American Christmas Tradition Foundations
Museum docent Brad Stone presented this festive look at Christmas traditions from the Revolutionary Era through the early 1800s. Mr. Stone, dressed as a patriotic Santa depicted in an 1863 cartoon drawn by Thomas Nast, also talked about the political role of Christmas in America. The Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum hosted the event.
Description
Museum docent Brad Stone presented this festive look at Christmas traditions from the Revolutionary Era through the early 1800s. Mr. Stone, dressed as a patriotic Santa depicted in an 1863 cartoon drawn by Thomas Nast, also talked about the political role of Christmas in America. The Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum hosted the event.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- What does Brad Stone say Americans are "looking at" regarding Christmas traditions in the late 1700s/early 1800s? Why?
- According to Stone, what is mummering? What examples does Stone provide?
- Based on the clip, why were some Americans "weary" of celebrating Christmas in the early 1800s?
- For what two reasons does the weariness change?
- What "problems" still existed for Americans who wanted to celebrate Christmas?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Christ
- Immigrant
- Industrial Revolution
- Mummer
- Second Great Awakening
- Socioeconomic
- Wassail