[Taking A Close Look At...]
[CULTURES]

Christmas



"L.C. ARCHIBALD & CO. This enterprising firm is again to the front with Christmas Novelties. Mr. L.C. Archibald's selections made in London and Paris prove to be one of the finest ever brought to this town. The show-cases are full of Jewelry in Gold and Silver, Plated ware cutlery, fancy nic-nacs etc. The shelves are piled with dress goods, in all styles, qualities and prices, and withall, the arrangement of their goods is in such a way as to present a very handsome appearance." [Aurora, 20 December 1882]

"The inmates of the Poor Asylum, Antigonish, had 2 fine turkeys to help them enjoy Christmas--the turkeys being the gift of Mrs. Gregory, who though visiting New York, did not fail to remember the poor at home." [Aurora, 29 December 1881]

"An elegant assortment of Christmas cards just opened and ready for inspection at the Antigonish Book and Fancy Store. All the latest novelties of the season." [Aurora, 21 November 1883]

"PERSONAL--Santa Claus is to arrive in town Monday night." [Aurora,19 December 1883]

Supporting Evidence





[ View object ]

Item:CHRISTMAS CARD IN DISPLAY CASE
Date: 1887
Dimensions: 30 cm high, 28 cm wide x 11 cm deep (size of case)

Comments: This card was donated to the museum by Lillian McNaughton, daughter of the original owner, John McNaughton. In 1887, McNaughton received the card and case as a special gift from his Sunday school class. McNaughton was well known as an "efficient public servant, a kindly and genial companion and a public spirited citizen." (The Casket) He was a member of the Antigonish Highland Society, a Council representative and County Registrar of Deeds. This card consists of one large panel and two small ones. It features a typical scene of a house, frosted trees and a child playing in the snow. There is also a poem about the birth of Christ while the two flaps contain greetings of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The card is made of paper with a padded satin-like material on the back of the flaps. There is also a fringe of braided string around the card. The wooden display box with glass on three sides was made specifically for this card. There is an inscription to McNaughton on the inside base of the box and there are two nails positioned to hold both flaps open.

Christmas cards originated in England in 1843 with London businessman Henry Cole shortly after the implementation of the penny postal system. The timing was ripe; Prince Albert had introduced the Christmas tree and Charles Dickens had just written A Christmas Carol. By the late 1840s, Christmas cards, initially in the form of visiting cards rather than greeting cards, started to gain popularity in Great Britain. These cards were small and colourful, usually 5 by 7.5 cm, with simple decorative designs. Canadians bought Christmas cards as early as the 1850s but it was not until the 1870s that consumers could purchase Canadian-made cards. At the outset, Canadian Christmas cards were seldom religious in sentiment. Instead many cards were adapted from paintings by Cornelius Krieghoff and William Bartlett. Canadians were particularly fond of outdoor scenes showing sleighs, winter sports, children playing in snow and snowshoeing. The British had their own preferences for mistletoe and yule logs, landscapes, skaters, carolers, children, flowers, kittens, fairies, birds (particularly robins) and animals. It was not until the late 19th century that religious scenes like the Nativity attained widespread appeal.

In Antigonish, Christmas cards caught on quickly in the 1880s. This was a nation-wide phenomenon, judging from the barrage of complaints from overburdened letter carriers when the December rush began. The Aurora, on 15 December 1881, advertised "Xmas Cards, just received at the Antigonish Book and Stationery Store, a fresh lot of Christmas cards." McCurdy, MacMillan & Co. Store also boasted an assortment of "Christmas cards in great variety, Christmas presents in the latest styles and fancy goods." At A. Kirk & Co. there was a "choice selection of the latest German designs". By the late 19th century, the North American market was flooded with cheap penny Christmas cards from Germany. This foreign competition forced many American card manufacturers out of business, but they reclaimed their market during World War I.

Dawn Musgrave and Jay MacDonald




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Item:CHRISTMAS CARD
Date:early 20th century
Dimensions: approx. 7.6 cm x 10.8 cm

Comments:This Christmas card with its design of red rosebuds and message of "All Good Wishes" was originally sent by Mrs. A. Bannerman. The inside inscription reads "All joy be yours this happy day". The card bears little resemblance to the typical Christmas card. There are no romanticized scenes of children playing or winter wonderlands. It is interesting to note that the sender opted for the red rose of England, a symbol that was so explicitly British. The card itself is vaguely festive. By the 20th century, the machine-made Christmas card with its ready-made one-line greeting provided people with an easy method of communication; "it was suitable for mass use with acquaintances with whom the senders were not on letter writing terms." In this way, Christmas cards became an impersonal way to send greetings for the holidays.

Dawn Musgrave



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Item:CHRISTMAS CARD
Date:c. 1920s-1930s
Dimensions: approx. 14.5 cm x 12 cm

Comments:By the 1920s and 1930s, Christmas cards were far less elaborate than their Victorian counterparts. Late Victorian cards often featured tassels, paper lace, lush colouring and mechanical parts. The popularity of novelty cards declined significantly by the early 1900s, although the increased mechanization of printing made Christmas cards more affordable for a wider range of North Americans. In this card, a religious theme is conspicuously absent. The card simply shows a rosy-cheeked socialite looking stylish and stylized in her black cape and muff. By this time, cards were regarded as an essential convenience. Senders resorted to them instead of "writing Christmas letters or making personal holiday visits."

In 19th-century Antigonish County, the visit was an integral part of Christmas. This festive celebration, called "Old Christmas", was observed from 25 December to 6 January. Tradition dictated that every home be visited by the local neighbours, the male head of each household taking his turn as host. The evening visit consisted of songs and storytelling, particularly anecdotes and folktales about ghosts, hobgoblins and bocan. The last day of the year was called "Oidhche ch'oinnle". The windows of all the houses glowed with lit candles until after midnight. That night, every house was visited by local residents carrying clubs (camain) with which they announced their arrival by beating on the outside walls and shouting verses of "Duan Callainn". The boisterous guests were treated to refreshments, but they did not linger long before heading to the next home. It was considered a serious slight to omit a household.

LCCS-B




[ View object ]

Item:CHRISTMAS CARD
Date:c. 1930s
Dimensions: approx. 9.5 cm x 6.3 cm

Comments: Sent by Minnie Brooks to Bessie Jones, this card shows a city street in winter. Every window is ablaze with warm yellow light. The message reads "Oh, merrie be your Christmas, and all your days be full of joy." With this card, the designers depicted the new realities of modernization such as electrification and urbanization. Whereas most cards harked back to romanticized Victorian times, this card is more contemporary. There is even a car depicted in the distance. Many card designers wanted to escape the harsh memories of the war and depression and looked to technology as the symbol of better times. This card is strikingly different from later Cold War cards with their predilection for humorous Santas and comical reindeer.

Jay MacDonald






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