Fun Fact Friday #25 - You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry...🎅

      Did you know that Santa Claus was a real person? 

The first depiction of the red suit Santa wears.
Thomas Nast c. 1869

     Of course you did!  Most people know that he is based off of somebody known as Saint Nicholas, but historically, we do not know much more about him. According to tradition, or legend, Saint Nicholas was known to to be the secret gift giver to children on December 6, the day the Church celebrates him and supposedly the date of his death. In Europe it became a custom for people to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth on his day.

      It is a popular notion that these traditions of gift giving in North America come from the Dutch when they founded New Amsterdam (New York) and then passed around from there. 

       Ever since the anonymous poem "The Night Before Christmas" was popularized in 1823, Santa was depicted as an elfin figure with "a little round belly/That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.". Even today the image of the jolly big guy continues to thrive.

Learn more about the history of Christmas traditions at the Backus-Page House Museum. Book a tour today!
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072
     

Fun Fact Friday #24 - O Christmas Tree 🎄

The Royal Family's Christmas Illustation

      Did you know that it was Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, that popularized the modern and familiar Christmas traditions?

      Prior Prince Albert's influence, Christmas was scarcely celebrated and treated much more religiously than it is today. By 1870, in Canada, the holiday had become a community and family celebration. This is also when familiar attributes such as Santa Claus, Yule logs, holly and mistletoe, caroling, and Christmas trees became extremely popular. 

      Although the royal families had been decorating Christmas trees since at least 1800, Prince Albert's family were the first ones to display their tree in an illustration that was published in 1848. The general public liked this idea and started doing it themselves and it was eventually brought over to Canada due to British immigration. 

Learn more about early Christmas traditions when you book a tour at the Backus-Page House Museum.
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #23 - What Wood You Do In The Winter? 🌲

Late 29th Century Canadian
Lumberjacks

      Did you know that most farmers in the 19th century were also lumberjacks during the winter months?

      It is well-known that farmers cannot continue growing their crops when it's negative degree weather outside. Farmers during this time also could not just do nothing during the months from November to February. So, instead of farming, men would productively use their time felling and collecting lumber. This time of the year was best for cutting down trees because the sap would be frozen.

      Then, during spring, the lumber would be sent to saw mills and the lumberjacks would be farmers again. After the fall harvest, loggers were back on the job, building camps and clearing roads to get ready once again for winter. 

       Book a tour today at the Backus-Page House Museum to learn more about life during the winter in the 19th century.
2924 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072