Lexington, KY - The holiday traditions of Lexington are fairly representative of those throughout North America. Exceptions, however, have been witnessed down the years. In the late 1890s, one downtown church turned its sanctuary into a Santa Claus village complete with a huge Christmas tree. During that same period, the Lexington Leader encouraged children to write in their Christmas wishes, which were then published - with the promise of coming true.
Persons of a certain age will recall, as children or parents of children (or both), fond memories of visiting the living nativity at the old Hillenmeyer's Nursery on Sandersville Road. Appropriately set in an old barn behind the commercial building, a cow, horse and donkey fulfilled the "living" part, even though the Holy Family were mannequins.
Today's Christmas parade can trace its roots back as early as 1949, when the first parade of record stepped off down Main Street. At that time, the parade was fitted out with balloons, a la the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, although not on such a grand scale.
Most holiday traditions, Bluegrass or otherwise, date to the midto latter-19th century, with definite Victorian overtones. Of course, others date much earlier, and one has a surprise modern twist.
We can thank Queen Victoria herself for the ubiquitous Christmas tree. Although the Christmas tree is rooted in pagan tradition, and embraced by Germans as part of their holiday tradition, it was an engraving that appeared in a 1846 issue of the Illustrated London News of the queen and her German prince husband, Albert, standing with their children around a Christmas tree that ensured its popularity. Unlike English trees that were generally placed on tables and no more than three or four feet tall, Americans prefer floor-standing trees of six feet or taller.
Christmas cards, too, became popular during the Victorian era as a genteel way of passing along greetings of the season. The idea of the card originated in 1843 as an idea by Englishmen John C. Horsely and Sir Henry Cole, but did not catch on until later in the 19th century.
Another tradition that evolved from pagan ways is ringing bells. As the nights lengthened toward the winter solstice, ancients believed evil spirits were at hand, taking away the sunlight. Ringing bells and singing were seen as ways to chase away the spirits - and soon enough, the daylight began to lengthen.
From that singing evolved the Christmas carol. Although censured by the Roman Catholic Church as a pagan practice, none other than St. Francis of Assisi, the protector of all creatures great and small, introduced carols as part of midnight Mass in 1223. The Puritans outlawed carols in the 1600s, but wiser heads prevailed in Virginia, and by the mid-1800s they were a tradition.
We can thank those industrious Germans for two more traditions: the candy cane and Advent wreath. An unknown choirmaster in the 17th century is said to have crafted the canes in the shape of a shepherd's crook to keep children quiet during Christmas services. The first American introduction of the candy cane occurred in 1847 when Ohioan August Imgard used them in decorating his tree. It should come as no surprise that Imgard was a German immigrant.
The tradition of lighting candles on each of the four
Sundays leading up to Christmas is also a German tradition. Usually placed in a wreath, each candle symbolizes faith, joy, love and peace, with a fifth candle lit on Christmas as the Christ candle.
No discussion of lighting holiday candles is complete without recognizing the Jewish traditions of the holidays. That tradition dates to the second century B.C. after the Jews overthrew their Syrian tyrants and rebuilt the Temple at Jerusalem. When it came time to rededicate the Temple, only a small jar of oil was found. Expected to stay lit just one day, the flame burned for eight days, time enough for a new supply of oil to be secured. From that time, Jews around the world celebrate the Festival of Lights, or Chanukah, which means "dedication."
The poinsettia is a Mexican flower said to have been used by Franciscan monks during the colonial period as part of their Christmas observances. The plant was introduced to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, ambassador to Mexico, and bears his name.
And then there is Santa Claus. Parents cringe at the thought of standing in long lines at the mall while anxious children wait their turn to share their holiday wishes. No symbol represents the season - and greed of the season - more than this jolly old elf.
St. Nicholas, on whom the legend is based, was a real person. The fourth-century Bishop of Myra, Greece, was known for an incident in which he threw money through the window of a poor family's home to provide dowries for the three daughters, or at least that's the legend. True or not, he became the patron saint of children, and by the Renaissance he was the most popular saint in Europe.
In 1809, St. Nicholas, now known as Sinter Klaas,
was introduced to America when Washington Irving referred to him as the patron saint of New York in his "History of New York." The legend was further advanced in 1822 when Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem for his daughters titled "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," which we now know as "The Night Before Christmas."
By the time of the American Civil War, Santa Claus had been recruited for the Yankees by cartoonist Thomas Nast who, by 1881, completed the image of Santa's fur trimmed suit, his North Pole workshop, the elves and even Mrs. Claus. (Nast is also credited for introducing the Christmas stocking.) By then, the department store Santa had already been introduced: in 1841 at Wannamaker's in Philadelphia.
The modern image of Santa Claus was completed in the 1930s when The Coca-Cola Company turned to commercial illustrator Haddon Sundblom to create a seasonal advertising campaign. Thanks to advertising a soft drink, the image of Santa Claus became universal.
(Editor's Note: "Bluegrass Holiday Traditions" is the title of a seasonal exhibit at the Lexington History Museum, open daily except Christmas Day and New Year's Day through Jan. 3, 2011, noon - 4 p.m.)