by Paul R. Spitzzeri
Continuing with this year’s “The Evolution of Christmas” series of posts on the Yuletide holiday as noted from articles and advertisements in Los Angeles newspapers, we turn to the Civil War years of 1861-1865 and note the gradual increase in the celebration of the holiday, which tended to be less celebrated in the past than New Year’s Day and Independence Day, though the frontier town was “behind the times” when compared to what was taking place in cities and towns further east in the country.
Speaking of which, the Los Angeles Star of 9 January 1861 ran an article on the “blue laws,” concerning the prohibition of most commercial and recreational activity on Sundays, in New Haven, Connecticut, though it turned out that these were an invention of a disgruntled Anglican who was forced in exile back to England in the Revolutionary War period and published in 1781.
Among the fictional ordinances were those forbidding a mother from kissing her baby; running of any kind; a fine for those bringing cards or dice into the dominion; no travel, making of beds, cooking, sweeping houses or cutting hair; and “no one shall read common prayer [the Anglican book of such], keep Christmas or saint days, make mince pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet or jewsharp.”
Despite the concoction of these “blue laws,” the term of which the author, the Rev. Samuel Peters, apparently coined, it was definitely the case that Christmas was considered a solemn day of remembrance of the birth of Christ, not a day of celebration and, so, paled in comparison to the aforementioned holidays in terms of observance.
The only located advertisement for the 1861 holiday in the local press, which consisted of the News and the Star, was from jeweler and watchmaker B.L. Stone, who, in the 6 December edition of the former, remarked that he carried in his Commercial Street store “a large and elegant stock of articles suitable for holiday gifts,” though, as was often the case with the term “the holidays,” this could well mean New Year’s Day as much as or more than Christmas.
In its Christmas Day edition, the News briefly editorialized on the holiday, remarking that it was to be celebrated “by all civilized nations” and “should be duly observed by all good Christians.” The paper then merely observed that “many a fat turkey will yield up his life on this day, and feasting and merry making will be entered into in earnest” concluding with “we wish all our subscribers a Merry Christmas.”
The paper’s 8 January 1862 issue printed a letter from San Bernardino, which reported on the holiday in that town, mentioning something that proved to a hindrance not only to celebrations of Christmas, but in all areas of regional life, a series of storms that pummeled virtually all of California with unheard of levels of rainfall. This started on Christmas Eve and continued for most the next forty days—hence the name “Noah’s Flood.”
Another phrase, however, was important, as well, this being “hard times,” as the regional economy, which was remarkably prosperous during the heady years of the Gold Rush through the mid-Fifties, was humbled by the end of that period, the national depression of 1857 and, with these El Niño rains followed by the usual La Niña droughts, a worsening of the financial situation through the mid-Sixties.
So, the report from the eastern burg was that “the Christmas holidays have come and gone, and owing to the inclemency of the weather and hard time, old santa claus has not been so profuse in distributing his highly prized gifts, as in former years.” This account also has the distinction of being the first found instance of the mention of St. Nick in Los Angeles newspapers.
The Angel City Christmas holiday of 1862 was not much more remarked upon than its predecessor. An ad for “Holiday Presents!” was taken out by Stone and which was distinguished from others by largely being printed on a side, on which portion the merchant informed readers (with their papers turned accordingly) that he had “A Large, Varied and Splendid Stock of Presents for the HOLIDAYS,” including clocks, jewelry, spectacles and watches.
An unusual holiday event came courtesy of Joe Pentland’s Great World Circus, which “has just returned from their successful tour through the interior” of the country and which, in addition to performances on the 20th and 21st, were giving a “GRAND HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT” with two Christmas Day offerings in the afternoon and evening, with the 2 p.m. matinee given “for the accommodation of Ladies and Children.” Strangely, the ad made no mention at all of the location of the performances.
In the briefest of summaries, the Star of 27 December, which spent more ink on the purchase by F.P.F. Temple and partner Samuel A. Jackson of an early purebred horse,” and also commented on two days of rain for what would be about four inches for the entire season, merely stated, “Christmas passed over with but slight ceremony.” It added that the Bella Union Hotel, the first to open in town about a dozen years prior, “regaled their boarders with turkey and the other dinner luxuries of the season,” while it assumed the other hostelries did the same.
The 1863 Yuletide was a bit more covered by the press, though it is interesting to note that an ad in the News of 19 December called for readers’ “Attention!” and then proclaimed that “Christmas is Coming and I will sell CHEAP FOR CASH a large lot of TOYS!!” along with “segars” and fruit, men’s furnishing goods, perfumes, stationery, cutlery and more. While the location was given as being “opposite the Lafayette Hotel” on Main Street and “Next Door to the ‘Snug’,” which, apparently, was a saloon, the merchant’s name was left out—until the next week, when Louis Cohn was identified!
An ad was also issued by Louis Mesmer, who’d recently purchased the United States Hotel and offered a grand reopening ball on Christmas Day with free admission to all inclined to participate in the festivities. The recap of the holiday in the Star of 26 December is interesting:
CHRISTMAS—has come and gone; and had it not been for the little juveniles, who paraded the streets in rather a military manner, making their headquarters always at Mr. [Samuel?] Hellman’s store, we would not have distinguished the day from any other. We noticed very little preparation being made for the occasion which always brings with it a charm for old and young. Although the festival may pass by, dull and unobserved, it always recalls to our memory some ‘green spots’ on which the fancy loves to dwell. We saw no Christmas trees this year, like those of the past, around which so many happy hearts and bright faces, used to assemble. We remember well the Christmas trees of a few years past—but some of the delicate hands that trimmed and decorated them, are not here, while others sleep their last sleep on the hill above us, and others who made glad the joyous circle with their loud and merry laugh on that occasion, are now among the unknown, but not forgotten.
There seems here reference to the difficult economy, which likely led to the out-migration of quite a number of residents in the preceding few years, while the statement about those in “their last sleep on the hill above us” regarded those who’d died and were buried in the cemetery on Fort Moore Hill, known as the City, or Protestant, burying ground, distinct from Roman Catholics who marked Christmas very differently at the time.
The summary noted that “in some families, we understand the evening was spent in the most agreeable manner—such as Christmas evenings used to be in olden times,” while it concluded by commenting that “at the Bella Union, the proprietors—Messrs. [John] King and [Henry] Hammel gave a most sumptuous dinner” to friends who “did ample justice to the many delacacies [sic] provided.”
Another new aspect of Christmas coverage in the local press came in 1864 when the 10 December edition of the News observed the content in the popular national magazine, Godey’s Ladies’ Book, including a “picture in tableaux” called “The Nativity,” made particularly for the publication, a representation of the war titled “Christmas in Camp” and the note that “the Christmas receipts are invaluable to housekeepers.”
The earliest located mention in Los Angeles newspapers of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was found in the same issue of the News, which concisely observed that,
The ladies of the 2d Hebrew Congregation, as we learn, intend on giving a grand entertainment and Ball on Thursday, December 22nd, 1864, at Stearns’ Hall, Arcadia Block. Every preparation is made by the ladies to render it an elegant and pleasant affair.
Although Hanukkah began the following day, it seems very likely that the event was held as a precursor to the holiday, which, this year, begins on Christmas Day and ends on 2 January. Something else not seen in previous years were holiday-themed poems and one published in the Star of 9 January 1864, though titled “December,” made reference to the Yuletide season.
The poet was Ina Coolbrith, who was known as Josephine D. Smith when she lived in Los Angeles in the late Fifties and very early Sixties before she left after her abusive husband was killed and her child died. It appears probable that her name of “Ina” was derived from the Spanish rendering of her first name, while Coolbrith was her mother’s maiden name and, after moving to San Francisco, she achieved renown for her literary talent.
An excerpt of the poem includes:
Lo! pale December treadeth the dull plains
With icy breath transpiercing all the air,
And wintry robes, that brush the forest boughs,
And leave them brown and barren. At his touch
The dancing streams have curdled and grown still . . .
Yet Earth’s white souls, the CHILDREN, stretch glad hands
Of welcome at his presence; young lips smile
To see his white face at the misty pane,
And eyes grow large in wonder, when his hands
String the great jewels on the frozen limbs
His first cold touch had rendered brown and bare,
the Christmas fires, that blaze upon the hearths,
Of happy households, are the sacred flames
Upon his altar; holiest offerings
From grateful hearts, of tenderness and love.
More verse followed for the 1865 season in the Wilmington Journal, which arose from the ashes of the Star when that first Los Angeles paper was shuttered in October 1864 and its press and equipment taken to Phineas Banning’s port town (and turned into a pro-Union paper, whereas the Star was vociferously in support of the Confederates.)
Two works appeared in the 23 December edition, including a “Christmas Carol” which included the lines:
Carol, carol, Christians,
Carol joyfully,
Carol for the coming
Of Christ’s nativity . . .
Wreathe your Christmas garland,
Where, to Christ, we pray;
It shall smell like Carmel
On our festal day . . .
Give us grace, oh Saviour,
To put off in might,
Deeds and dreams in darkness,
For the robes in light!
At to live as lowly,
As Thyself with men
So to rise in glory,
When Thou com’st again.
A “Christmas Hymn” similarly is a religious devotional:
Hark the angels singing
Wake the happy morn,
Joyful tidings bringing,
Christ, the Lord, is born
In a lowly manger,
(This shall be the sign)
See the new born stranger
Hail the baby divine! . . .
This, of all the others,
Is the Children’s day,
Sisters dear, and brothers,
Sing, sing away.
Bless him for the story;
“Once as young as we,
Jesus, Lord of glory!
Slept on Mary’s knee”
The marking of the holiday was also noted at the first Protestant Church structure in the Angel City, at the southwest corner of Temple and New High streets, St. Athanasius’ Episcopal Church, which, on Christmas Day 1864, held its first services in a building intended for the Presbyterians, who, however, sold it when it was completed.
The News of 19 December reported that at a 6 p.m. service on Christmas Day, “the Sunday scholars are all expected to be present, and each receive a gift,” while “contributions either in money or articles to prepare the Christmas Tree for the children” could be forwarded to the pastor, Elias Birdsall.
Three days later, the paper remarked, “the decorations . . . for the Christmas festival, reflects credit upon the taste and skill” of the women in the congregation. Elsewhere, it commented that the tree was to be placed at Stearns Hall, situated about where U.S. 101 runs through downtown at Los Angeles and Arcadia streets, where “laden with gifts, [it] will afford fruit to gladden the hearts of the little ones, and old and young can mingle in the enjoyment of this beautiful festival.”
Yet, when the News sent someone out, with the understanding that the festival was open to all, but “when we learned that a man had been placed at the door and that none were allowed to enter unless they had a private card of invitation,” which was not sent to the paper, “we at once considered ourselves there by mistake” and, consequently, it could not “venture out opinion of the performances.”
As in prior years, a Christmas ball was held at El Monte, in the San Gabriel Valley about a dozen or so miles east of Los Angeles and the Journal of the 30th reported that many of the Wilmington folks were planning to attend “but the inclemency of the weather prevented,” this meaning the rain that had been sorely lacking the previous two years. One denizen of the port two, subscribed as “Index,” however, wrote three days later to inform the paper and its readers that the event “was one of the finest I have ever attended.”
It was added that, while Wilmington sent very few attendees, “Los Angeles was well represented” and the correspondent continued,
If any of your friends wish to enjoy themselves, send them to the Monte and I assure you they can find enjoyment there in company with the ladies and gentlemen of the place, even if there is no ball. Dancing was kept up for four or five hours, when we adjourned to the table, loaded down with the delicacies of the season . . . After supper, dancing was resumed, and continued after daylight, and even then the ladies did not seem tired, and reluctantly went home . . . I hope soon to have the pleasure of attending another Monte dance.
As to the general feeling of the Yuletide season, the Journal reflected, in its edition of the 23rd, on
How many households will gather together to celebrate this time honored festival; what quantities of stockings will be filled to the brim; and what number of hearts will go pitpat when it is discovered how many things old Santa Claus has left behind him! It does one good just to think of the bliss experienced by the young and old where this day is observed. Happiness is not confined to any particular class. Parents receive some love token from their children; and they in return increase the unredeemable debt due to them; the poor find they are not forgotten, for an unknown friend mysteriously supplies their wants. Thus it is that all look forward to Christmas Day with pleasure; and the Merry Christmas greeting seems to increase in sweetness and harmony as the years roll on.
Yet, it was added that no known public observance in Wilmington was understood to be held—there was, despite a cold and windy holiday, “a good dinner at Drum Barracks” for the United States Army soldiers stationed there after the war’s end, and the paper “hoped that the day will be appropriately observed” because “the holidays are few; so let us enjoy them as they come.” Parents were enjoined to buy presents for their children and the latter not at home were exhorted to not forget their elders, “but above all, let the needy receive a generous share on this joyous, happy day.”
After all, reminded the paper, “a Christmas passed in performing acts of kindness cannot fail to be a merry one; and grateful hearts will offer the fervent prayer that God will bless the generous givers.” After a difficult decade and a particularly rough five years, greater Los Angeles was finally to emerge from the financial doldrums and embark on its first significant and sustained period of growth.
With that in mind, we’ll return next Monday with the last entry in this year’s “The Evolution of Christmas series,” as we move into the last half of the 1860s, so be sure to join us then!