It might be difficult for those of us in New York to correlate the winter holidays of today with the traditional merrymaking of Christmas. After spending years living in this place, we’ve all become used to the bustling commercialism and mass-produced decorations of virtually every occasion. But what did Christmas look like many years ago in New York City, when people lived much simpler lives?
This article seeks to explore a short history of Christmas in the city that never sleeps, delving into the culture, traditions, and customs of New Yorkers throughout the centuries leading up to the modern day. From unique holiday decorations and iron-clad rules to the evolution of where and how New Yorkers celebrated, there are many interesting and lesser-known facts about how Christmas came to be in this city.
Early Customization: Colonial Christmas in New York
When the Dutch colonists settled along the western bank of the Hudson River in the early 17th century, they brought their own customs and traditions from the old world. One such traditional holiday was Sinterklaas, a Dutch holiday for Saint Nicholas, known for gifting presents to children and adults alike.
At the start of the 18th century, the New Netherland colony was surrounded by English settlements and, as such, was likely influenced by the English’s Christmas tradition of decorating homes with green boughs and holly. What resulted was a unique combination of both holidays, which were further harmonized as the century progressed.
By the time the War of 1812 had ended, New Yorkers had fully embraced the festive time of the year and embraced many of the classical traditions associated with Christmas.
Rules for Christmas Celebrations
In the mid-1800s, many churches and synagogues had strict rules regarding how the faithful could and could not celebrate the Christmas holiday. Catholics for example, did not decorate their homes, churches, or synagogues, neither did they receive presents from each other. The only allowed decorations in the home were evergreen trees and poinsettias.
In addition to being restricted from giving presents, Catholics were expected to avoid the day-long holiday revels that were taking place in the pubs. Instead, they were encouraged to spend the holiday attending religious services and engaging in service to others.
Christmas Toys and Decorations
Ironically, the thing that most come to mind when we think of Christmas – toys and decorations – were frowned upon by the Christian churches during the 19th century. Christmas festivals and family parties were deemed sinful by many denominations, as were trees and decorations in the home.
The first commercially-available U.S. Christmas decorations came on the market in the early 1800s. The first Christmas store in America opened in New York in 1851 with a range of paper decorations and small toys. Christmas cards could be found in the five and dime shops, offering an inexpensive festive greeting to family, friends, and neighbors.
By the end of the 19th century, ornate decorations and toys were widely available and could be found throughout the city.
Christmas Music and Dance
Popular Christmas Carols have been around for hundreds of years, with the first one composed in the 13th century. During the colonial era in America, Christmas songs centered on religious motifs and traditional European carols. As New York adopted the Christmas spirit in the early 19th century, some of the most popular carols included “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Jingle Bells”.
New York has always been a thriving hub of culture, and this is certainly the case when it comes to Christmas. Public performances of Christmas carols began in the city as early as 1837 and rapidly increased in popularity in the late 1800s. This continues today, with Christmas choirs performing around town during the holiday season.
Christmas also served as a way to bring the community together during the 19th century. In fact, caroling was a popular pastime for the winter season and featured performances with singing, games, and dancing around the Christmas tree.
Celebrations of Christmas Throughout the 20th Century
By the start of the 20th century, the U.S. economy had grown significantly, which resulted in more widely available toys, decorations, and foods. This allowed for families to further enjoy Christmas time and celebrations began to become more elaborate and commercialized.
During the Great Depression, Christmas trees and decorations became more affordable and America’s interest in the holiday grew. Tinsel, lights, and ornaments adorned practically every home and created a sense of spirit throughout the country.
As the U.S. entered World War II, celebrating the holiday season changed drastically. As part of the war effort, many decided to conserve goods and resources or donate gifts to soldiers in need. Thus, holiday decorations focused on depicting American pride and making the best of service men and women’s extended absences.
Christmas Celebrations Today in NYC
In modern-day New York City, Christmas has become a much-loved holiday season in which many joyful traditions have been preserved and passed down throughout the generations.
The most beloved custom is that of attending special Christmas shows, such as “The Nutcracker”, “A Christmas Carol”, and “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular”. Holiday markets around the city provide an excellent place to find gifts and seasonal treats, and many residents take part in the annual Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink and the holiday display of lights at Dyker Heights.
Christmas has come a long way from early colonial holidays of the 17th century. Despite the many changes over the centuries, traditions, decorations, and general merrymaking remain largely similar to how they were all those years ago. New Yorkers will enjoy the holiday season in much the same way they have in the past, with plenty of spending, festivities, and of course, good cheer.
