IF THIS HOUSE COULD TALK—Blog Post #32—Decorating for Christmas
Christmas always was festive here. In addition to the usual flowers and plants already here, evergreens were placed in the bay windows and ivy sometimes draped over the frames of family pictures, adding to the holiday beauty. Charles wanted to make Christmas special for the children, especially after their mother, Sylvia, died.
Our Christmas tree, usually a cedar, was upstairs in the library (today’s twin bedroom). It was decorated with pink paper rosebuds, porcelain angels and cherubs, and paper mâché fruits and vegetables. In the tradition observed by many German immigrants, it had a Christmas garden. A fence at its base was surrounded by stuffed animals and toys extending outward from the tree to the children’s wonderment.
Candles were the children’s favorite decoration. Charles ordered five dozen candlesticks in 1884. Starting on December 24th with the Christmas eve celebrations each year and continuing for a week afterward, the house was ablaze with candlelight. The tradition continued even after Charles had electric lights installed.
Charles’ gardeners added special touches to the decorations. One year, Mr. Wheatly decorated the bay windows with creeping cedar. Mr. Klingenspor prepared many beautiful bouquets and a floral pillow with “Merry Christmas” another year. Mr. Schmalzl brought a vase filled with roses for the table and another filled with violets and geraniums to add to the decorations of the bay window.
Charles’ niece, Ludowine, who helped care for the children after Charles’ wife, Sylvia’s death, added handcrafted touches to the Christmas decorations. Her designs graced mats, shades, and tidies in splendid ways.
By 1892, the children were old enough to help Charles. They decorated the tree and prepared for Christmas. Charles said, “They can learn and begin now to gladden theirs and others little hearts. This is their first lesson of the beginning toward a ripening age.”
Pictured above are Charles’ decorations, such as a Christmas garden fence, paper rose, and porcelain angel, that brighten the holidays of Charles’ great grandchildren.
