It’s easy to romanticize the Currier & Ives yuletide days of long ago, with families gathered around warm fireplaces, children marveling at their stockings hanging from the mantle, and warmly dressed folks merrily bringing in the Christmas tree or arms full of presents.
But what about celebrating the yuletide season on the prairie or in the mountains in the old Wild West?
In the 1800s, the pioneers and cowboys on the prairie celebrated Christmas in much the same ways we do today. There was Santa Claus, presents, holiday decorations and, of course, the Christmas feast.
The difference was evident in the humbleness of the gifts and decorations. Life on the prairie was hard and unpredictable. There were often terrible blizzards and howling winds. Yet, these hardy and hard-working pioneers would not forget the spirit of Christmas.
The women would begin baking for the holiday feast weeks in advanced, bringing out the preserved fruits they’d ‘put up’ in the summer and dried vegetables. If possible, fresh game–wild turkey or venison–added to the feast. Or for those who could afford it, maybe even beef or pork.
The tradition of Santa Claus was popular among children on the frontier as well. In 1873, a children’s journal called “St. Nicholas” became available for children in isolated areas. It included stories, poetry, contests, games and crafts. Many a mother saw this journal as a way to keep her children entertained during the long winter months on the prairie.
Most likely, gifts, corn husk dolls, sachets, carved wooden toys, and clothespins, were all made with love by the family members. Sometimes, the mother made a doll from corn husks, (a Scandinavian tradition), or with straw or yarn and snippets of leftover “store bought” material. Maybe a little girl would get some new hair ribbons. Boys might get a “store bought” ball, a homemade wooden carved boat, or some other type of toy. Maybe a homemade checkerboard? Or maybe the child would get a “store bought” book, or one that was “used,” (already read), and given as a gift from a neighbor. A girl’s hand-embroidered handkerchief was folded and twisted into an angel that was hung on the tree and then given to a little girl on Christmas morning.
Very few presents were wrapped with expensive paper under the tree. Sometimes old newspapers were used, but often, presents weren’t wrapped at all. Often the children found the gift unwrapped by their plates on the table on Christmas morning or they had to hunt for them in the barn or under a bed.
As in our homes today, the tree was the tangible focus of the holiday. In many cases, however, sagebrush, a red cedar bush–or in the homes of German immigrants, a feather tree–would do nicely. Bits of ribbon and yarn were hung on the Christmas tree’s branches.
Decorations were homemade, unless special ones were brought from the “old country” or from back east. Local stores didn’t stock Christmas ornaments in the early days. They used evergreen branches, pinecones, holly, nuts, and berries to brighten up the bleak log walls or the stone fireplace. Popcorn strings were used as were paper loops glued together with a homemade paste of flour and water. They hung cookie dough ornaments or gingerbread on the branches. The children knew, because of the mother’s instructions, not to eat the gingerbread men until after Christmas was over.
(Side Note: I made sugar cookie dough ornaments one year much to the delight of my two-year old son who took a bite out of every cookie ornament his little hands could reach!)
With the discovery of gold and silver in the West in the early-to mid-19th century, mountain men, government explorers, trappers, and Native Americans led a lonely existence. And while they might not see each other often, small gatherings always took place on December 25 to celebrate Christmas. Years later, writer Bret Harte told of a night of Christmas merriment among some cowboys holed up together in a bunkhouse. To these men, finding a kindred spirit to spend Christmas with was essential to keeping their spirits up.
Determined to bring the spirit of Christmas alive on the American frontier, these tenacious pioneers looked forward to forgetting their hard, everyday lives to focus on the holiday.
May the peace and blessings of Christmas be yours, and may
the coming year be filled with happiness!
Just in Time for the Holidays!!
He made a promise to a dying friend.
She vowed never to love again.
“You can’t continue living like this, Linnea. You’ve become a hermit.”
Linnea Nyland heard the concern in her sister-in-law’s voice. Still filled with grief and missing her husband a year after his unexpected passing, she didn’t have the inclination to disagree with the statement. Though she dearly missed working her magic in the family bakery, she liked her life on the farm just the way it was…solitary.
Especially after Deputy Finn McBride came calling with his ridiculous proposal of marriage!
In a moment of panic, Finn made a heart pledge to Erik Nyland to take care of Linnea, to marry her. He’d bungled his first attempt, and he’s not sure his heart can endure the vow he made knowing he’d been in love with her from the day he came to Holly Springs.
Giving it one last try, he challenges her to a holiday baking competition. If he wins, she must agree to let him court…if she wins, he’ll leave her alone…forever.
Throw in a matchmaking landlady, a Norwegian Buhund dog, and a missing special ingredient, the lonely deputy prays for a Christmas miracle.
Gabe Dawson didn’t believe catastrophes came in threes.
That is, until his grandfather died, a fire nearly destroyed his home, and his grandmother started showing signs of forgetfulness.
When Hope Brody discovers Nora Dawson wandering in a snowy field and learns of the family’s loss, she sets out to recreate the quilt that was destroyed in the fire. But in order to present it to her at the Annual Christmas Eve Quilt gathering, that meant she’d have to get to know the taciturn Gabe Dawson.
Despite thwarting her efforts at friendship, Gabe finally acknowledges that Hope’s visits are helping ease his grandmother’s anxieties. Soon, he finds himself falling for the lovely quilter. But with only a small farm and almost constant care of his ailing grandmother, he has nothing to offer and would never be a woman’s first choice.
As Christmas approaches, will Hope look beyond his obligations and see a future blossom from a special, once-in-a-lifetime friendship?
P.S. The quilt in the background is one I made for our bed at home.
To be entered in the random drawing for your CHOICE OF EITHER BOOK (digital copy only), leave a comment about how you would decorate your home on the prairie in the 1800s.