1821--The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree tradition was brought to Pennsylvania by early German colonists. The first documented Christmas tree in our Commonwealth belonged to Lancaster resident Matthew Zahn. His 1821 diary entry reads,
“Sally & our Thos. & Wm. Hensel was out for Christmas trees, on the hill at Kendrick’s saw mill.”
Further evidence of Christmas trees in the 1820's in Pennsylvania was published in the Saturday Evening Post, December 20, 1825:
"There are visible trees [through windows] whose green boughs are laden with fruit, richer than the golden apples of the Hesperides, or the sparkling diamonds that clustered on the branches in the wonderful cave of Alladin."
Yet another mention of Christmas trees, St. Nicholas and the traditional holiday celebrations was noted in the Lancaster Union December 27, 1836:
"The Holidays. Well St. Nicholas has been before us - the old wag! Our young friends have already had the 'Merry merry Christmas,' and those if them who are caught napping, by our unfortunate omission to announce his Saintship's coming, but hung up their stockings, by the fireplace according to custom, are now revelling on the gingercakes, nuts, fruits, and candies, which were so mysteriously put in them. Well, as there is an end to every stocking, so must there soon be to the stock in it; - and when the Christmas trees have all been wondered at and the matzebaums have lost their novelty and their paint, 'St Claus' and his tiny chariot and horses will have ceased whirling through the brains of our little readers, and we shall then wish them a Happy New Year, and trunks full of sweet things."
During the first half of the 19th century, decorations were simple. Trees were cut from nature, three to four feet tall and were placed on a table in the center of the room. Ornaments were handcrafted using natural materials and small candles were lit to illuminate the tree.
“In the country, where trees may be had for the cutting, a little ingenuity will enable any family to have a beautiful Christmas tree at very little expense. With a few sheets of bright colored paper, some pasteboard, some gay tarletan and a generous supply of popcorn, one may make cornucopias, gold fish, stars and balls, Christmas fairies, and graceful festoons enough to decorate a large tree very handsomely, with an outlay of less than one dollar” (The Bucks County Intelligencer, December 22, 1874).
The first artificial trees were made of goose feathers and became popular in the 1880s.
"The first artificial trees were created in Germany in the 1880s. Concerned about extensive lumbering and the health of their forests, the German people created feather Christmas trees. Feather trees were made out of goose feathers that were dyed to resemble evergreen needles. The feathers were separated at the spine, then held secure using wire to form a branch. The branches of feathers were then inserted into a small wooden pole, representing the tree trunk, to make an “evergreen” Christmas tree." (History of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree, Monroe Historical Society)
1841--Santa Sighting
The first live Santa Claus at a store is believed to have appeared at Parkinson's Restaurant in Philadelphia in 1841:
“Criscingle, or Santa Claus. Much as our young readers have heard and imagined of this worthy character as the bountiful patron of good children on Christmas Eve, they probably never expected to behold the real personage in the very act of descending a chimney, as our friend Parkinson [a confectioner and restauranteur] has shown him over his well thronged shop door in Chestnut street. He was decidedly the attraction yesterday and last evening, and monopolized more than his share of the attention of the young folks, which is usually bestowed with undivided admiration on the bon bons in the windows” (The Philadelphia North American, December 25, 1841).
1867--Manufactured Ornaments
Molded glass Christmas tree ornaments were invented in 1846 in the small German town of Lauscha.
Soon after manufactured holiday ornaments became part of the holiday tradition in Pennsylvania. The Easton Express advertised Christmas tree ornaments in 1867, while a Pottsville newspaper, in its December 1881 edition, boasted:
“charming little ornaments can now be bought ready to decorate Christmas trees that it seems almost a waste of time to make them at home.”
In 1880, F.W. Woolworth placed an order for Lauscha blown glass ornaments from an importing firm in Philadelphia for his store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Sales were so strong over the next few years that in 1890 Woolworth traveled to Lauscha personally and placed an order for more than 200,000 ornaments.
1879--Belsnickling
"Belsnickeling, a collective, celebratory masquerade common in Pennsylvania communities combines the English practice of mumming, a form of masquerade accompanied by pageantry and theatrical street performances with the Dutch character of Belsnickle. Characterized by disguises and gender inversion, these diversely attired “Belsnickels” took to the streets with door-to-door performances. Unlike the severe and dualistic nature of the solitary, rural Belsnickel, these masqueraders always traveled in troupes, exchanging their antics for food and drink." (Der Belsnickel: Nicholas in Furs or Hairy Devil? Written by Patrick Donmoyer, Pennsylvania Heritage)
The Harrisburg Telegraph reported on December 26, 1879: “Bellsnickels in the most outlandish costumes were out in droves. They infested the stores and played on antique instruments as a prelude to passing round the hat, and generally departed with a parting salute on their tin horns. Some were quite proficient as musicians . . . but the majority were simply frightful. . . . We regret to say that some of them were the worse for liquor.”
1879--First Christmas Merchandizing Giveaway
John Wanamaker published the first department store Christmas giveaway booklet in Philadelphia in 1879.
Santa Claus is depicted on the cover in a green suit, going down the chimney. This eighteen-page booklet, which includes only two pages of advertising, features Christmas poems, stories, engravings and cartoons.
The Christmas Putz
The Moravians and Germans brought over the Christmas tradition of Putz (Nativity Scene) making to Pennsylvania when they came to this country in the 18th and 19th centuries. Families would create Putz's and then travel the countryside visiting neighbors between Christmas and New Years to enjoy each others displays.
1908 Trein Putz
Folk Artist Jennie Trein created her first Christmas putz (Nativity scene) in 1908 In Nazereth, PA. For the next six decades she built a new one each year—complete with lights, sound effects, and narration. The Trein Putz was part of the Advent season for generations of visitors who were invited into her living room to view the display. In her heydey over 50,000 visitors came to see her creations.
1909-First Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
The idea of a Community Christmas Tree, which is a feature of many towns and cities all over the United States, appears to have originated in Perkasie in 1909, predating the first lighting in New York City's Madison Square Park occurred in 1912; at the White House it was 1923.
“ The idea was formed in the minds of members of the Order of Owls and put into effect in Perkasie and Sellersville in 1909. (Borough’s 75th anniversary book , 1954).
The tradition started in 1909, and was improved with the erection of an electrically-lit, larger tree in 1910, situated in front of the J.G. Moyer Building in town. According to a 1934 report of the annual events, on Christmas morning, about 200 children gathered in front of the post office to receive presents delivered by Santa riding on a black sleigh led by a team of black horses.
1914 Tinicum Christmas Decorations
By 1914 the Christmas trees in Pennsylvania were now typically full sized feature decorations in most homes. Simple presents like nuts and fruits were replaced with store bought toys such as dolls and wagons.
1937--Bethlehem, The Christmas City
In 1937, during the Great Depression, the City leaders decided to rebrand the city of Bethlehem as "The Christmas City." They installed Christmas lights and a giant wood star on top of the South Mountain.
The first star measured 60 by 51 feet and it was basically six strips of 50-watt sign lamps mounted on wooden boards. It was replaced in 1939 with a larger star, 81 by 53 feet, on a frame of Bethlehem steel. In 1967 it was enlarged to 91 by 52 feet and was protected with a plexiglass shield.
1952--First Official Washington Crossing the Delaware Reenactment
Every year on Christmas day, volunteers stage a reenactment of Pennsylvania's most famous Christmas event: The 1776 crossing of George Washington’s army over half-frozen Delaware River to attack the Hessian Troops on the New Jersey side of the river.
Since then, at 1 pm every year, reenactors dressed in Continental military uniforms cross the Delaware in replicas of the Durham Boats Washington used in 1776
1957--Bowman's Hill Tower Christmas Star
The original Christmas star on top of Bowman's Hill Tower was built by Bill Cooper and placed by the maintenance staff of the the Washington Crossing Historic Park annually for over half a century.
The maintenance staff installing the star in 1957, left to right: Bill Cooper, Leo Wiggins, Charles Wingate, Bill Holland, Charles Gunser, Willaet Hibbs (Photo courtesy of Barbara Felver)
December 2021--First Annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration at the Erwin Stover House
Last year we hosted our first annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration at the Erwin Stover House Tinicum Park. Visitors had the opportunity to step back in time and experience a typical Victorian era holiday, immersed in the setting staged by the Tinicum Players.
