December 24
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 24, 1997
X-mas Eve! Up at 10:00. Did glitter. Dad came at 2:00. Mom and Kathy home at 12:00. Worked on glitter. Showered. Helped with kitchen. Blanks family came at 6:00. Fun-ish. Ate lots. They left at 9:00. Worked on Kathy and Becca’s glitter. For lot of minutes. Excited about X-mas.
Crisis, age 20, Manchester
December 24, 1980
Mum’s birthday. Got up ’bout 11am, had dinner which couldn’t eat so me and Franny to Bury for Xmas shopping but first of all to pub where met Tricia Winstanley, boring but quite surprising. Me and Fran did all Xmas shopping and met some boys. Smoked with them on way home then really out of it. To Thompson’s where was Jan, Chris, Tony and various others. 10pm Fran home then to smoke then Ram’s Head but Tone not there.
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 24, 1960
Set rye bread later set Juli Kakee, made dressing, cooked ham for eve. meal. Mixed pot fruit for salad etc. Vi came with coffee cake and gift for Loie. Bob and David stopped in. Out to cabin to wait for folks. Helen came later we started to eat about three when folks arrived. Had our gifts then they ate.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 24, 1938
Woke up early but didn’t get up ’till 9:30. Lots to be done. After breakfast I laid the clothes on Mother’s bed. Then I washed the dishes. Mildred Lane ’phoned Mother to say that Vivian Rodgers’ baby son had died last night of intestinal trouble. Very sad! Dr. Jim (Mrs. Rogers’ Sr.’s son and Vivian’s husband) wasn’t there when it died. Mrs. Rodgers has had so much sorrow and then this just before Christmas. The funeral is at Knoxville this afternoon but Vivian has to stay in the Rockwood hospital. Soon Mother went up to see Mrs. Rodgers senior and I went to town for last minute shopping. Took June Key’s gift to her at Patton Hotel and invited her to my party on Tuesday. Saw Ella and invited her, too. Went to Daddy’s office before I went to June’s though and wrote her card in ink. Daddy, his assistant Mr. Moore (Mrs. Moore’s husband) and his secretary, Miss Staples, were there talking. Then home where I helped Mother with dinner. Daddy came and at 2:00 he went to Mr. Tarwater’s funeral at the Christian Church. After the dishes I wrapped Christmas gifts. Helen came down with mine and George had come earlier this morn. After working some more I read (after dark) till supper time. Mother had been out with the car to deliver some gifts. Before supper I put the clothes away. After supper I took the neighborhood gifts around. Allan is sick and Helen was staying with him because his parents weren’t home. George is opening his gifts tonight because he won’t have time in the morn, seeing it’s Sunday. Then Daddy drove me over to the Hagameyer’s with their gifts and Bart Jr. showed us a “Queen Mary” model ship which his brother Dick had made and sent him from Cincinnati. Then to town with Miss King’s and Mary’s gift. Mary had taken mine home with her so I had to take hers over there since she didn’t have any way of getting mine to me by tomorrow. I asked her about Tuesday. Then to Elma’s. She wasn’t home but I left her gift. Then over to Mary’s. Her mother gave me a gift for myself and one for Mother and Daddy. Then home. I went up to the Lane’s and Rodger’s with Mother. They weren’t all home so Mother had to go back later. Daddy was talking to Pete Stegall who came by in his car. I went over to George’s again with some other things. Then the dishes and to bed. Had good time in bed with imaginary people. Hung up stocking. Beautiful starry night.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 24, 1887
I went up town this forenoon, riding with Fred Neill, took a can of plums to Mr. Harvey and left by their inside door as they were gone. I got my order for teaching, but as there was no money in the treasurer’s hands, I could not get my pay. I brought home some oysters for our Christmas dinner tomorrow. Did some engrossing in 2 albums for the Methodist people; they go on the Christmas tree tonight. Kate has gone to the Christmas Eve doings at the church tonight, with the Neill’s. I am taking care of Una.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 24, 1862
Killed three shoats today. Cured them in brine (boiling). Got the sausage meat made & lard rendered up as tomorrow is Christmas & the negroes then go frolicing. I finished Willie’s dress before dinner & knit in the afternoon. I weighed the meat to see how much salt it would take. Mr. Henry scalded it. John & Peter went to Asheville this morning. I gave the children a few fire crackers this evening, some Pinck had last Christmas. Willie was delighted as much as the others. They can’t be bought now as there is none in Asheville. Fannie made some peach pies this evening.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 34, London
December 24, 1667
Up, and all the morning at the office, and at noon with my clerks to dinner, and then to the office again, busy at the office till six at night, and then by coach to St. James’s, it being about six at night; my design being to see the ceremonys, this night being the eve of Christmas, at the Queen’s chapel. But it being not begun I to Westminster Hall, and there staid and walked, and then to the Swan, and there drank and talked, and did banter a little Frank, and so to White Hall, and sent my coach round, I through the Park to chapel, where I got in up almost to the rail, and with a great deal of patience staid from nine at night to two in the morning, in a very great crowd; and there expected, but found nothing extraordinary, there being nothing but a high masse. The Queen was there, and some ladies. But, Lord! what an odde thing it was for me to be in a crowd of people, here a footman, there a beggar, here a fine lady, there a zealous poor papist, and here a Protestant, two or three together, come to see the shew. I was afeard of my pocket being picked very much … Their musique very good indeed, but their service I confess too frivolous, that there can be no zeal go along with it, and I do find by them themselves that they do run over their beads with one hand, and point and play and talk and make signs with the other in the midst of their masse. But all things very rich and beautiful; and I see the papists have the wit, most of them, to bring cushions to kneel on, which I wanted, and was mightily troubled to kneel. All being done, and I sorry for my coming, missing of what I expected; which was, to have had a child born and dressed there, and a great deal of do: but we broke up, and nothing like it done: and there I left people receiving the Sacrament: and the Queen gone, and ladies; only my Lady Castlemayne, who looked prettily in her night-clothes, and so took my coach, which waited, and away through Covent Garden, to set down two gentlemen and a lady, who come thither to see also, and did make mighty mirth in their talk of the folly of this religion. And so I stopped, having set them down and drank some burnt wine at the Rose Tavern door, while the constables come, and two or three Bellmen went by…
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)