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Do you know who printed the first Christmas card? Which president put up the first White House Christmas tree? Which department store hosted the first department store Santa? Here’s a look back at some Christmas firsts in American history.
The first commercial Christmas card. A total of 2050 cards were sold. Image: Public Domain.
With artist competitions, Prang cards were unmatched. This was an 1881 winner. Credit: americanantiquarian.org The First White House Christmas Card
Eisenhower 1955 Christmas Gift Card. See all Eisenhower’s designs.
First Christmas Postage Stamp
The First Christmas Tree
Christmas Trees in the White House
Martha’s Great Christmas CakeWhile cakes at the holidays have been around for centuries, it was America’s first First Lady, Martha Washington, who made the first famous Christmas Cake. Below is the exact recipe for celebrating what she called “a true Virginia Christmas” at Mount Vernon:
See the recipe page for Martha’s Great Cake. Photo: See the excellent Mount Vernon book, Dining With the WashingtonsOur First Look at Santa ClausBefore Christianity, the Germanic peoples celebrated a midwinter event called Yule. Their god Wodan (Norse Odin) of the north had a long white beard and a rode a horse during his ghostly hunts through the midwinter sky. It’s thought that this German mythology later merged with the Dutch traditions regarding Saint Nicholas, an early Christian bishop, to create the image of Santa Claus. Credit: 1886 depiction of the long-bearded Norse god Odin by Georg von Rosen.In America, the image of St. Nick or Santa Claus as a plump and jolly old elf was heavily influenced by the famous poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (more commonly called, “The Night Before Christmas”) which was published anonymously in December 1823. Clement Clarke Moore is credited as the author though his authorship has been disputed. The first drawings of Santa Claus are credited to political cartoonist named Thomas Nast. His drawings of Santa appeared in Harper’s Weekly magazine from January, 1863 until 1886. Nast drew Santa for 30 years, depicting him as a cheerful, rotund, old elf. Over time, Nast changing the color of his coat to the red he’s known for today. Credit: 1881 image known as “Merry Old Santa Claus,” probably Nast’s most famous portrait.Interestingly, today’s images of Santa as an even bigger-than-life figure with sparkling eyes, a merry smile, and a white beard were popularized through Haddon Sundblom’s depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company’s Christmas advertising in the 1930s. Credit: Cola-Cola Company.The First Department Store Santa ClausJames Edgar from Brockton, Massachusetts, is credited as being the first person to come up with the concept of dressing up as Santa Claus for Christmas. He was also the first department store Santa Claus. A Scottish immigrant who owned a dry goods store (Edgar’s Boston Store), he initially dressed up as a clown at Christmas and walked through the store, visiting with children. Then, in 1890, he brought Santa Claus to life in a custom-made red suit. “I have never been able to understand why the great gentleman lives at the North Pole. He is so far away … only able to see the children one day a year. He should live closer to them,” Edgar once said. Edgar practiced what he preached, becoming “Uncle Jim” to the children he entertained in his store and at annual July 4th extravaganzas—renting trolleys to carry thousands of Brockton youths to holiday outings where he would dress in costume to delight them. “I love children and they love me,” he said. Edgar’s holiday paradesChildren began arriving by train from Boston, Providence, Worcester, and even New York. By 1891 Santa had appeared at many major department stores, and by the turn of the century the department store Santa was an institution. Although Edgar might be best remembered for dressing up as Santa, he was also known for the sharing of his good fortune, paying for children’s medical care and he also offered jobs to youths in need. The Christmas Club Savings AccountRemember the Christmas Club savings account? Started on December 1, 1909, by Pennsylvania’s Carlisle Trust Company, the idea was to offer customers 3% interest on money deposited in a special Christmas account. They received coupons each time they put money in the account, and in early December they were able to redeem their accumulated coupons and go shopping! More Christmas Firsts
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