by Paul R. Spitzzeri
Continuing with our latest “The Evolution of Christmas” series of posts, this one sharing references to the Yuletide season in Los Angeles newspapers during the early years of the American period, we start off with a reminder that the holiday was much less important than New Year’s Day and Independence Day for much of the 19th century. There was, however, a growing celebration in much of the United States of the Yuletide season after the midpoint of the century and accelerating in and after the Civil War period.
Locally, in the Mexican era, prior to 1847, Californios attended a Roman Catholic Church midnight mass and performed and watched shepherd’s plays involving the visitation of the infant Christ in the manger at Bethlehem with the emphasis, obviously, strongly on the religious aspects of the holiday. There were fiestas with feasting and dancing, however, as part of the socializing that brought individuals and families together.
After 1850, American and European traditions slowly made inroads locally among the minority Anglo population of the Angel City, though religion, of course, continued to be an essential element of the celebration of Christmas. What we forgot to include in the prior post, which covered the period from 1854-1856 was that one of the earliest commercial holiday advertisements was issued for the 1855 season by the mercantile firm of L. Glaser and Company, this being a partnership of Jews Louis Glaser and Joseph Newmark.
Glaser, who also ran a San Bernardino store, and Newmark ran their business at the corner of Main and Requena streets and emphasized “NEW GOODS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!” though the push may well have been far greater for the onset of 1856 than for Christmas. The Los Angeles Star of 22 December briefly noted that the duo had “a large and choice stock of Groceries, Wines and Liquors, and other goods, suitable for the holidays and, while the alcoholic beverages were numerous, syrups, oysters, sardines and candy were also mentioned.
Sadly, Glaser was traveling between the two towns in July 1857 when he was robbed of nearly $2,500, a substantial sum in those days, purportedly by a trio of white men heading to Sonora in northern Mexico as part of filibustering—this being attempts by Americans to seize territory in that country and central America as independent states. After that, no trace of him locally could be found and he likely left after being fleeced of such a major amount of money.
Another notable Christmas reference to 1855 was from B.B. Barker of [El] Monte (a North Carolina native, he was later a constable, or police officer, in Los Angeles and then a lawyer and surveyor in Monterey County). In this community comprised mostly of recent arrivals from the American South, Barker referred colorfully to the fact that
there is plenty of the “O-be-joyful,” also “trip the light fantastic toe,” which will be the gala season of the farmer. Then wagons and carts will be in demand to carry their corn, fodder, chickens and eggs to our neighboring “city,” the return load being made up of finery and luxuries for the feast of the holidays. Invitations will be circulated, fiddlers will be in demand, and dancing will characterize hours of night and day. There will be played upon the fiddle, the favorite of all this Monte, old “hog eye,” or to be more refined (swinebus or eyebus) latin for hog eye, and if you have never heard it you will do well to come out, for “Wills” can play it to perfection, as well as many other “tunes.”
Jumping ahead to 1857, the Star of 5 December, under the heading of “Christmas Holidays” provided a brief, but interesting, discussion of the upcoming season, with an initial interest in the male pastime of Anglos and Latinos: “the near approach of ‘Merry Christmas’ has prompted a number of gentlemen in our city, desirous of contributing to the amusement which generally enters into its observance” to get horse races organized.
The contests were to take place three days before Christmas “upon the course below town,” this possibly being the same course that started at San Pedro Street, which led to the rudimentary port, and 7th Street—this being far from “town” in those days—and where the famous 1852 race between Andrés Sepúlveda’s Black Swan and Pío Pico’s Sarco transpired with many thousands of dollars wagered as the former steed shocked locals by defeating the latter.
A silver cup, sought after by entries submitted by such figures as Abel Stearns, Thomas Mott, José Sepúlveda, Francisco P. Johnson along with a trio of others, was to be acquired with donations made by enthusiasts, while “no effort will be spared to render the occasion one of interest to the patrons of the turf” not to mention offering
a brief period of relaxation from the sterner cares of life, to meet with light and joyous hearts and mingle their glee together uncontrolled,—rich and poor, great and small; as they did in the times of “that fine old gentleman all of the golden time,” “whose custom was when Christmas came to bid his friends repair” &c,— so let all repair to the races, and, to use a California expression, “pitch in.” We can only exclaim, for our part, “a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse”; and we’ll be there, too. If we can’t pawn our kingdom for a horse, we’ll foot it.
The next week’s edition of the Star observed that “the holidays are near at hand, and we find that our dealers in fancy goods are making preparations for supplying the rush of customers expected during the season.” Charles Ducommun, mentioned in last week’s post, “has just opened an extensive stock of the choicest articles” including “elegant gift books” along with jewelry, toiletries and “souvenirs of all kinds.”
The firm of Jewish merchants Charles Prager and Jacob Morris “have imported some of the most elegant designs—in mantillas (a lace or silk shawl or veil), cloaks, &c—well worthy of inspection by the ladies” while Hellman and Company, headed by another prominent Jew of Los Angeles Samuel Hellman, “have removed to Temple’s block, and opened an extensive assortment of goods in their line, embracing books, stationery, watches, jewelry, toys, &c..”
The paper added that “their store has been fitted up in the neatest manner” and, with plenty of room, could “display their goods to great advantage.” With respect to the completion of the two-story brick business building, one of the first in town of that material, by Jonathan Temple at what became the south end of the Temple Block of four structures—the others completed by his brother F.P.F. between 1868 and 1871—the Star informed readers:
We may mention for the benefit of those requiring similar work, that the elegant stores in Temple’s block have all been fitted up by Messrs. [William H.] Perry & [James D.] Brady, Main street, whose taste and skill in the various branches of their business, cannot be excelled. The manner in which these stores have been fitted up are highly creditable, not alone to the employers but to the mechanics engaged upon them.
In its edition of the 19th, the paper had several other holiday references, including an ad by the Jewish merchants Jacob Rich and Elias Laventhal which proclaimed “Ho! for the Holidays!!” as it also moved to “a large and commodious store on the South Side of Commercial street,” east of Main. The retail and wholesale merchants offered clothing, dry goods, fancy goods, footwear and more, while Rich, with experience in the San Francisco fruit and produce markets, took charge of that area. Laventhal was the maternal grandfather of Milton Kauffman, business manager of Walter P. Temple in the 1910s through 1930s and later a very successful tract house developer.
Another advertisement was for the bakery of Augustus Ulyard (1816-1900), who resided in the Angel City for close to a half-century. Born in Philadelphia to French parents, he was in Texas during the 1836 revolution by Americans, which he supported, against the Mexican government. Five years later, he moved to St. Louis and there, in 1846, wedded Mary Field, a native of England, with the couple soon moving to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
They traveled across the plains to Salt Lake City and then the Mormon Route, which included part of the Old Spanish Trail, used by the Workman family in their migration from New Mexico to Los Angeles, and settled in Los Angeles on the final day of 1852. In opening his bakery, it was said that Ulyard “baked the first loaf of American bread ever cooked in Los Angeles,” using yeast brought by his wife on the trip west.
For two decades, Ulyard operated his bakery at Main and 1st streets where the Natick House hotel was later built, while he also served two years, in 1856-1857, on the Common (City) Council. Exclaiming that it was “THE HOLIDAYS!!,” the baker “begs to inform the public that they can be supplied at his store . . . with every article in the BREAD, CAKE, and CONFECTIONERY line, which can be obtained in the cities of New York or Philadelphia,” with cakes always ready for purchase or special order.
Despite the fact that the first purpose-built Protestant church was not erected for nearly a decade, there was a St. Luke’s Church, of the Episcopal denomination, that was organized in Los Angeles earlier in 1857 and the Star, also of the 19th, reported that services, conducted by a layperson, who was a physician, were to be held on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day at rented quarters on Main Street.
It was added, “it is intended, we believe, to decorate the church on the occasion of this solemn festival,” an early reference to Christmas decorating, and it was concluded that “the services on Christmas day will commence with a grand anthem, to be sung by the members of the congregation” who formed what, in early October, was called by the Star an “excellent and efficient choir.” The church, however, did not last long and it was not until St. Athanasius’ Church was established, in a building built by Presbyterians at the southwest corner of Temple and New High streets and then sold to them, that the Episcopalians had a permanent presence in town.
The same day’s edition of the paper commented upon “A Merrie Christmas” noting the season in the United States was one for charity, “for prodigal hospitalities,” and for “merry making and general rejoicing.” Poetically, it was added that “friends long parted meet around the festal board, and renew the days of youth,” while “families are collected under the paternal roof.” In these houses, the dining table was “groaning with the luxuries of the season” and “the holly and ivy decorate the rooms, while around the Christmas tree the juveniles dance and sing, plucking at times the many good things which seem to flourish on the bounteous branches, as if created by the wand of a magic enchanter.”
As for outdoor activities, these were suspended by the harsh winter weather found in most of the eastern states, but “mirth and jollity prevail within” residences for the housebound occupants. The article ended, though, with the remark that,
Such is Christmas elsewhere, but here we have broken loose from the usages of other lands, and the high festival of Christmas is passed over without note, except by the religious services performed in those churches whose rubrics commemorate the occasion.
The day after Christmas, however, the Star, operated by Henry Hamilton, welcomed two holiday gifts, including a “Phonetic Chart” courtesy of Dr. Thomas J. Harvey, who was to open a school using the device early in 1858, and which was laid out for the “forming [of] a plain and simple mode of writing the English language” and it considered “a very handsome and acceptable” holiday present.
The other was from the brothers, Jean Louis and Pierre Sainsevain and was a bottle of “Sparkling California,” a champagne that, however, had to be called “sparkling wine” because of French claims to the word. Coming from the siblings’ famed El Aliso vineyard, the product was said to be “the best article of champagne” in the Golden State with “a delightful aroma” and “clear and sparking” with a “mildly exhilarating” sensation.
The paper noted that, being of a recent vintage, the wine had “a saccharine flavor,” but it was expected to improve with aging for a few months, but it was thought to be of such quality that it “will soon drive all competition from the market.” The Sainsevains were lauded for their sedulous attention to the production of “Sparkling California,” which the Star was certain “will be found on the table of all who value the pure juice of the grape,” as opposed to the fortified brandy, aguardiente, that was common in greater Los Angeles.
Leaping ahead to the last year of the Fifties, a new element to press references concerned mention of the holidays in eastern-based publications, with Godey’s Lady Book, a very popular magazine from Philadelphia that existed from 1830 to 1898, highlighted. Two engravings of “Christmas in the City” and “Christmas in the Country” were specified along with general content, including the latest styles of clothing for women and girls.
After a brief period, Ulyard advertised the resumption of his bakery business under the heading of “GRAND OPENING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!” and added that “all those wishing to celebrate the approaching Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in an appropriate manner, are invited to call upon me, and purchase the good things of life.” This included fresh bread, crackers and cakes “for Families and Parties, furnished or made to order.
Finally, there was the recently launched Los Angeles Southern News which offered its review of the Yuletide season in its edition the day after Christmas:
Yesterday was observed by our citizens, as the time-honored anniversary of the birth of our Savior. Though not so thoroughly kept up as in many other places, still there was feasting, drinking and much merry making; balls and select parties, calls and congratulations, and much excitement on the part of the juvenile portion of the community, in consequence of the receipt of numberless presents. In fine, the day was well observed.
The paper further remarked that “in olden times” including the feudal period in Europe, the celebration of the holiday “was merely an ogre-like taste and feeling” devoid of the understanding and appreciation of the sacredness of Christian remembrance of Christ’s birth. It then exclaimed “what monstrous inconsistency, that they who had shed the blood of their fellows needlessly, should celebrate” the holiday and do so “with hands yet red with the blood of their victims.”
It should be noted that, with the recent election of Abraham Lincoln as president, it was generally understood that the nation was edging closer to the Civil War, which erupted the following spring, so it was notable that the editorial ended with,
How is it in our day? Though we have not the tyrants of those days, we have animosities, bickerings, jealousies and petty quarrels, between man and man, that ill becomes the enlightened age we live in. Let all cause for this unhappy spirit cease. We hope that each and all did not forget, on that Christmas day, to remember to entertain naught but “peace and good will” towards their fellows.
These are certainly words to heed in our own time—we’ll continue this series by examining holiday observations in Los Angeles newspapers in the early 1860s, so check back next Monday for that.