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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers "Ought it not be a Merry Christmas?" - Dec. 25th, 2005
City of Alexandria / Fort Ward Museum ^
Posted on 12/24/2005 9:08:05 PM PST by SAMWolf
Lord,
Keep our Troops forever in Your care
Give them victory over the enemy...
Grant them a safe and swift return...
Bless those who mourn the lost. .
FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.
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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues
Where Duty, Honor and Country are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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"Ought it not be a Merry Christmas? " Holiday observances during the American Civil War
Click the flag
Lonely camp scene from an 1862 Harper's Weekly entitled "Christmas Eve".
Even with all the sorrow that hangs, and will forever hang, over so many households; even while war still rages; even while there are serious questions yet to be settled - ought it not to be, and is it not, a merry Christmas?" Harper's Weekly, December 26, 1863
Introduction
Harper's Weekly depicts a family separated by war in its January 3,1863 edition.
For a nation torn by civil war, Christmas in the 1860s was observed with conflicting emotions. Nineteenth-century Americans embraced Christmas with all the Victorian trappings that had moved the holiday from the private and religious realm to a public celebration. Christmas cards were in vogue, carol singing was common in public venues, and greenery festooned communities north and south. Christmas trees stood in places of honor in many homes, and a mirthful poem about the jolly old elf who delivered toys to well-behaved children captivated Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.
But Christmas also made the heartache for lost loved ones more acute. As the Civil War dragged on, deprivation replaced bounteous repasts and familiar faces were missing from the family dinner table. Soldiers used to "bringing in the tree" and caroling in church were instead scavenging for firewood and singing drinking songs around the campfire. And so the holiday celebration most associated with family and home was a contradiction. It was a joyful, sad, religious, boisterous, and subdued event.
Before the war
"The Christmas Tree" by F. A. Chapman.
Many of the holiday customs we associate with Christmas today were familiar to 1840s celebrants. Christmas cards were popularized that decade and Christmas trees were a stylish addition to the parlor. By the 1850s, Americans were singing "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Away in a Manger" in public settings. In 1850 and 1860, Godey's Lady's Book featured Queen Victoria's tabletop Christmas tree, placed there by her German husband Prince Albert. Closer to home, in December, 1853, Robert E. Lee's daughter recorded in her diary that her father - then superintendent at West Point - possessed an evergreen tree decorated with dried and sugared fruit, popcorn, ribbon, spun glass ornaments, and silver foil.
Clement Clarke Moore, a religious scholar who for decades was too embarrassed to claim authorship of the 1822 poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas," was now well-known for his tribute to Santa Claus. "Santa Claus" made his first public appearance in a Philadelphia department store in 1849, marking the advent of holiday commercialism.
For enslaved African Americans, the Christmas season often meant a mighty bustle of cooking, housekeeping, and other chores. "Reward" for these efforts was a suspension of duties for a day or two and the opportunity for singing, dancing, and possible brief reunions with separated family members. Further gestures of "goodwill" by masters who saw themselves as benevolent owners were small and the semi-annual clothing allotment.
By 1860, many worried about civil unrest, fearful this Christmas would be the last before the outbreak of war. An Arkansas diarist writes:
"Christmas has come around in the circle of time, but is not a day of rejoicing. Some of the usual ceremonies are going on, but there is gloom on the thoughts and countenances of all the better portion of our people."
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TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: civilwar; freeperfoxhole; merrychristmas; veterans; warbetweenstates
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To: bentfeather
The flyin' part is done.
Now comes the dangerous part, the 30 mile drive home.
501
posted on
01/09/2006 7:26:40 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Professional Engineer
Quick trip! Drive carefully. Say hello to Bittygirl for me, okay?
To: bentfeather
503
posted on
01/09/2006 7:32:14 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Professional Engineer
Oh good! We sure have missed you.
To: bentfeather
505
posted on
01/09/2006 7:45:09 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Professional Engineer
To: bentfeather
507
posted on
01/09/2006 7:59:42 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Professional Engineer
How many times are you hittin' the send button on that dern blackberry thing ama jig?
508
posted on
01/09/2006 8:03:55 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: alfa6
A retriever...that's what I meant to get when I got the lab. Boy what a difference!
509
posted on
01/09/2006 8:06:27 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: vox_PL
lol. Nothing we say would ever come close. How does a peacock relate to this, lol... I guess it doesn't translate well.
We might say he "upchucked" or "hurled" but I can't think of anything else. Maybe the guys will be able to do better. :-)
510
posted on
01/09/2006 8:10:42 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: Professional Engineer
Well, are you home yet?
Just in time to take out the garbage...you lucky bugger.
I wznt it noted for the record I HATE MONDAYS!
511
posted on
01/09/2006 8:15:15 PM PST
by
Valin
(Purple Fingers Rule!)
To: Valin
Mondays, famous for ruining weekends!
512
posted on
01/09/2006 8:19:00 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: snippy_about_it
Mondays, it's no way to spend 1/7th of your life.
513
posted on
01/09/2006 8:31:53 PM PST
by
Valin
(Purple Fingers Rule!)
To: Valin
Yeah, and we sleep for 1/3 of it!
514
posted on
01/09/2006 8:49:26 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: w_over_w
xoxoxo
515
posted on
01/09/2006 8:51:06 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: snippy_about_it
I'm not aware that Iyam. Dat sucka is touchee.
516
posted on
01/09/2006 9:00:17 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Valin
Just in time to take out the garbage...you lucky bugger. How'd you guess?
517
posted on
01/09/2006 9:01:00 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Think you know all about the Civil War? Consider this, only one side wrote the history books.)
To: Professional Engineer
Lets just say I have my sources and leave it at that.
We at A.S.S are everywhere.
518
posted on
01/09/2006 9:35:18 PM PST
by
Valin
(Purple Fingers Rule!)
Comment #519 Removed by Moderator
To: Valin; snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Professional Engineer; bentfeather; w_over_w; Samwise; All
Tuesday Morning Bump for the Freeper Foxhole
Everybody have a great day out there
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
520
posted on
01/10/2006 4:57:04 AM PST
by
alfa6
(Let me know if you want to see an aircraft on the Flyby or Sortie)
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