The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-01-02

SANTA BANNED BY
PURITAN FATHERS
No Christmas Festivities or
Gifts for Children in Massa-
chusetts in Early Days
DAY JUST LIKE ANY OTHER
Condition Somewhat Better for Young
sters in New Amsterdam-Ho
Observance Toyless in the Colo
MES in Seventeenth Century


In the early days of this country's
history Christmas festivities were not
| generally observed and poor old "San
ia Claus" and all he~represents. had
hard time of it.
In Massachusetts the observation of
Christmas was utterly denounced as
an evil, ungodly and pernicious Gus
tom, and any child daring to think of
as much as a plum pudding on that
day would make herself liable to re-
proof by the authorities. All along
the stern and rock-bound coast Ger
aldine Ames writes in the Churchman.
the only Christmas trees in the days
of the Puritan domination were those
that nature had planted there and had
adorned with feecy snow. The fires
burned brightly on the open hearths,
but as far as the children knew
Christmas was just like any other day
in the calendar Even after the Pur-
itan reaction against the forms and
customs of the old church had spent
Itself to some extent the children OF
the seventeenth century still expected
no gifts in honor of the birth of Christ.
In New Amsterdam the outlook was
little better for the children. The
Hollanders had brought with them
their st. Nicholas, and his birthday
was celebrated joyously by young and
old just before Christmas, but Christ
mas was also observed. Of course,
they had not many real toys as we
know them today, but in the shoes
that the little Hollanders set by the
fireplace in the shining kitchen, which
was also the living room, were home
made gifts. Many of these were of |
useful character, such as hand-knit |
caps and mittens, but now and then |
skillfuI Hollander would carve a |
model of a boat such as that which |
had brought them to New Amsterdam. |
or miniature chest of drawers, and |
one can fancy the recipients showing |
these with pride to the wondering |
little Indian boys and girls when they
came to be on terms of sufficient am
fly with them for such conferences. |
In Virginia, where the church of
was strong and its .adherents
observed the holidays as
In the home country, there was always
more of the Christmas spirit. and abun-
dant cheer and merrymaking than
elsewhere at this season Here the
Yule log held its place and here were
the games and the feasting that made
It indeed the merry season Of the year
Later when New Amsterdam became
Noxu orb md hn Lyvr icb in
% power the character Of the Christ
mas holiday was changed somewhat,
although the Dutch influence contin-
led dominant for many years.
Throughout the colonies in the sew
,nteenth and eighteenth centuries
oys were an almost unknown factor,
nut wherever Christmas observations
we're not frowned upon by religion,
casting and good cheer were album
liant, and bond and free, rich and poor
Id and young, shared in the games.
bundant food and genial atmosphere.
n the eighteenth century toys began
0 make their appearance in the col
MES. Some of them were brought
rom over seas and had the enchant-
ng quality of novelty. Little girls
Tho had helped to mother their young
+ brothers and sisters were delighted ,
18th dolls that We're all their own,
} fondle and coddle. A toy was a
hing to be cherished in those days. :
ONE of the gifts were of real in /.
'insic value for the shipping and :
aiding were growing to be important !,
actors in the colonies, and men
rought treasures of all kinds from
le far East to the seaports whence
ley We're distributed to other parts
the colonies. The war for indepen- ;
ance interrupted this and the chill ,
.en shared in the self-sacrifices and Z
,privations that were undergone by
| the families living in the colonies
that time When soldiers were
arriving ut Valley Forge there was
tles thought in their homes of Christ =