Christmas on the American frontier, 1800-1900 ..

the long version

Christmas was the most widely and generally celebrated holiday on the American frontier. Indeed, this was the day of days for the first Westerners who, though they might be too busy to celebrate other holidays, always made something different of Christmas. Hoarded delicacies were brought forth, rare leisure time was spent preparing gifts, and somehow, no matter where they were, some way was found to make the day a memorable one. Prairie settlers displayed a rare genius in finding Christmas trees on the prairies, and their imaginations filled in for the fancy gifts and gaudy ornaments missing from their bare cabins. Soldiers at frontier posts threw aside grim martial duties for boyish good times. Includes numerous eyewitness descriptions by the participants themselves.