The editor, who used the image from an 1848 edition of the illustrated london news, made sure to edit out any reference to who the family was so they would resonate with a middleclass america. Hale brought substance to the magazine, and wrote frequently about the notion of womens sphere. Christmas with godeys ladys book victorian stories etsy. Most importantly, sarah josepha hale 17881879 became the new editor of godeys ladys book. Everything you didnt know about christmas christian. It was also known as godeys magazine, using that name exclusively in its last few years. Includes steel engravings, woodcuts, and copper engravings both from the front pages of each issue and those inserted between text pages. Victorias mother was germanborn as well, and the young princess had a small tree, decorated with candles and sugar ornaments, in her palace quarters every christmas.
The christmas tree illustration to be added a happy group is gathered around our christmas tree. Long gloves were worn for evening wear later in the period. Im sarah kay bierle, historian, editor, and historical fiction writer. But you dont have to be christian or a regular churchgoer to love these wonderful displays.
A constant trendsetter, the magazine showed an engraving of an evergreen tree at christmas this paved the way for the christmas tree tradition to take hold by the 1870s. Lancaster in pennsylvania, claimed the first christmas tree erected in america, in 1821. Hale americanized the engraving removing victorias. In 1848 the illustrated london news published an engraving of the royal family with their christmas tree and presents. The front cover illustration of its 1873 christmas issue showed santa surrounded by toys and elves with the caption, here we have an idea of the preparations that are made to supply the young folks with toys. Godeys ladys book archives university of pennsylvania. The image was reprinted in 1860 and, by the 1870s, putting up a christmas tree had become common in the united states. Godeys ladys book, reprinted a version of the image a couple of. By 1870, pretty much everybody in the us celebrated with a tree. Sons and daughters, who have left the paternal roof to follow their vocation in busy town or crowded city, now revisit the scene. The christmas trees popularity spread with the help of the influential magazine godeys ladys book, which in 1850 published the 1848 illustration of the british. An americanized version of this design appeared in godey s ladys book in 1850.
The history of the christmas tree smithsonian gardens. Christmas trees make it to 1861, or, not so fast, martin. The premier womens magazine in america back then, godey s ladys book, reprinted a version of the image a couple of years later as the christmas tree. A godey s lady s book 1834 table top tree is one of the earliest i can find in a major publication. Godeys ladys book was an american womens magazine published in the 19th century. August 1855, charades in action, two women and four men, on eclimbing out window, p 124. Christmas themes white house historical association. The white house observance of christmas before the twentieth century was not an official event. A jolly woodman named mark carr had the idea to bring trees from his land in the catskills two weeks before.
A christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of christmas, hence its name, originating in northern europe. The christmas tree made its first appearance in a womans magazine, godeys ladys book, in 1850. The image was an americanized version of a very popular image of queen victoria and her family from the illustrated london news. In the early 19th century, the custom of the christmas tree began to. Book the decatur house buy the white house ornament terms of use and privacy policy. What made christmas and the tree popular in the united states was the influential godey s ladys book magazine, ritter said.
The christmas tree godeys ladys book 1860 boksburg. In addition to being the reputed author of mary had a little lamb, hale was the editor of a influential monthly magazine called godey s ladys book. Godey s lady book has the distinct honor of being the first american womens fashion magazine, debuting in the 1830s. The christmas tree jig scottish country dance of the day. One of the wonderful traditions of christmas is the nativity. The image was reprinted in 1860 and, by the 1870s, erecting a christmas tree had become common in the united states home. The christmas tree s popularity spread with the help of the influential magazine godey s ladys book, which in 1850 published the 1848 illustration of the british royals, though the depiction of the family was altered to appear american.
Hale, herself an author often remembered for writing mary had a little lamb, who also ensured the rest of the staff was predominantly female. German founders of american cities laid claim to the christmas tree during the mid 1700s. In 1850 it showed queen victoria and her family around a. In america, german immigrants had brought the tradition of the christmas tree, but it didnt really catch up until the image of queen victorias tree was published in a popular magazine of the 1850s called godey s lady s book. The royal familys tree was copied and published from a london newspaper in christmas of 1850, in godey s ladys book, in the united states. Americas fondness for queen victoria helped popularize the idea of having a christmas. Townsend scott no matter how often it happens, we are always surprised when we open a dehydrated brown box from the pratt house storage and find vibrant, striking colors. Two years later, godey s ladys book copied the image, removing alberts mustache and victorias tiara so the couple looked like americans. One inspiration was a lithograph depicting queen victorias tree published in godey s ladys book. In 1850, queen victoria and her german prince, albert, were shown in london magazine godeys ladys book standing around a christmas tree. The christmas tree was first represented in popular print in a womans magazine, godey s lady s book, in 1850. Three years after ascending to the throne in 1837, queen victoria married prince albert, a german import himself. Then a popular american magazine, godey s ladys book, used the photo but erased victorias crown and alberts sash.
By the 1860s the christmas trees could be found in thousands of homes and cities in america. The first christmas tree was introduced into england in the early 19th century. This engraving was americanized and published in 1850 by godeys ladys book. How germanys once pagan tree became a christmas centrepiece. Families and friends surround bonfires to chat, eat and drink together while enjoying the full programme of concerts and entertainment. Two years later the drawing was epublished in godey s lady s book in philadelphia but with the removal of the queens crown and prince alberts moustache to make it look american. From these pagan roots sprouted the modern christmas tree. They were double skirts, raising the outer into puffs with a porte jupe dress elevator. Godey, who saw the growing need for a magazine tailored specifically to the lady of the house.
A hunt for the story of the very first christmas tree salesman in new york city turns up the same tale oft repeated. Franklin pierce was the first president to have a christmas tree in the white house in 1856. Students will write reflective papers about family traditions associated with winter holidays, including special holiday foods. Images of women, list july 1855, practical dress instructor, woman and child with jump rope, in park. On june 1, 2017 june 1, 2017 by sarah angleton in books, writing 10 comments. In 1961, first lady jacqueline kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the official white house christmas tree. Christmas in the lincoln home lincoln home national. Designed by first lady melania trump, the white house decorations. Editor of the 19th centurys most successful womans magazine and the most popular antebulleum magazine in america, setting standards for style and manners while expanding limits for women within their domestic sphere roleshale was the literary editor of godey s lady s book and promoted thanksgiving as a national holiday. What made christmas trees popular in the united states and was influential magazine godey lady book, said ritter. In 1841 the german prince albert, husband of queen victoria, decorated a large christmas tree at windsor castle, reminiscent of his childhood celebrations in germany the christmas tree had been a deeprooted german tradition since the 18th century.
The custom was developed in medieval livonia presentday estonia and latvia, and in early modern germany where protestant germans brought decorated trees. December 1859 godeys ladys book, 4 evening dresses for young ladies. Below are new collections of beautiful poems on a variety of topics from godey s lady s books, one of the worlds most popular magazines in the nineteenth century. Winterlights festival luxembourg city visit luxembourg. The illustrated london news print of queen victoria and her family around the christmas tree was revamped for america and featured in the popular godey s ladys book in 1850. It is interestingly similar to images between 18611865, indicating a tradition rooted sorry in american social fabric. How christmas trees became a christmas traditionand the one image. In 1842 a newspaper advert for christmas trees makes clear their smart cachet, german origins and association with children and giftgiving. The 2019 christmas season is underway at the white house. An 1859 fashion plate from godey s lady s book showing crinoline fashions. In 1848, an engraving of queen victoria and prince albert gathered around a decorated tree with their children appeared in a london newspaper. In this post we will look at the two trees together, along with digressions. Nicholas or santa claus was but one part of the transformation of christmas during the nineteenth century.
Nativity is a scene from the stories of the birth of. In 1836 godey purchased the bostonbased american ladies magazine which he merged with his own publication. This and other efforts helped make christmas trees popular in the united states by the 1870s. Luther, cranach, and christmas trees the first post in this series talked mainly about the tree of knowledgedeath, and the second post talked about the tree of life. An 1848 engraving of the queens christmas tree at windsor castle was published in the illustrated london news and sparked a craze for christmas trees. The christmas tree came to america in 1850 leoma lovegrove. In that year, the victorian christmas tree engraving came to the attention of a woman by the name of sarah josepha hale. Folkculture historian alfred shoemaker summed up that in all of america there was no more important medium in spreading the christmas tree in the decade 185060 than godeys ladys book. Journal and godey s ladys book artificial christmas trees became popular in the us after what. The royal roots of the american christmas tree history.