December 25
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 25, 1997
Yay! Up at 8:00. Opened presents and Em and Cap were here. Got nice jeans and other cool stuff. Me and Em came 2 Mom’s 4 more. Got CD player, clothes, etc. :) Came 2 Tarboro 4 Mema/Pop’s. Ate huge dinner with Steven, Bryan, etc. Yum. Came 2 Simpsons’ X-mas. More stuff. Saw video of baby Rachael and Trudie/Patrick. Mom came and we drove home. Not in bed ’till 12:00. Good day!
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 25, 1960
A most beautiful day quite mild. Took Carrie to S.S. Came over about 12:30. Roasting chickens. Helen arrived about 1:00. Ate before two. Took our time. Went up to Lee’s for a short time. Del, Helen and boys there, Mary Ann David and Bob, too. Don out to cabin so Lo, Pink, M. and K.J. and I went out to feed then K.J. Lo and I home to sleep.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 25, 1938
Christmas! At last! I got up about 8:00 and opened my stocking, the gifts from Mother and Daddy and a few that came from around here. Mother and Daddy gave me: a beautiful pin made out of shells and all different colors, an inch tape, crayons, 2 books, the World War songs book, a large scrap book with leather binding, a pair of blue socks, a pink silk slip and a pair of black bedroom slippers. Also fruit and nuts. Daddy soon got up and Mother was already up. Daddy built a fire in the fireplace while Mother and I got breakfast. Daddy opened his shirt and tie gifts to wear them to Sunday-school. D. went to Sunday-school but I didn’t. I washed the dishes and then dressed for church. Mother didn’t go but stayed home and fixed the turkey and dinner. I sat on the last row. Christmas tree still up and made it real “Christmassy.” Sermon was on Christmas and Mrs. Mundy sang a solo (slightly off). Then Daddy sang “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem.” After church I walked home with George. He ate candy all morning. I went home and read the funnies in my bedroom. Then made my bed. Daddy had the radio on and there were hymns and Christmas carols being sung. Very nice. Forgot to mention that it is a nice day and a little warm. Helen has 5 relatives for company. I set the table next. Finally about 1:15, dinner was ready. We had turkey and all the trimmings. I ate so much I could hardly move. George brought Allan’s gift down. After dinner we opened the packages as we do every year. Daddy and I had a grand hunt for Mother’s glasses but M. finally remembered where she had put them. It has begun to get cloudy outside. Very “Christmassy.” These are some of the things I got
3 scarfs (2 satin and one chiffon, from Mother Lane, Aunt Madge, and Miss King, respectively)
bloomers from Mary
pin from Helen
book from George
handkie - Allan
book - Mrs. Winslow
hose - Aunt Beatrice in Eng.
bath salts - Aunt Nellie and Harriett (4)
bath salts - Aunt Edith and Florie (4) (Their’s were exactly the same!)
bath salts (different!) - Mrs. Rodgers
handkie - Mildred Lane
handkie - Charles Keeble
handkie - Aunt Edith Wilkes
handkie and wax gardenia - Ellen
calendar from Eng. with a quotation for every day in the year
box of handkies - Mrs. Martin
handkie, picture and little woolen doll - Lofts
Mother and Daddy got nice things, too. Just as Mother and Daddy were going to rest George came over and I got him to stay while I washed the dishes. Then I read him something funny out of the paper. When I had finished he left so I sat by the fireplace and read. Soon Mother got up. About 6:30 Daddy got up and I helped Mother set the table and fix supper. About 10 till 7:00 Mrs. McClure, George and Mrs. Martin came over for supper and the evening. (They always are invited every Christmas night.) At 7:00 we all went in the living room and listened to Charlie McCarthy. Very funny. Then all went in dining room and ate supper. I sat next to George and I teased him all the time. After supper George and I went in the living room and I read him part of “Dog of Flanders” a book Allan had given him. Soon the rest finished and came in the living room and we sang Christmas carols. Then I gave my Christmas reading and then Daddy and I sang for them. Then Daddy and then me. This continued till about 10:30 when the party broke up. G. was very sleepy. We didn’t open our cards but went to bed. Well, the big day is over. It hasn’t seemed like Christmas or Sunday but it’s been wonderful. Good-bye last Sunday in 1938.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 25, 1887
Today was Christmas. We got up rather late, and I cooked pancakes for breakfast while Kate washed and dressed Una. After breakfast we opened our Christmas boxes and found a most valuable collection of presents for all of us. I had a beautiful neck scarf, which Kate had sent down there for, a mustache cup from Geo. and Effie, and Effie’s picture, cake, candy, etc. Kate had lots of things too, and Una was remembered. Ida sent us a fine crumb tray and bib and pin for Una. I went to church this forenoon. We had oysters for dinner and I ate an immense quantity of them. It has been a fine day.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 25, 1862
Christmas day. Many changes have taken place in our short year. A great many have given their lives for their Country in that space. Oh! God I beseech Thee to grant us a speedy & honorable peace is my pray.
I knit all day. Betsey weaving. Till Morris spent the day here. We had turkey for dinner & several other things. George Peak came in while we were at supper. He is just returning from the salt works. He got salt enough to save his bacon. I felt very sorry for him when Mr. Henry told him Sam was dead. Their family is very much attached to each other.
*(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 25, 1667
Up and to Westminster, and there to the Swan, and by chance met Mr. Spicer and another ’Chequer clerk, and there made them drink, and there talked of the credit the ’Chequer is now come to and will in a little time, and so away homeward, and called at my bookseller’s, and there bought Mr. Harrington’s works, “Oceana,” &c., and two other books, which cost me 4l., and so home, and there eat a bit, and then with my wife to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Surprizall;” which did not please me to-day, the actors not pleasing me; and especially Nell’s acting of a serious part, which she spoils. Here met with Sir W. Pen, and sat by him, and home by coach with him, and there to my office a while, and then home to supper and to bed. I hear this day that Mrs. Stewart do at this day keep a great court at Somerset House, with her husband the Duke of Richmond, she being visited for her beauty’s sake by people, as the Queen is, at nights; and they say also that she is likely to go to Court again, and there put my Lady Castlemayne’s nose out of joynt. God knows that would make a great turn. This day I was invited to have gone to my cozen Mary Pepys’ burial, my uncle Thomas’ daughter, but could not.
*(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.)