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Text
Christmas 1774
Volume 2 No. 5
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPER
Fr r"
V
GRAND
ILLUMINATION
defir
AkNS
RIg,DAY
Iu
NO. 1 IN COLONIAL
Christmas
1774
Season
CHRISTMAS
WILLIAMSBURG
See page 2.
CHALLENGES
FOR THE
December
NEW YEAR
Local Committee of Safety elected
Grand Jury reports for the judi-
1774/ 2004
cial law courts
December
s
Peace at Home
1
Continental Associationgoes
effect
of
importation
the
ending
s...
j
t
e
into
a
/
tt
i
j
of Lord Dunmore from
Indian
Prosperity for Families
0. -
F
n
r,.` p
December 6
Dunmore
issues
for
commissions
a court for the district
f
Committee
City
British goods
Tavern
at the
December
Raleigh
try criminal
cases
from
term
at the
agreement
to
meet
in the
negotiators
the Congress
tribe' s
their
with treaty
spring of 1775
a committee
of Williamsburg
for the city
of
one
of four
the
sea-
and
the
year when the Lord' s Supper
in Virginia
observance
includes
December
of
during
season
first Christian
In England and Virginia,
of
the
as
a
first
We'
ve
Minutes
of
the
Williamsburg
local Masons celebrated
day
annually in the 1770s with great
ceremony,
hosting
January
dinner and ball
1
January
a
good
Is he in agreement
sir?
be amongst weak and
can
to
Parish),
we
marriages
of Colonel
number
of
an
marriages
Washington
prejudiced
made
know that Christmastide is
Virginia colony for marriages."
Tis true enough. There are any
resolves.
with you
con-
the
come
during
days
of
of
Virginians
5
My
our
wife
a
clergyman
Christmas. I
un-
and Mr. Jefferson took place during this season.
it is more likely that vows are exchanged
rather
good
rector
and daughters may well attend occasions for dance and diverse entertainment. For
this colony, in years past there have been fox hunting, feasting, gaming, dancing,
gentry of
drinking and the
the
leave of the
firing of the
Christmas guns— and less
frequent
and not nearly
as
grand
enter
New Year's Daytainments for those ofdiscourage sorts. But we must remember and resolves from the late Congress to
the lesser
the dissipation,
like horse
discountenance and
Twelfth
every
Night: " spend the night in
and reveling" with
dinners, balls or a special cake
enjoyment
January 6
Epiphany
or
racing, all kinds of gaming, cockfighting.'
What
SNAPSHOT
The Association
1774
NO IMPORTATION!
Christmas
less time for themselves due to the demands of the season."
We understand that Col. Landon Carter of Sabine Hall is suppressing his
slaves'
celebration this year, saying,' I can' t but fancy that I have been quite happy
in not letting my People keep any part of Christmas.' What a master gives he can
OUT. . .
with
a
bowl of
And wish to you,
sangaree.
our
readers,
a
good
i.
Imported
Slaves
Great Britain
I
1 '
East India
Tea
new
by
wishing
warm
our
year.
Submitted by Nancy Milton and Phil Schulz]
and
from
take away."
1 hope you will
excuse
my abrupt leave taking, but I must to home. And conclude
you the compliments
of the season."
God rest you, merry gentleman. And now we will away to Mrs. Campbell' s to
selves
Will You Do
Goods
Virginians and their celebrations?"
holidays might give leave and license to many kinds of people that ordinarily
would not enjoy such at other times of the year. My field hands who work my property in Warwick
County may be granted three days or more to their own devices. My house servants, however, will
The
also
Takes Effect
December 1,
Wares
especially
Twelfth Dayenjoy
VIRGINIA TODAY
What
of the enslaved
of extravagance
So this may be a bleak midwinter."
species
1
o
pursuant to a resolution
AMERICAN
CONTINENTAL
The ASSOCIATION entered into by the
CONGRESS being publicly read, the freeholders,
and
other
inhabitants
cred ties of virtue, honour, and love to their
country, STRICTLY and INVIOLABLY to observe
and keep the same, in every PARTICULAR. . ..
Carter
Nicholas,
esquire,
was
chosen chairman [ of the 28
It was agreed, that the resolutions of the
GENERAL CONGRESS should be resorted
to on every occasion of difficulty, and that
those resolutions ought to be considered by
the committee,
and the whole country, as
the sole rule of their conduct, in all matters
respecting their present political arrangemeets.
The business of the day having been
carried on with the greatest harmony and
decorum, and being concluded, the follow
ing toasts were proposed, and drank with
great cheerfulness:
THE KING. May his Majesty long and
gloriously reign in the hearts of his free
and loyal American
subjects.
The QUEEN, and all the ROYAL FAMILY.
His excellency the GOVERNOR and his
LADY, and prosperity TO VIRGINIA.
A speedy, honourable, and happyrec
P
y
onciliation to GREAT BRITAIN and AMERICA.
The good bishop of ST. ASAPH.
Lord CHATHAM.
Lord
CAMDEN.
Those
AMERICANS,
and
FRIENDS
to
AMERICA, who preferred to parliament,
and there endeavored to support, petilions against the BOSTON PORT BILL.
Our friends and fellow subjects of
BOSTON, and all other defenders of AMERI-
CAN FREEDOM, upon the true principles of
our excellent
All those
constitution.
WORTHIES,
of whatever
clime
or country, who are friends to the just
RIGHTS
and LIBERTIES
Of MANKIND.
Unfeigned thanks and gratitude to the
WORTHY
MEMBERS
of the
late
CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS: May the wisdom of their counsels,
and their unwearied endeavours to preserve
the
RIGHTS
and
LIBERTIES
of
AMERICA,
be
held in lasting remembrance; and may they
be crowned
with
SUCCESS.
This respectful tribute being paid, the
company partook of an agreeable, though
frugal, repast, and then every one returned home in proper time.
Published by order of
the general meeting.
0111
A"
of the
county, that they might testify to the world
their concurrence and hearty approbation
of the measures adopted by that respectable
body, very cordially acceded thereto, and
did bind and oblige themselves, by the sa-
JOHN NICHOLAS,
l
of the
CONGRESS:
member committee]. . . .
sailing
especially pleasing time in the
the 12
of Mr. Isham Allen, in order to elect a com-
Robert
people."
acquaintance
ers of JAMES CITY county, convened on
Friday the 25th of November, at the house
unanimously
and, strolling downtown, encounter one of the city' s
aldermen
returning home from the common council meeting. And, being of an inquisitive
we ask what merriment might be in store for him and his family this season.
nature,
We take
church and
attending
the
enforce
Madeira."
show that
this
in each county and to
marry in churches;
if any
in the minister' s home or in the bride' s parlor. If it ' tis the latter, I could easily travel a goodly dis
tance to officiate the wedding but would hope to be supplied with a sumptuous dinner and ample
Evangelist
of Freemasons
Lodge
Scotsman
come
27
the
later
popular
However, few
St. John
chosen
wearied to death with it already!"
you, Mr. Greenhow. We' ll wager we won' t see' three ships
derstand that the
December
be
I' m
smociation!
extend through January 6
which
to
but her ladyship continues in a very favorable situation, and the ' young Virginian' is reported
in perfect health. His lordship received these good ' tidings of comfort and joy' upon returning from
against the Shawnee."
his successful expedition
Or as Scottish merchant James Parker of Norfolk said, " In fact, the governor is now
martyr
12 days of Christmas,
the
of safety
Strolling past the church ( Bruton
from Pohick Parish.
26
St. Stephen,
committees
We have learned from Mr. Purdie that not only was the countess safely delivered of a daugh-
as
home
entertainingat
en
ter,
is
churches.
the
to
of nonimportation
Wending our way through town, we espied a small gathering outside the governor' s
house. Are they seeking news of the health of Lady Dunmore and her new bab ?
Good people. What news have you about happenings in the Palace?"
Christmas
times
in the machinery
was no mechanism
in' on this Christmas Day!"
y
son
Secular
authorized
Thank
elect
Day
day
there
occasion,
And what about your companion,
cerning the Association?"
December 25
Christmas
merchandise.
or
Ireland— meaning any goods, wares
prefer British goods, what is to dissuade you gentlemen
And such committees might just quench a man's thirst for English goods."
Association,
Freeholders
and
sure compliance. And, as you know full well, many Virginians, left to their own devices, will always find a way to bring in British imports that are much preferred to country goods. Therefore,
December 23
celebrated
Britain
On the previous
faith of
good
Great
Given that many colonists
buying British imports?"
Four young Shawnee
braves arin Williamsburg as hostages
rive
The first
made
from
college
17
to the
of Association"
wind"
Mr. Southall' s tavern, we chanced upon two gen
sharing a bowl of punch. We put the following question to them:
a nonimportation agreement
The late Congress adopted
disallowing imports
Oyer and Terminer
16
End of Trinity
December
frosty
while
tlemen
meets to
December
of Williamsburg"
vicinage
Bards these somewhat troubling times.
Stopping first in the Apollo Room of
13
General Court'
Court
about the
Traveling
Williamsburg
s
and Toasts
At A GENERAL MEETING of the freehold-
1774
moan," your narrators of the news will endeavor to discover the pulse of the populace as re-
for
Day
December
Williamsburg,
December December 12
day
Election
yy;
r_
Street Scene of Williamsburg
1775
January19,
on
C
Committee
is the
first to order an auction of im-
ported
City
i
12
The James
Fair
James
rt
liji!.•
Augusta
December
olfl°
u6
li4xt
II
of West
and Communities
i
1114._ , :
i 11111
in the West
Wars
of Individual
414lott‘;
December 4
Return
Protection
r
Freedoms
9
t 1_
of Lady Virginia
Birth
Y
F
3
December
r•'
t`
9
b =
British goods
the
MERRY
Pk: 6-,
.
In This Bleak Midwinter
Newsline
••
Junior,
Cl. Corn. J. C. C.
Virginia
Gazette (
Pickney),
1 December
1774]
�Christmas
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Iliti,
4
g. .,.. ..,,,
r
c,_,„,,
74.
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v
-
t
A -' ., ' ' '
iT,' ..
rt
a•
.
t
1
77,
, wivirtruit,_,
, . ,
1.
t-
.... ..,
1,
I,' ',
—
'
A.,-.--.—
Az .
- ‘
k
At
1- _----
with Mirth
so
now
Winter
provides
special opportunity to
18th century
a
Royle,
Other
between
connections
The Virginia Almanack,
and the 21st- century lives of our
guests. Modern holiday traditions grew out
of diverse celebrations,
religious
obser-
biased toward
vances
and
cultural
practices,
gentry and upper middling sort. There
is no information about how poor whites
which
were
familiar
to
and free people of color celebrated Christin early Virginia. For some of them,
mas
1765
aspects of the holiday probably
With limited incomes, of course,
gifts, special
were
not
simply
We know
treatment
slaves'
mainly gentry planters. A February 1726/ 7 law that established patrols to
guard against invasions and insurrections
usually congregated
slaves
tians
and
in
yearly festivals. As part of the rationale for the patrols, the legislators
called to mind the
some
at the three
numbers
ter
main
Most
Latin
associated
are
The term
than the
daylight hours. It is the
lawful
summer
solstice (
Easter, and
Christmas,
days,
wherein
the
holi-
Whitsuntide
at
A
tions."
domestics;
run,
during
to
slave
Some
and
the
explained
encouraged
s
few
other
that
occasions
Some
running away.
said, drank so much
enjoy
imbibing
in Lancaster
diary
our
some
on
negroes
as
Judea
in the
he disallowed
the
Maccabees
retook
three
Origins:
B.
on
A. Robinson, "
www. religioustolerance.
htm( December
http://
wwprime.
w.
Submitted
I
at
actually
Christmas and
keep
from
slaves
individuals,
it
s
org/
3, 1999).
Holidays—
by
Sol-Sol
-
•
Rose
McAphee]
r"
t '
r
was
N
7 •,'•
w*'. N'
-
Virginia,
recorded
i•.`,•
r
Powers,
The
Interpreter( Fall
visitors.
Their
neighbors,
friends
and kins-
men gathered for parties, dances and fox
hunts. At- home entertainment
emphasized
feasting with provisions as varied and plentiful as pocketbooks would allow. Virginians
continued the traditional holiday foods
from England— roast beef and goose, plum
puddings and mince pies— and the colony
contributed
wild
additional
turkeys,
ducks
delicacies.
and
Native
venison
became
tous Virginia ham had already claimed a
place at center. Local waters yielded a wide
variety of fish and shellfish for holiday
feasts. In wealthy households dinner offerings were surpassed only by the variety and
quantity of the beverages. Imported wines
like sherry, Madeira and clarets counted as
arrack, rum flip and other mixed spirits
as well. French
brandy and locally made beer, ale, peach
brandy and cider remained immensely
popular throughout the period. Eggnog
did not become
a seasonal
favorite
until
the end of the century.
The middling sort and the poor probably
displayed
fewer
outward
son, but everyone
signs
of the sea-
tried to have more and
better things to eat and drink at this time.
While working people could not celebrate
for
days
on
end,
stores
and
shops
were
dosed at least for Christmas Day itself.
Plantation slaves got three or so days off
from work, while domestics probably
worked even harder if their masters gave
Household
slaves and
servants might have leave granted them at
a later date in return for working during
otherplants
for decoratingat
the holidays.
With greenery all around them, the
colonists most likely followed the English
custom of decking their homes and
with evergreens,
but no contem-
carols.
t
Christmas
tree came
to Williams-
burg in the 19th century. Colonial- style
decorations
WEATHER
r
for the holidays
consist
of the
F
greenery listed above, possibly from fruits
and nuts, pinecones, other natural objects
Colonial
1999)]
From Christmas Day through Twelfth
Night, January 6, gentry houses filled with
The
in
Christmas
porary sources describe the effect.
Besides feasting, a few greens and some
repose, there were not many seasonal customs during the 18th century. Virginians
did have at least one distinctive way of eelebrating. Colonial boys followed the custom of" shooting in the Christmas," setting
off their guns on Christmas Eve and morn
ing. Another way of raising a joyful noise
was with music, especially group singing of
)
'
i.,
'..
In the 18th century, Christmas was
much more a " holy" day than our 21stcentury holiday. The colonists observed it
quietly in the home and at church. Attendance at the parish church on Christmas
morning for communion was expected because the Feast of the Nativity was the
churches
org/ xmas3.htm
1 ..
s
•
_ '
Virginia woods abound with holly,
cedar, live oak, mistletoes, ivy, bay and
Winter Solstice Celebra-
http://
.-«
-- _
4._
the holidays.
net/ ramadan/
Snodgrass, " Heathen
stice,"
move
r'
html
Rama-Rama
Part Three," of " Ancient Origins:
f
"
Story of
www. holidays.
winter_ solstice.
.
com/ sacaea.
the Net: The
http://
tions,"
•
Sacaea Saturnalia,"
www.
candlegrove.
dan,"
1'
'
',.,__
large entertainments.
Bibliography:
Ramadan
r
DECEMBER
Lou
the
rah for only 24 hours, but the flame
lasted a miraculous eight days.
http://
actually
to their bonds-
uneasiness."
Emma
of Dedica-
this time
identified
Christmas Day 1759:" Some of
got drunk, that has given me
Williamsburg
B. C. E.,
When
Ancient
Old Side" Presbyterian
County,
as
years later, they
found sufficient oil to light the meno-
Denise
that they could not
freedom. Holiday
temporary
troubled certain slave owners.
an "
was
4.- -^
made frequent appearances
known
the
religious
Jerusalem
of rest. ( Until
About
Saturday.)
observance
of Syria conquered
altar.
declared
-''' ''''',
favorites at meals. Punch made with rum or
October
as
century
worship in the Temple and stole the
sacred lamp, the menorah, from the
ac-
Christ
their
James Gordon,
his
to
be
to
n
in Decem-
owners
slave
drunkenness
would
time
Maccabees in purfreedom. When the
of
by
the
Qura'
recognizes
fought
second
enter-
manipulative
Feast
king
com-
made
other spirits
a
on
i
during
of Lights,
Chanukkah)
or
war
are
allowed their
owners
masters
he
also
day
mis-
very
and not offered strictly for the slaves' benefit and enjoyment. Frederick Douglass and
others
tion
also
calendar.
December 25.
holidays.
the
gifts of rum and
men. This was
and
fallen
It has
Festival
the
of
in the house
master
the
Judaism— Hanukkah (
•
Christians observed the Jew-
date of the
the
that
one
official
the
as
ish Sabbath
readily
had more work
meals
have alcohol
break.
mas
guests
or if the
special
TYadidonally,
workers
and
hours
subjects,
all. Constantine
then, ancient
than to
were
visits
expected
more
servants
when
for extended
rained
Sunday
and Muddy hole Plantamust have been
respite
house
usual
tress
and
Christmas
allowed to field hands
than
over,
unify his
to
to
ceptable
all at work, I rid to the
Dogue
Ferry,
being
slaves]
honors
revealed
ber, but may occur as early
e. g., Ramadan 2003).
opposite
daylight
when
birth of Jesus into
De-
on
Allah
ninth
the
signals
of the Muslim
observation
when
longer
are
that
moon
lunar month
bined many of the pagan and Christian traditions
associated
with solstice
and the
Christmastime. In 1786, for
29, " The hollidays
the People [
cent
fourth century, Roman emperor
had accepted Christianity. In
attempt
an
plantation
Chesapeake
George Washington noted
example,
cember
on
allowed three to five
were
slaves
holiday
research
s
in the colonial
management
days'
of the year for Muslims. Its date is calculated by the arrival of the first cres-
Constantine
Lorena Walsh'
that
•
U: -...„.',
4t'
.
important additional delicacies. The ubiqui-
equinoxes.
suit
the
By
from labour."
shows
hours
nighttime
lo-
structures
Islam— Ramadan is the holiest month
longer).
usually exempted
are
they
during
negros,
the
solstice
and
solstices
This
win-
or
country were
Americans to detect
Mohammed.
sun,
on
the
from
stand still." At
to
means"
means
by
Native
stone
win-
is derived
ter
of
the
celebrations
with the
solstice
sol, which
words
which
sistere,
various
great danger[ that] may happen to the inhabitants of this dominion, from the unconcourse
created
Chris-
non-
observed
The Hopi tribe held
solstices.
many ancient
cated throughout
in and around the month of De-
solstice.
the
hold
worldwide
rituals
cember.
with it,
both
Pueblo
solstices.
rites
The
Christians, December
associated
the traditions
winter
Native
recognize
ceremony called Soyal, which recognized the re- emergence
of the sun.
day obduring
r.
major event of the Anglican calendar.
celebrations
a
of the birth of Christ and
thoughts
tribes
had many
the
near
high-
some
occur
generally
for most
While,
evokes
masters,
that
Al-
December.
other
mentions
that
servances
about
offers
lights of the historical and present-
so on—
possible.
more
following
The
season.
and
summer
Indians
cause
the
season—
of year because of letters, didocuments written by the
time
and
aries
the
decorations and
meals,
at this
of
had
many of
Native
Americans.
Indian
American
colonists,
African
or
include the follow-
Americans— Many
Native
18th- century Virginians would have
for celebration
sometime
during
most
religious
manifestations
and
Americans
rituals
ing:
•
though they would not have decorated an
indoor tree or left cookies for Santa Claus,
are
our sources
the
days,
holy
in December
observed
Virginia
.
Customs
Welcome Winter"
draw
V"..
Colonial
provide,
the YEAR.
conclude
Joseph
PUTTING
SLAVIN' ASIDE
4:'.' •;
I.
SEASON
Christmas is come, hang on the pot,
Beef, pork, and poultry
To feast thy neighbor at this tide;
Then wash all down with good wine and beer,
And
ii':
fr...
T*
1•
Let spits turn round and ovens be hot;
material
1
e:
1. 0
THE CHRISTMAS
prevailed.
--
1'-'
f.
j1,
1
V:
-: .'
w
i
„,!
i;
4•=':•'' ' . . -/'
4.
fs.
4
the
. i':4.-
i
1•
usual,
44-
TY
1
yi
As
liV4-'‘:.'
-
71r. •3,1%t, 4t,—* ;-'
NO,
i,, 4AWV-"" 1.-- ‘ a 1
'''''\
7.
0' ip
<,,
1t
44- 4. .'-.- 441!.';
',;
a
. .._ 11, . -, , , -
4 ,.., - -",.
4:'-'. -
V
- . '.
i -
t4'
•,
dir
r
'
./
r:
ei -,,, \,- --- -, - , , ,-,,,,,
n. ,-,,
ileNarsi '
M A
:„, ..,..
i
y
1
.
4,
1774
and candles.
13th
More
but snowing fast all
George Washington)
i
moderate,
afternoon.
(
Hard frozen. No plowing yesterday,
afraid none today. ( Lanam
and I
Like the Christmas
r
0,-- _
don Carter)
14th
Last
cold
night
with
the
snow
which fell yesterday about 2 to 3 but
not deep. This morning the same.
p
Carter)
25th
A glorious
day
remembrance
not
it
in the looks of the
praised.
only fine in the
but also
occasions
weather
God be
Amen and Amen. ( Carter)
tree, most of our fa-
vorite holiday practices today had their origins in the 19th century. Gift giving was not
widespread, with the giving going from superior to inferior( parent to child, master to
apprentice,
or owner
to
slave
but not in the other direction.
S.
c
4
or servant)
Children,
the
poor and slaves welcomed some small luxury like a book, sweets, gloves or a few
coins. New Year' s Day seems to have been
just as likely a date for bestowing presents
as December 25.
Submitted
by
Emma
L.
Powers]
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 2, number 5
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
[2004]
Description
An account of the resource
Christmas, 1774