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December 9, 2019
Learn about your antiques and collectibles with Georgia Caraway We continue the December columns with the commercialization of Christmas exploring the origins of Santa, Georgia Rudolph, and Caraway Reindeer; placing lights on the tree, the house, and in the windows; and Christmas food traditions. In the early part of the 20th century, Santa Claus (otherwise known as Sinterklaas in Dutch) was not the jovial fellow we have all come to love. It was the influence of Coca-Cola and its marketing that changed this somber fellow into the jolly guy we now know. Coca Cola ads featuring Santa Claus first began in 1920 in the Saturday Evening Post. By 1931, Santa was making appearances in Coca Cola ads in popular magazines, but a happier Santa was desired. It was then that Coca Cola commissioned an illustrator by the name of Haddon Sundblom. That year, in 1931, a jollier Santa Claus appeared in National Geographic, Ladies Home Journal, and the New Yorker among others. Sundblom’s work and his version of Santa Claus in those years is now some of the most desired depictions of holiday advertising (and Santa Claus himself) for Christmas collectors and advertising collectors alike. The original artworks are housed in the Coca Cola archives and they have since been exhibited all over the world. Howe Mercantile has a collection of the Coca-Cola ads suitable for framing and hanging on your walls as Christmas decorations. Shopping Mall Santas started in 1841 at a Philadelphia store that had a life-size model of a Santa Claus that drew children to it. This spawned a trend in which store owners offered opportunities to see a real “live” Santa. R.H. Macy of Macy’s in New York City was the first to feature an instore Santa for children to visit. By the 1890s, the Salvation Army had begun the practice of sending Santas into the streets of New York City to solicit donations to pay for holiday meals for the needy. Our dear Rudolph (who was almost named Reginald) was born at Montgomery Wards. He is another example of marketing genius. Rudolph was born from a massive marketing campaign in 1939 in a book written by Robert L. May. The book Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was authored by May and was then given away for free. (More than 2 million copies were distributed during a time when 50,000 was considered huge). “Then how all the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee, Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer . . . you’ll go down in history.” Howe Mercantile has this book and the sheet music ready for framing as well. And where did Santa’s reindeer originate? Website AltogetherChristmas.com said: “The first known written account of reindeer in association with the legend of Santa Claus occurred in 1821. That year, New York printer William Gilley published a 16-page booklet titled A New Year’s Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve by an anonymous author. In the book, reindeer are introduced into the Santa Claus narrative.” When it comes to holiday treats like candy canes and the Yule
Log, both have a long history dating back centuries. History.com reports that “the Christmas Candy Cane originated in Germany that a choirmaster, in 1670, was worried about the children sitting quietly all through the long Christmas nativity service, so he gave them something to eat to keep them quiet.” “The history of the Yule log cake stretches all the way back to Europe’s Iron Age, before the medieval era. Back then, Celtic Brits and Gaelic Europeans would gather to welcome the winter solstice at December’s end. People would feast to celebrate the days finally becoming longer, signaling the end of the winter season. To cleanse the air of the previous year’s events and to usher in the spring, families would burn logs decorated with holly, pine cones or ivy. Wine and salt were also often used to anoint the logs. Once burned, the log’s ashes were valuable treasures said to have medicinal benefits and to guard against evil.” About the tradition of Christmas cookies, The Culinary Life noted: “Cookies have been around a long time (they probably originated as drops of grain paste spilled on hot rocks around a fire), but they became associated with Christmas in Europe in the 1500s. Gingerbread was a similar food, but laws restricted its baking to guildsman, however at the holidays these regulations were relaxed and people were allowed to bake their own at home, making a very special once
a year treat.” And finally, The Mirror reports that when it comes to the tradition of Christmas dinner, “The rich would have eaten goose and woodcock for Christmas dinner and, with the king’s permission, swan. The birds were covered with butter and saffron and then roasted. The poor could sometimes get goose from the Church, although it would cost up to 7 pence – then around a day’s wages. Venison was also on the menu for the rich and sometimes the poor would be allowed to have the deer’s leftover parts – such as the heart, liver, tongue, ears and
brain — known as ‘umbles. mixed with whatever else a cook could get, they were made into a pie — known as ‘umble pie.” I hope you have more than humble pie on your Christmas dinner table. Dr. Georgia Caraway and her friends operate Howe Mercantile at 107 East Haning. A HUGE sale is going on behind the Mercantile on the Pavilion between now and the end of the year. Think of us for a unique Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping experience. SHOP LOCALLY!! We can show you Howe!!
