Monday, December 22, 2014

The Spirit of a Nostalgic Christmas

Welcome to guest blogger and award-winning author DiAnn Mills, who shares reflections of old-fashioned Christmases.


The characters in our historical novels spent time and effort to make Christmas memorable. Some of the ways they celebrated Christmas are out of place today, and other traditions are still with us.
The first Christmas cards began with a German influence in the 15th century, but the first designed Christmas card was created by an Englishman, John Callcott Horsley, in 1843. This was also the year Charles Dickens penned The Christmas Carol.

The Christmas tree has German roots. Back in the 1800s, homemade and handcrafted ornaments decorated most trees. Apples, walnuts, cranberries, cookies, popcorn, various fruits, and even presents nestled in the branches. Some people pushed whole cloves into oranges for a pretty and fragrant tree.

By 1840, people chose to decorate the tree as a community. There were no candle holders, so each one was wired onto a tree branch. The trees were placed in crocks or wooden boxes, and a good many trees fell. All trees had a bucket of water sitting nearby. Although the first glass ornaments were made in 1848 Germany, our country did not have them until thirty years later.

Popcorn was used extensively during the season, and popcorn balls were quite popular. Some cooks added orange and lemon juice, rose, peppermint, honey, vanilla, molasses and sugar to give their popcorn an added taste treat. In the 1800s one could attend a “Popcorn Frolic.” The decorations and treats were popcorn. Even the games included corn drop, popcorn races and popcorn hunt.


         
Christmas during the Civil War years helped the people of the North and South escape the realities of a war-torn country. Remember Little Women and how the characters struggled to have a Christmas? Huge trees became a status symbol and neighborhood tree trimming parties became fashionable. Some private homes charged an admission for others to view their creation. It was during this time that Santa was drawn as a plump jolly man in a red suit after the popular The Night before Christmas.

When was the last time you baked homemade cookies and rounded up your kids or grandkids to help? When was the last time you asked your family to help decorate the house? Did you sing songs and drink hot chocolate? And when was the last time you explained to those you loved about the most important reason we celebrate Christmas? Many churches have the names of children who will not have a Christmas this year. You and your family can bless one of these children with a special gift.

God sent His Son Jesus as the perfect gift to save mankind. That baby so many years ago lives in our hearts today. He is truly the reason for the season, whether you prefer a nostalgic Christmas or Christmas 2014.


Leave a comment here to be entered in a drawing for a personalized copy of An Old Fashioned Christmas Collection...
    




DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers Choice, and Carol award contests.DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2014 president of the Romance Writers of Americas Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.


20 comments:

  1. Hi Diann! I'm 38, single, no children - other than a chihuahua - and I just bought my very first Christmas tree a few wks ago! I never felt I needed or had any reason to decorate, but this yr I buckled, got a pre-lit one & a half ft tree! It has a white star, a gold angel, 3huge decorated balls, and a mini Nativity sitting on my sewing machine & I kinda love it! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the novella anthology!
    kam110476 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks for your comment! Congrats on your Christmas tree.

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  2. Thank you for your beautiful post, Diann! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  3. Baking cookies is one of my favorite Christmas traditions! I have a little girl that I mentor that I usually get together with to bake cookies each year before Christmas.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. My mother has this awesome ginger cookie, roll out type, of recipe. Always takes me back in time.

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    2. DiAnn, please share your roll out ginger cookie recipe! Yum!

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  4. My hubby and I both decorated for Christmas this year. The last time my grandkids visited we baked cookies. Unfortunately they live out of state and can't visit often. We do sing along with Christmas carols. Unfortunately, my hubby does not have vocal chords and I can't carry a tune in a basket but that doesn't stop us. We did enjoy some hot chocolate. fishingjan[at]aol[dot]com

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    1. I think it's the soul of our Christmas songs - not necessarily the sound. :)

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  5. Welcome to HHH, DiAnn! Funny you should ask about baking cookies with your grandkids...I have all the fixin's and plan on making Christmas cookies with Hailey tomorrow while I'm babysitting her. I'm hoping to recruit my youngest son, Sean, to help too since he's home from grad school right now. I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas!

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    1. We had our grandkids this weekend and baked everything imaginable. Even roasted marshmallows over the fireplace. :)

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  6. a “Popcorn Frolic.” Now that would be fun! Great reading here today...
    Merry Christmas..
    dkstevensne AT outlook DoT CoM

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    1. I keep trying to imagine that popcorn frolic. :)

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  7. When I was growing up, my grandmother made popcorn balls every year at Christmas. Sometimes they would be green or red! My sister and I looked forward to eating them every year.

    Donna derobin7@gmail.com

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    1. I love popcorn balls. Especially with a few peanuts.

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  8. Hi DiAnn, Thanks for your post! My grandson and I made cookies last night. We're going to make a gingerbread house today or tomorrow. Never made popcorn balls. Maybe we'll give it a try.

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  9. Christmas is a very nostalgic holiday for me too! I love reading novella collections- thanks so much for the giveaway!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  10. Do you think the walnuts were threaded on strings along with the cranberries and popcorn? I do love nostalgia more and more as I get older. I do wish for the Christmases we had as children in the 50's and 60's. Lots of delicious baked goods, decorations all about and childhood rituals of trying to and then finding the hidden gifts! Sm. wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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