评论
打印
I'm Steve Ember. And I'm Shirley Griffithwith THE MAKING OF A NATION – American history in VOA Special English. Today wepresent a special program on Christmas traditions in the United States duringthe first half of the nineteenth century. During this period, Christmas was avery different kind of holiday than it is today. There was no set way ofcelebrating the day, which was not yet an official holiday. Communities aroundthe country honored the day in different ways. Some observed Christmas as animportant Christian religious day honoring the birth of Jesus. Otherscelebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. And, somecommunities did not celebrate the day at all. But, it was during this periodthat Americans began to reinvent the holiday by combining ancient Christmastraditions from different cultures with modern American influences. You can think about thehistorical people we have been talking about, Andrew Jackson, Martin van Buren andothers, and the ways they too might have celebrated Christmas.
In eighteen nineteen, the popular Americanwriter Washington Irving wrote a series of five essays published in a bookcalled "The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." The essays describea wealthy British landowner who invites his farm workers into his home tocelebrate Christmas. The landowner recreates a traditional Christmas as itwould have been celebrated in the distant past. Irving praised this lookingback to ancient traditions. He liked the idea of different levels of societycoming together to enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday. Washington Irvingseemed to express concern about the lack of such unifying Christmas traditionsin modern America. Penne Restad wrote a book "Christmas in America: AHistory." It shows how Americans began to slowly shape Christmas into aunifying national holiday during the first half of the nineteenth century. Shedescribes how Christmas had different meanings for Americans who came fromdifferent cultural and religious backgrounds. Many immigrants broughtChristmast traditions from their own countries. Religion played a big role inhow an American might celebrate the holiday. Calvinist Christians banned thecelebration of Christmas. But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravianshonored the day with religious services and seasonal decorations.
By mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over the meaning of Christmas and honoredthe day in special ways. Christmas became an important time for families tocelebrate at home. More and more Christian Americans also began to follow theEuropean traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts. Christians believedthat the tree represented Jesus and was also a sign of new beginnings. Germanimmigrants brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on thebranches of evergreen trees placed in their homes. This tradition of setting upa Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes. So did the practice ofgiving people presents. As these traditions increased in popularity, the moderntrade and business linked to Christmas also grew. As Christmas became morepopular, some states declared the day a state holiday. Louisiana was the firststate to make the move in eighteen thirty-seven. By eighteen sixty, fourteenother states had followed. It was not until eighteen seventy that PresidentUlysses Grant made Christmas a federal holiday.
Americansalready knew old Christmas songs that came from England and other areas ofEurope. But many new American Christmas songs started to become popular. CameUpon a Midnight Clear." The song "Jingle Bells" appeared sevenyears later. And, a year later, a religious leader in Williamsport,Pennsylvania wrote the song "We Three Kings of Orient Are." And ofcourse, no discussion of Christmas would be complete without talking about ofone of the holiday's most famous representations, Santa Claus. This characteris based on the story of Saint Nicholas, a Christian holy person believed tohave lived in the third century. Saint Nicholas became known as a protector ofchildren. In his role as a Christmas hero, different cultures have given himdifferent names. These include Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas.But for most Americans his most popular name would become Santa Claus.
In the nineteenth century, many Dutchimmigrants living in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholason December sixth. Saint Nicholas was especially important to New Yorkersbecause of their history as a Dutch colony. In eighteen-oh-nine, WashingtonIrving published his "History of New York." It lists Saint Nicholasas the patron saint of New Yorkers. He describes the saint wearing a low hat,large pants, and smoking a pipe. Does this description sound familiar? Ineighteen twenty-two, an American professor named Clement Clarke Moore wrote apoem that redefined the image of Saint Nicholas. It was called "Account ofa Visit from Saint Nicholas." He did not expect it to be published. Hewrote it as a Christmas present for his young children. In recent years,experts have questioned whether Moore actually wrote the poem. Some believe itwas written by Henry Livingston, a map maker in New York who wrote andpublished funny poems in his spare time. But whoever wrote this classic poem,it has since become a favorite around the world. This poem combines thetraditions of Santa Claus, seasonal decorations and gift-giving that have cometo define Christmas in America. We leave you with Clement Clarke Moore's poem,popularly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
'Twas the night before Christmas, when allthrough the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockingswere hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would bethere. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions ofsugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn therearose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away tothe window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave the lustre of mid-day toobjects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniaturesleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursersthey came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancerand Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of theporch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with anobstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, withthe sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas, too. And then, in a twinkling, Iheard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in myhead, and was turning around, down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with abound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clotheswere all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on hisback, and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes -- how theytwinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like acherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of hischin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in histeeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad faceand a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him,in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me toknow I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to hiswork, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying hisfinger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprangto his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the downof a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "HappyChristmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
