The Battle For Christmas Part 12

79. John S. Garvin to Governor Parsons; quoted Carter, "Anatomy of Fear," 361. Many blacks were arrested and otherwise hara.s.sed during the weeks before Christmas. John S. Garvin to Governor Parsons; quoted Carter, "Anatomy of Fear," 361. Many blacks were arrested and otherwise hara.s.sed during the weeks before Christmas.

80. Unpublished memoir of Sally Elmore Taylor, quoted in Joel Williamson, Unpublished memoir of Sally Elmore Taylor, quoted in Joel Williamson, After Slavery After Slavery, 249250. For another expression of white fear, see ibid., 251 (a white planter, watching his former slaves slaughtering a hog on December 4, "shuddered ... to see the fiendish eagerness in some of them to stab & kill, the delight in the suffering of others").

81. National Intelligencer National Intelligencer [Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.], Dec. 30, 1865. [Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.], Dec. 30, 1865.

82. Alexandria Gazette Alexandria Gazette, Dec. 28, 1865 ("too much whiskey"); Was.h.i.+ngton Star Was.h.i.+ngton Star, Dec. 30, 1865 ("much bad whiskey"); Richmond Daily Whig Richmond Daily Whig, Dec. 29, 1865 ("some colored men"); National Intelligencer National Intelligencer [Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.], Dec. 28, 1865 ("no political significance"). [Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.], Dec. 28, 1865 ("no political significance").

83. Richmond Daily Whig Richmond Daily Whig, Dec. 27, 1865.

84. The Daily Picayune The Daily Picayune, Dec. 31, 1865.

85. Ibid., Dec. 27, 1865. In any case, the Ibid., Dec. 27, 1865. In any case, the Picayune Picayune noted, readers could take heart from the knowledge that "the negro population will be found, as it has always been found in the South, to be docile." noted, readers could take heart from the knowledge that "the negro population will be found, as it has always been found in the South, to be docile."

86. Richmond Daily Whig Richmond Daily Whig, Dec. 25, 1865.

Epilogue.

1. Booker T. Was.h.i.+ngton, Booker T. Was.h.i.+ngton, Up from Slavery: An Autobiography Up from Slavery: An Autobiography (New York, 1901), 133. (He added, referring to the turn of the century, "This custom prevails throughout this portion of the South to-day.") The following material appears ibid., 133136. (New York, 1901), 133. (He added, referring to the turn of the century, "This custom prevails throughout this portion of the South to-day.") The following material appears ibid., 133136.

2. This paragraph and the following ones are from Ira de A. Reid, "The John Canoe Festival: A New World Africanism," This paragraph and the following ones are from Ira de A. Reid, "The John Canoe Festival: A New World Africanism," Phylon Phylon 3 (1942), 349370; see also Lawrence Levine, 3 (1942), 349370; see also Lawrence Levine, Black Culture and Black Consciousness: Afro-American Folk Thought from Slavery to Freedom Black Culture and Black Consciousness: Afro-American Folk Thought from Slavery to Freedom (New York: Oxford University Press, 1977), 150 (it is Levine who explains the term (New York: Oxford University Press, 1977), 150 (it is Levine who explains the term dicty) dicty).

3. William Carleton, "The Midnight Ma.s.s," in his William Carleton, "The Midnight Ma.s.s," in his Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1834), 1, 13102 (esp. 4654). (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1834), 1, 13102 (esp. 4654).

4. Cited in Kevin Danaher, Cited in Kevin Danaher, The Year in Ireland The Year in Ireland (Cork: Mercier Press, 1972), 241242. (Cork: Mercier Press, 1972), 241242.

5. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, Ireland, Its Scenery, Character, etc Ireland, Its Scenery, Character, etc. (3 vols., London, 186163 [orig. published in 1841), vol. 1, 2325. The Halls refer to this as "the only Christmas gambol remaining in Ireland of the many that in the middle ages were so numerous and so dangerous as to call for the imposition of the law, and the strong arm of magisterial authority" (ibid., 25).

6. Colm Kerrigan, Colm Kerrigan, Father Mathew and the Irish Temperance Movement, 18381849 Father Mathew and the Irish Temperance Movement, 18381849 (Cork: Cork University Press, 1992), pa.s.sim (the pledge figure is from p. 82). (Cork: Cork University Press, 1992), pa.s.sim (the pledge figure is from p. 82).

7. Ibid., 7677 (social advancement), 107127 (repeal). Ibid., 7677 (social advancement), 107127 (repeal).

8. See entry of Dec. 23, 1842, where he "[gave] audience to half the world, some humbly begging for a little help, some asking merely for a loan...." David Thomson, with Moyra McGusty, eds., See entry of Dec. 23, 1842, where he "[gave] audience to half the world, some humbly begging for a little help, some asking merely for a loan...." David Thomson, with Moyra McGusty, eds., The Irish Journals of Elizabeth Smith, 18401850.A Selection The Irish Journals of Elizabeth Smith, 18401850.A Selection (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), 59. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), 59.

9. Ibid., 25. (Dec. 2526, 1840). Two years later, on New Year's Eve, 1842, Mrs. Smith wrote that she and her husband would "drink it [the old year] out in negus upstairs and punch below" (ibid., 60). Ibid., 25. (Dec. 2526, 1840). Two years later, on New Year's Eve, 1842, Mrs. Smith wrote that she and her husband would "drink it [the old year] out in negus upstairs and punch below" (ibid., 60).

10. [New York] [New York] Irish World Irish World, Dec. 28, 1872. For a different reading of temperance, see Paul Johnson, A Shopkeeper's Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 18151837 A Shopkeeper's Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 18151837 (New York: Hill and w.a.n.g, 1978); and, of working-cla.s.s immigrants and the reform of holiday celebrations, see Roy Rozenzweig, (New York: Hill and w.a.n.g, 1978); and, of working-cla.s.s immigrants and the reform of holiday celebrations, see Roy Rozenzweig, Eight Hours for What We Will: Workers and Leisure in an Industrial City, 18701920 Eight Hours for What We Will: Workers and Leisure in an Industrial City, 18701920 (Cambridge and New York, 1983), 6592, 153170. (Cambridge and New York, 1983), 6592, 153170.

11. These dates appear in James H. Barnett, These dates appear in James H. Barnett, The American Christmas: A Study in National Culture The American Christmas: A Study in National Culture (New York: Macmillan, 1954), 20. (New York: Macmillan, 1954), 20.

12. Acts and Resolves Pa.s.sed by the General Court of Ma.s.sachusetts, in the Year 1855 Acts and Resolves Pa.s.sed by the General Court of Ma.s.sachusetts, in the Year 1855, ch. 91, 549; Acts and Resolves Pa.s.sed by the General Court of Ma.s.sachusetts, in the Year 1856 Acts and Resolves Pa.s.sed by the General Court of Ma.s.sachusetts, in the Year 1856, ch. 113, 5960.

13. John R. Mulkern, John R. Mulkern, The Know-Nothing Party in Ma.s.sachusetts: The Rise and Fall of a People's Movement The Know-Nothing Party in Ma.s.sachusetts: The Rise and Fall of a People's Movement (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1990), 79, 8990, 101, 10811 (the quotation is on p. 108). The Know-Nothings lost control of the state legislature in the 1856 elections. See also Ronald P. Formisano, (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1990), 79, 8990, 101, 10811 (the quotation is on p. 108). The Know-Nothings lost control of the state legislature in the 1856 elections. See also Ronald P. Formisano, The Transformation of Political Culture: Ma.s.sachusetts Parties, 1790s-1840s The Transformation of Political Culture: Ma.s.sachusetts Parties, 1790s-1840s (New York: Oxford University Press, 1983). (New York: Oxford University Press, 1983).

14. Boston Daily Bee Boston Daily Bee, Feb. 8, 1856; see also Boston Courier Boston Courier, Feb. 8, 1856, for a letter pointing to the financial effects of the bill. (While Rep. Vose was a Know-Nothing, he was also a leader of the opposition opposition to the temperance legislation that had pa.s.sed the previous year.) to the temperance legislation that had pa.s.sed the previous year.) 15. This point is made in William B. Waits, This point is made in William B. Waits, The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving (New York: New York University Press, 1993), 8. (New York: New York University Press, 1993), 8.

16. Interview recorded by Alan Lomax, on "Leadbelly: Go Down with Aunt Hannah" (The Library of Congress Recordings, vol. 6; reissued by Rounder Records, 1994: CD 1099). Interview recorded by Alan Lomax, on "Leadbelly: Go Down with Aunt Hannah" (The Library of Congress Recordings, vol. 6; reissued by Rounder Records, 1994: CD 1099).

17. "I begin to whoopie" is from Peetie Wheatstraw, "Santa Claus Blues" (1935), "I begin to whoopie" is from Peetie Wheatstraw, "Santa Claus Blues" (1935), Peetie Wheatstraw (19301941) Peetie Wheatstraw (19301941), da Music, CD 35412; "New Year's Blues" is from Tampa Red, "Christmas and New Year's Blues" (1934), from Complete Works, vol. 6, 193435; Complete Works, vol. 6, 193435; Doc.u.ment Records DOCD-5206; "valentine's Day" is from Walter Davis, "New Santa Claus" (1941), from Doc.u.ment Records DOCD-5206; "valentine's Day" is from Walter Davis, "New Santa Claus" (1941), from Complete Works, vol. 7, 194046; Complete Works, vol. 7, 194046; on Doc.u.ment Records DOCD-5286. One blues song that does deal with children and presents (sung from a woman's perspective, it is about a man who has abandoned his woman and children during Christmas week) ends by reporting happily that another man has entered the singer's life-"there's a big fat Santy [Santa] walkin' in my front door." See Victoria Spivey, "Christmas Without Santa Claus" (1961) on on Doc.u.ment Records DOCD-5286. One blues song that does deal with children and presents (sung from a woman's perspective, it is about a man who has abandoned his woman and children during Christmas week) ends by reporting happily that another man has entered the singer's life-"there's a big fat Santy [Santa] walkin' in my front door." See Victoria Spivey, "Christmas Without Santa Claus" (1961) on Woman Blues Woman Blues (text by Victoria Spivey: Prestige / Bluesville Records? V-1054. For another Christmas-reunion blues, see Floyd McDaniel, "Christmas Blues" (1992), (text by Victoria Spivey: Prestige / Bluesville Records? V-1054. For another Christmas-reunion blues, see Floyd McDaniel, "Christmas Blues" (1992), The Stars of Rhythm 'n' Blues The Stars of Rhythm 'n' Blues, CMA Music Productions CD, CM-10007.

18. Robert Johnson, "h.e.l.lhound on My Trail" (1937: from Robert Johnson, "h.e.l.lhound on My Trail" (1937: from The Complete Recordings The Complete Recordings, Columbia C2K-46222; 1991) [King of Spades Music, 1990]; "Every day is Christmas" is from Joe Turner, "Christmas Date Boogie" (1948 / 9: from (1948 / 9: from Tell Me Pretty Baby Tell Me Pretty Baby, Arhoolie CD 333 (1992) [text by Joe Turner]; "like a rooster" is from Champion Jack Dupree, "Santa Claus Blues," from The Joe Davis Sessions, 194546 The Joe Davis Sessions, 194546 (Flyright FLY CD 22, 1990). The term (Flyright FLY CD 22, 1990). The term Christmas Christmas could actually become a euphemism for s.e.x, as in the blues song "Merry Christmas, Baby." After an opening verse that makes the a.s.sociation between Christmas and s.e.x-by repeating the words of the t.i.tle and adding, "you sure did treat me nice"-the second verse opens with a line in which the very term could actually become a euphemism for s.e.x, as in the blues song "Merry Christmas, Baby." After an opening verse that makes the a.s.sociation between Christmas and s.e.x-by repeating the words of the t.i.tle and adding, "you sure did treat me nice"-the second verse opens with a line in which the very term Christmas Christmas has come to mean "s.e.x": "I'm comin' home, comin' home for Christmas right now." By the end of the song we have come to hear the repeated refrain "Merry Christmas, Baby" to mean simply has come to mean "s.e.x": "I'm comin' home, comin' home for Christmas right now." By the end of the song we have come to hear the repeated refrain "Merry Christmas, Baby" to mean simply Thanks for the great s.e.x, baby Thanks for the great s.e.x, baby. See Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, "Merry Christmas, Baby" (1991) on I Want to Groove with You Want to Groove with You, Bullseye Blues/Rounder Records CD BB 9506 [text by L. Baxter and J. Moore: St. Louis Music Corp., 1948]. The a.s.sociation of Christmas with leisure in African-American rural culture has remained so strong that the idea of working working on Christmas Day is powerfully symbolic. In Howlin' Wolf's "Sittin' on Top of the World," for example, the singer suggests how hard his lot is by simply noting that he spent Christmas Day in his "overalls" [text by Chester Burnett, Arc Music Corp., BMI]. on Christmas Day is powerfully symbolic. In Howlin' Wolf's "Sittin' on Top of the World," for example, the singer suggests how hard his lot is by simply noting that he spent Christmas Day in his "overalls" [text by Chester Burnett, Arc Music Corp., BMI].

19. "Dresser drawers" is from Sonny Boy Williamson, "Santa Claus" (1960), [text by Rice Miller] "Dresser drawers" is from Sonny Boy Williamson, "Santa Claus" (1960), [text by Rice Miller] b.u.mmer Road b.u.mmer Road (Chess/MCA CHD-9324, 1991); "this very Christmas night" is from Charley Jordan and Verdi Lee, "Christmas Tree Blues," in (Chess/MCA CHD-9324, 1991); "this very Christmas night" is from Charley Jordan and Verdi Lee, "Christmas Tree Blues," in Charley Jordan: Complete Recorded Works Charley Jordan: Complete Recorded Works, vol. 3 (193537), Doc.u.ment Records CD, DOCD-5099; "backdoor Santa" is from Clarence Carter, "Backdoor Santa" (1960), from s.n.a.t.c.hing It Back: The Best of Clarence Carter s.n.a.t.c.hing It Back: The Best of Clarence Carter Rhino/Atlantic CD (1992), R270286 [text by Clarence Carter Carter and Marcus McDaniel: Screen Gems-EMI, BMI]; "even if my whiskers is white" is from Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Christmas Eve Blues" (1928: Rhino/Atlantic CD (1992), R270286 [text by Clarence Carter Carter and Marcus McDaniel: Screen Gems-EMI, BMI]; "even if my whiskers is white" is from Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Christmas Eve Blues" (1928: Complete Recorded Works Complete Recorded Works, vol. 3: Doc.u.ment Records DOCD 5019); "hang your stocking by the head of the bed" is from Charley Jordan and Verdi Lee, "Christmas Tree Blues" (cited above); "on your Christmas tree" is from Peetie Wheatstraw, "Santa Claus Blues" (cited above, note 14): the same image is used in Charley Jordan, "Santa Claus Blues" (1931), on Complete Recorded Works Complete Recorded Works, vol. 2: Doc.u.ment Records DODC-5098. Other Christmas blues include: Bessie Smith, "At the Christmas Ball" (1925: Complete Recordings Complete Recordings, vol. 2); Will Weldon, "Christmas Tree Blues" (1937), on Will Weldon as Casey Bill: The Hawaiian Guitar Wizard, 193538; Will Weldon as Casey Bill: The Hawaiian Guitar Wizard, 193538; Blues Collection/EPM, 1994" by W. Weldon; Sonny Boy Williamson [John Lee Williamson], "Christmas Morning Blues" (1938: Blues Collection/EPM, 1994" by W. Weldon; Sonny Boy Williamson [John Lee Williamson], "Christmas Morning Blues" (1938: Complete Recorded Works Complete Recorded Works, vol. 2: Doc.u.ment Records, DOCD-5056); Lightnin' Hopkins, "Santa," on Mojo Hand Mojo Hand, Golden Cla.s.sics CD (Collectible Records Corp., Narbeth, Penn., CD-5111; Walter Davis, "Santa Claus Blues," from Complete Works Complete Works, vol. 6); Charlie Johnson, "Santa Claus Blues," from Complete Works Complete Works, vol. 2 (193134); and Freddie King, "Christmas Tears" (from 17 Hits) Hits).

20. Mikhail Bakhtin, Mikhail Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World Rabelais and His World (Cambridge: MIT, 1968), 418, 145154. For ongoing vestiges of carnival, see Peter Stallybra.s.s and Allon White, (Cambridge: MIT, 1968), 418, 145154. For ongoing vestiges of carnival, see Peter Stallybra.s.s and Allon White, The Politics and Poetics of Transgression The Politics and Poetics of Transgression (London: Methuen, 1986), 171190. (London: Methuen, 1986), 171190.

21. But it appears that in many places Thanksgiving itself came to take on some of the aspects of carnival. For an account of this development, see Harriet Beecher Stowe's historical novel But it appears that in many places Thanksgiving itself came to take on some of the aspects of carnival. For an account of this development, see Harriet Beecher Stowe's historical novel Oldtown Folks Oldtown Folks (Boston, 1869), ch. 27: "How We Kept Thanksgiving." For a contemporaneous perspective, in 1818 the (Boston, 1869), ch. 27: "How We Kept Thanksgiving." For a contemporaneous perspective, in 1818 the Farmer's Cabinet Farmer's Cabinet (an Amherst, N.H., newspaper) printed an article lamenting the "frolicks of Thanksgiving" and wis.h.i.+ng that "the period annually set apart as a season of devout thanksgiving ... were in reality a season of heart-felt and religious grat.i.tude ... when the (an Amherst, N.H., newspaper) printed an article lamenting the "frolicks of Thanksgiving" and wis.h.i.+ng that "the period annually set apart as a season of devout thanksgiving ... were in reality a season of heart-felt and religious grat.i.tude ... when the heart heart and not the and not the appet.i.te appet.i.te should be the source of thanksgiving." The same editorial suggested that Thanksgiving had also become at least semi-commercialized, a time when "farmers and merchants make their calculations to profit by its return, in the disposal of their various articles." should be the source of thanksgiving." The same editorial suggested that Thanksgiving had also become at least semi-commercialized, a time when "farmers and merchants make their calculations to profit by its return, in the disposal of their various articles." (Farmer's Cabinet (Farmer's Cabinet, Dec. 26, 1818; reprinted from the New Hamps.h.i.+re Patriot) New Hamps.h.i.+re Patriot).

22. "Hanukkah was probably attached to a solstice feast already celebrated in Jerusalem by Jews friendly to Greece." Martin "Hanukkah was probably attached to a solstice feast already celebrated in Jerusalem by Jews friendly to Greece." Martin Hengel, Judaism and h.e.l.lenism: Studies in Their Encounter in Palestine During the Early h.e.l.lenistic Period Hengel, Judaism and h.e.l.lenism: Studies in Their Encounter in Palestine During the Early h.e.l.lenistic Period (translated from the German; 2 vols., Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974), I, 235; see also ibid., 303. (translated from the German; 2 vols., Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974), I, 235; see also ibid., 303.

23. Israel Abrahams, Israel Abrahams, Jewish Life in the Middle Ages Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (New York, 1896), 389398 (Chanukah exception is on p. 396). (New York, 1896), 389398 (Chanukah exception is on p. 396).

24. Increase Mather, Increase Mather, A Testimony Against Several Prophane and Superst.i.tious Customs, Now Practiced by Some in New-England A Testimony Against Several Prophane and Superst.i.tious Customs, Now Practiced by Some in New-England (London, 1687), 4142. (London, 1687), 4142.

25. See, for example, Michael Stra.s.sfeld, See, for example, Michael Stra.s.sfeld, The Jewish Holidays, A Guide and Commentary The Jewish Holidays, A Guide and Commentary (New York: Harper and Row, 1985), 187196. This chapter bears the t.i.tle "Purim: Self-Mockery and Masquerade." See also Francis Spufford, "Pleasures and Perils of Purim," in (New York: Harper and Row, 1985), 187196. This chapter bears the t.i.tle "Purim: Self-Mockery and Masquerade." See also Francis Spufford, "Pleasures and Perils of Purim," in Times Literary Supplement Times Literary Supplement, June 5, 1992. Spufford terms Purim "a carnival as Bakhtin described carnivals."

26. Daniel Miller, "A Theory of Christmas," in Daniel Miller, ed., Daniel Miller, "A Theory of Christmas," in Daniel Miller, ed., Unwrapping Christmas Unwrapping Christmas (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993), 3. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993), 3.

Acknowledgments.

I WROTE WROTE this book in the course of three nonconsecutive years (and an additional summer) during which I lived away from my Amherst, Ma.s.sachusetts, home. Serious work began in this book in the course of three nonconsecutive years (and an additional summer) during which I lived away from my Amherst, Ma.s.sachusetts, home. Serious work began in 198990 198990, when I was James P. Harrison Professor of History at The College of William and Mary. That appointment included the services of a helpful research a.s.sistant, Nigel Alderman, as well as the obligation to deliver several public lectures that managed to transform my Christmas project from a minor arrow in my scholarly quiver into a serious endeavor. John Selby of William and Mary's History Department helped set up those lectures (and my entire year); Marianne Brink, Ann and Bob Gross, and Chandos Brown helped make the year both intellectually and socially memorable.

Much of the book was researched and written during the 199192 199192 academic year, when I held a residential fellows.h.i.+p (funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities) at the American Antiquarian Society. But the AAS was more than a wonderful library. It has long been my second home, and the members of its staff are like family. Nancy Burkett (now the AAS librarian) and Joanne Chaison (now reference librarian) were each head of readers' services when I first came to know them. Today Marie Lamareaux occupies that position. All three wore themselves out on my behalf, and without ever losing the graciousness that has long been a hallmark of the AAS. Laura Wascowicz spent hours of what seemed to be her own time hunting down children's literature for me, and her cataloguing skills enabled me to locate items I would never have encountered on my own. Dennis Laurie went beyond the call of any possible duty several times, doing research in newspapers I had not even asked to see. Tom Knoles always made the imposing AAS ma.n.u.script division user-friendly. Georgia Barnhill sprang into action whenever she found a picture she thought I might be able to use. Although John B. Hench worked in an office across the street, he was always a benevolent force and a supportive presence. Finally, there were the rewarding conversations with fellow readers at the AAS, readers who included Robert Arner, Catherine Brekus, Nym Cooke, Cornelia Dayton, Alice Fahs, Billy G. Smith, and Ann Fairfax Withington. academic year, when I held a residential fellows.h.i.+p (funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities) at the American Antiquarian Society. But the AAS was more than a wonderful library. It has long been my second home, and the members of its staff are like family. Nancy Burkett (now the AAS librarian) and Joanne Chaison (now reference librarian) were each head of readers' services when I first came to know them. Today Marie Lamareaux occupies that position. All three wore themselves out on my behalf, and without ever losing the graciousness that has long been a hallmark of the AAS. Laura Wascowicz spent hours of what seemed to be her own time hunting down children's literature for me, and her cataloguing skills enabled me to locate items I would never have encountered on my own. Dennis Laurie went beyond the call of any possible duty several times, doing research in newspapers I had not even asked to see. Tom Knoles always made the imposing AAS ma.n.u.script division user-friendly. Georgia Barnhill sprang into action whenever she found a picture she thought I might be able to use. Although John B. Hench worked in an office across the street, he was always a benevolent force and a supportive presence. Finally, there were the rewarding conversations with fellow readers at the AAS, readers who included Robert Arner, Catherine Brekus, Nym Cooke, Cornelia Dayton, Alice Fahs, Billy G. Smith, and Ann Fairfax Withington.

In the summer of 1993 I held an Andrew W. Mellon fellows.h.i.+p at the Ma.s.sachusetts Historical Society. My work there was enhanced by the careful cataloguing of the voluminous Sedgwick family papers (which would otherwise have been impenetrable). I would especially like to thank Peter Drummey, Edward W. Hanson, Richard A. Ryerson, Virginia H. Smith, and Conrad E. Wright-and to remember the Thursday lunches and the conversations with Charles Capper.

Finally, in 199495 I finished the book at Harvard University's Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, a fellows.h.i.+p stay that was made more than pleasant by the center's able and amiable administrator, Susan G. Hunt, and by its present and former directors, Ernest May and Bernard Bailyn, respectively, and by Donald Fleming, who organized our seminars and directed my attention to Charles Loring Brace. Warren Center colleagues who offered support and a.s.sistance included Stephen Alter, Mia Bay, Steven Biel, Allen Guelzo, and Laura Kaiman. During my year at Harvard I was fortunate enough to live (and eat) at Eliot House, courtesy of its co-masters, Stephen A. Mitch.e.l.l and Kristine Forsgard, and with the support of its former master (and my onetime teacher) Alan Heimert. Karl and Anita Teeter and Seth Rice provided encouragement and hospitality during my Harvard stay (Seth also helped out by reading German materials for me).

Then there is my first academic home, the University of Ma.s.sachusetts at Amherst. None of my leaves of absence would have been possible without the a.s.sistance of UMa.s.s. I would especially like to thank Deans Murray M. Schwartz and Lee Edwards, and History Department chairs Robert Jones, Roland Sarti, and Bruce Laurie, for their unhesitating and consistent support of this project in a time of serious fiscal duress.

UMa.s.s has also helped by sending me students from whom I have learned. I always like to teach what I'm studying about, and this project was no exception. In what I hope (and believe) was a mutually beneficial arrangement, many of the students in my three Christmas seminars, both undergraduates and graduates, in the process of fulfilling their own course requirements unearthed material that found its way into this book. These students include Wesley Borucki, Sh.e.l.ley Freitag, Richard Ga.s.san, Carrie Giard, Kevin Gilbert, Bill Hodkinson, Susan Ouellette, and Melissa Vbgel; as well as Patrick Breen and Sandra D. Hayslette (at The College of William and Mary). To these and other students I owe a gargantuan debt.

And also to colleagues. Writing this book has reaffirmed my faith that a community of scholarly inquiry does indeed exist. In the process of pursuing their own projects, other scholars have occasionally come across Christmas materials, and when they became aware of my project these scholars were generous in giving or sending me the citations-unsolicited mail I was always overjoyed to receive. These colleagues include Robert Arner, Burton Bledstein, Richard D. Brown, Martha Burns, Milton Cantor, Barbara Charles, Patricia Crain, John Engstrom, William Freehling, David Gla.s.sberg, Jayne Gordon, Charles Hanson, Barry Levy, Conrad Wright, and Ron and Mary Zboray. Finally there is Dale c.o.c.krell of William and Mary's Music Department, who has been doing splendidly exciting work along a parallel track (I look forward to his forthcoming book on blackface minstrelsy). Helpful ideas came from Burt Bledstein, d.i.c.k Brown, Sue Marchand, and Michael Wins.h.i.+p. It was my mother, Claire Willner Nissenbaum, who named for me the meter in which Clement Moore composed "A Visit from St. Nicholas;" her scrupulous concern for and delight in language have affected me even more than she may know.

Other colleagues did other forms of service. Ronald P. Formisano, James A. Henretta, and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote letters that helped me receive the fellows.h.i.+p support which made it possible for me to write this book. James Henretta also brought this project to the attention of Jane N. Garrett, who became my editor at Knopf. I thank all of these people for their early faith, and I thank Jane for her great and continuing enthusiasm; I am proud to be counted among her authors. And speaking of Knopf, let me also thank two painstaking proofreaders, Eleanor Mikucki and Teddy Rosenbaum, and, most of all, Melvin Rosenthal, whose unerring eye and endless patience have made this book more accurate as well as more readable.

It is the mark of a good friend to be willing to say critical things. Christopher Clark and Robert A. Gross, who read my draft ma.n.u.script in its entirety, were such good friends (they also happen to be remarkably good historians). Chris Clark persuaded me to redo Chapter 6 Chapter 6-and showed me how. Bob Gross has been on intimate terms with this project from the beginning, and a trusted and valued friend for much, much longer. (It was Bob, loyal as always, who first suggested the possibility of my going to William and Mary for a year.) R. Jackson Wilson made several characteristically shrewd (and simple) suggestions when this book was in its formative stages. Jack has been true for more than thirty years. I will never attain the purity of his literary style, but I value his friends.h.i.+p even more. Finally, although David Tebaldi has never read a word of this ma.n.u.script, his presence informs it nonetheless. As executive director of the Ma.s.sachusetts Foundation for the Humanities (which I once served as president), David has been a tireless example to the people of Ma.s.sachusetts-and to me personally-of how scholars and non-scholars together can confront intellectually serious issues. Like Jack Wilson, Bob Gross, and my old collaborator Paul Boyer, David Tebaldi has been a model for my most important commitment as a writer and teacher: that complex ideas do not need to be expressed in complicated language.

Dona Brown knows more than I do about history and other things that matter. It was she, at the very beginning, who helped me see how "The Night Before Christmas" played a complex riff on the larger ritual of the carnival Christmas, and she who continued at each step to make better sense of what I was thinking (even though she invariably insisted that she was simply repeating what I had just said). All the while, she made sure I used the writing of this book as a way to keep exploring my own sense of what it means to be Jewish. Dona, you are my muse, and my darling.