU can add a Story “Christmas Memories” to your FamilySearch page. You could write about past Christmases or Christmas traditions, and you could add up to 10 images to your Story. As Thomas S. Monson reminded us, “Let us not only remember the past and its required sacrifice, let us also remember that we are responsible to build a legacy for the generations which follow us.” Merry Christmas!
-Marianne Bates, Consultant, Granite FamilySearch Center