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11/21/2018 07:00 AMIn the 17th century, New England's Puritan settlers weren't big on celebrating—you even had to get permission from the governor for a day of Thanksgiving, which was a day of worship.
"Both Connecticut and Massachusetts passed laws that made it illegal to celebrate Christmas," said Michael McBride, curator of the Henry Whitfield State Museum in Guilford.
The museum dates to 1639, and true to its nature forgoes holiday decorations at Christmastime.
"In New England, unless Dec. 25 fell on a Sabbath day, it was business as usual."
However, as time went on, New England's occupants found ways to celebrate. Some of the traditions are old, some are new—and some have untraceable origins.
THANKSGIVING DINNER
The inspiration for Thanksgiving—appropriated in retrospect by 1840s writers—was a three-day celebration held in 1621 by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Fifty-two English settlers and 90 Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe chatted, held a militia parade and drill, demonstrated musket shooting and archery, raced one another, and, of course, feasted.
"They did serve wild turkey, among other things—just about any wildlife they could shoot at," said McBride.
The menu also included seafood, vegetables, and another New England favorite: cranberries. Part of the holiday's sticking power lies in its uniqueness.
"Nowhere else in the world did they have a holiday where turkey was the main meal," said McBride.
CHRISTMAS DAY
In the fourth century, Holy Roman Emperor Constantine declared Dec. 25 Christmas Day to coincide with a pagan day of celebration: the winter solstice.
"They officially declared that Dec. 25 was the birth of Christ even though there's no documentation in the Bible whatsoever," said McBride. "It was a strategic plan to keep Catholics in the church and assimilate the pagans."
The Puritans knew this—hence their refusal to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ.
CHRISTMAS TREE
The Christmas tree originated in Germany, where the fir tree had become a symbol of rebirth and Christianity. It spread to England with Queen Victoria's marriage in 1840 to Prince Albert of Germany. The couple set up a Christmas tree each year in Windsor Castle during the 1840s. In the 19th century, German immigrants to the United States brought the tradition with them.
CANDLES AT CHRISTMAS
You'd have to be brave—or foolish—to put candles on a Christmas tree in the old days.
"The Victorians in America who embraced the Christmas tree, as it goes from Germany to England to America, they did put candles on Christmas trees, but it was clearly an extremely dangerous thing to do," said McBride. "They cost money, [candles] were time-consuming to make, and a fire hazard."
It was only with the advent of household electricity that it became common to see lights on the Christmas tree—and eventually in windows, too. In the 1930s, Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia was decorated with lights in the windows and the phenomenon spread from there.
POPCORN STRINGS
Instead of candles, common decorations included natural or handcrafted items such as ribbons and bows, paper cutouts, and dried cranberries and apples. Popcorn was a uniquely American addition.
"Popcorn was a Native American food, so at one point people came up with the idea of making the garlands or strings of popcorn, so next thing you knew they were up on the tree," said McBride.
A REAL PICKLE
Though most holiday traditions are traceable, some put the historian in a real pickle. That's certainly the case with the tradition of putting a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree.
"No one can figure out the origins," said McBride. "There's even a German name for it and supposedly it's the last ornament you put on the tree. There's no historical basis for it at all."
According to McBride, it likely originated during the commercialization of the holiday in the late 19th century when shops began selling glass Christmas tree ornaments.
"Now everyone has a pickle for their Christmas tree," he said
Editor's Note: A previous story by Shore Publishing interviewing Susan Haddad of The Pink Sleigh noted that, "The story is that it's the last ornament to be hung on the tree, and the first child who finds it on Christmas morning gets an extra gift."
JACK-O'-LANTERNS
Another holiday sparked from a pagan celebration is Halloween.
"Halloween essentially comes out of pagan times, particular in Ireland," said McBride. "The first jack-o'-lanterns were turnips and potatoes."
Like a turkey dinner at Thanksgiving and presents at Christmas, part of the holiday's persistence lies in its appeal.
"Halloween is now the biggest holiday in the world," said McBride. "People dress up, have fun, and get candy—what's not to like?"
Plus, no doubt the Irish immigrants to the United States were delighted to replace turnips with pumpkins as the perfect vehicles for carving fantastical faces.
The Henry Whitfield State Museum, 248 Old Whitfield Street, Guilford, presents Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas through December. The exhibit costs $6 (free for children 12 and younger) Wednesday through Sunday during October; it's free on Mondays and Fridays during November and December. For info, contact 203-453-2457 or whitfieldmuseum@ct.gov.