President Abraham Lincoln’s Last Christmas.

The character of American Christmas changed as a result of the Civil War (1861-1865).

President Lincoln's final Christmas was a historic moment. The telegram he received from General William Tecumseh Sherman signaled that the end of the Civil War was near. But as Lincoln's personal Christmas story reveals, those conflict-filled years also helped shape a uniquely American Christmas.

Sherman's telegram to the President, who had been elected to a second term only a month before, read, "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton."

Washington celebrated with a 300-gun salute. This victory signaled that the end of the long, bloody war that shaped Lincoln's presidency and the country was likely near. Lincoln wrote back: "Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift — the capture of Savannah. Please make my grateful acknowledgments to your whole army — officers and men."

Although it separated many from their families, permanently or temporarily, the Civil War also helped shape Americans' Christmas experience, which wasn't a big holiday before the 1850s. Like many other such 'inventions of tradition,' an American Christmas responded to social and personal needs that arose at a particular point in history, such as a time of sectional conflict and civil war.

By the time of the war, Christmas had gone from being a peripheral holiday celebrated differently all across the country, if it was celebrated at all, to having a uniquely American flavor.

The Civil War intensified Christmas's appeal. Its celebration of family matched the yearnings of soldiers and those they left behind. Its message of peace and goodwill spoke to the most immediate prayers of all Americans.

This was true in the White House too. Lincoln never really sent out a Christmas message for the simple reason that Christmas did not become a national holiday until 1870, five years after his death. Until then Christmas was a normal workday, although people did often have special Christmas dinners with turkey, fruitcake and other treats.

During the war, Lincoln made Christmas related efforts such as having cartoonist Thomas Nast draw an influential illustration of Santa Claus handing out Christmas gifts to Union troops.

The famed American cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited as having invented the modern depiction of Santa Claus. Nast, who had worked as a magazine illustrator and created campaign posters for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, was hired by Harper's Weekly 1862. For the Christmas season, he was assigned to draw the magazine's cover, and legend has it that Lincoln himself requested a depiction of Santa Claus visiting Union troops. The resulting cover, from Harper's Weekly, dated January 3, 1863, was a hit.

But Christmas itself wasn't the big production it would become. In fact, the White House didn't even have a Christmas tree until 1889 during Benjamin Harrison's presidency.
During the last Christmas of the war and the last Christmas of Lincoln's life, we do know something about how he kept the holiday.

The short haircut was perhaps suggested by Lincoln's barber to facilitate the taking of his life mask by Clark Mills. Lincoln knew from experience how long hair could cling to plaster. From an 1865 stereograph card, long attributed to Mathew Brady was actually taken by Lewis Emory Walker, a government photographer, in February of 1865 and published for him by the E. & H. T. Anthony Co., of New York.

On December 25, 1864, the Lincolns hosted a Christmas reception for the cabinet. They also had some unexpected guests for that evening's Christmas dinner. Tad Lincoln, the president's rambunctious young son who had already helped inspire the tradition of a Presidential turkey pardon, invited several newsboys — children selling newspapers who worked outdoors in the frigid Washington winters — to the Christmas dinner. Although the unexpected guests were a surprise to the White House chef, the president welcomed them and allowed them to stay for dinner. The meal must have been a memorable one, at least for the newsboys.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Christmas trees piled up for sale at the Peter Doretti & Company in Chicago.

Peter Doretti & Co. has Christmas trees piled up in front of his produce store at 714 West Randolph Street in Chicago for sale. The banner reads, "Fancy Spruce & Balsam Christmas Trees." Date unknown.

President Obama: Hanukkah 'Has Inspired an American Tradition of Religious Freedom.'

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In historical writing and analysis, PRESENTISM introduces present-day ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past. Presentism is a form of cultural bias that creates a distorted understanding of the subject matter. Reading modern notions of morality into the past is committing the error of presentism. Historical accounts are written by people and can be slanted, so I try my hardest to present fact-based and well-researched articles.

Facts don't require one's approval or acceptance.

I present [PG-13] articles without regard to race, color, political party, or religious beliefs, including Atheism, national origin, citizenship status, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, military status, or educational level. What I present are facts — NOT Alternative Facts — about the subject. You won't find articles or readers' comments that spread rumors, lies, hateful statements, and people instigating arguments or fights.

FOR HISTORICAL CLARITY

When I write about the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, I follow this historical terminology:

• The use of old commonly used terms, disrespectful today, i.e., REDMAN or REDMEN, SAVAGES, and HALF-BREED are explained in this article.

Writing about AFRICAN-AMERICAN history, I follow these race terms:

• "NEGRO" was the term used until the mid-1960s.
• "BLACK" started being used in the mid-1960s.
• "AFRICAN-AMERICAN" [Afro-American] began usage in the late 1980s.

— PLEASE PRACTICE HISTORICISM —

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PAST IN ITS OWN CONTEXT.

 

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The Obama family celebrates Hanukkah at the White House. Barack issued a Hanukkah greeting before the Jewish holidays started in 2016, saying, "The meaning of this holiday has inspired an American tradition of religious freedom."

2016

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, lasts eight days and commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights on the menorah.

2010

The Obama's hosted more than 1,000 people during two Hanukkah receptions (afternoon and evening) in the East Room of the White House and issued a statement addressing how the values of the holiday apply to everyone, regardless of their faith:

"For more than two millennia, the story of Hanukkah has reminded the world of the Jewish people’s perseverance and the persistence of faith, even against daunting odds. For more than two centuries, the meaning of this holiday has inspired an American tradition of religious freedom — one codified in the Bill of Rights and chronicled in the enduring promise President George Washington made in his letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island: that the United States "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.

May the flicker of each flame in every Menorah remind us all of the profound miracles in our own lives. And may the light of hope we shed continue to drive out darkness and brighten the futures we build for our families, our neighbors, our communities, and our world."

George Washington's Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island.

On the morning of August 17, 1790, George Washington arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Governor George Clinton of New York, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Blair of Virginia, and U.S. Congressman William Loughton Smith of South Carolina.

"Gentlemen:

While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have [the] wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy."                                                                        G. Washington

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.