Fresno Historical Society Grapevine Newsletter

Monthly news & updates

December 1, 2019

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Merry Christmas!

December, the Season of Traditions. Do you ever look around a crowded shopping mall as people are bustling about and wonder what their Christmas traditions are? Do they have a special book they read or movie they watch together each year? Do they hang stockings for Santa to fill? Do they open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Does Santa leave unwrapped presents under the brightly lit tree? Do their ornaments each have a story? Are their holiday meals made from recipes passed down through the generations? What special memories does the holiday have for them? Maybe I have a vivid imagination, but I can almost envision each family’s winter traditions that are so different and special and meaningful. I guess the historian in me thinks, “wouldn’t it be wonderful to know more?”

In our family, there were always the obligatory matching pajamas for the kids and a fidgety photo while putting up the stockings. A thank-you note, milk and cookies for Santa and an apple and carrots for the reindeer were lovingly placed where St. Nick couldn’t miss them and then a shooing off to bed. We always left the outside decorations on all night to help light the way lest Santa get lost. Amazingly, he always had time to reply to the note in a strangely familiar handwriting and the cookies looked awfully similar to the ones back in the kitchen the next morning…

Whatever your personal traditions, all of us at the Fresno Historical Society hope the month ahead is merry and bright. As a gift to your family, start a new tradition and write down or record some of your own favorite holiday memories so they can be carried on by future generations. Don’t make them guess what it was like back in 2019!

With that said, please make time to visit the Kearney Mansion Museum and Gallery and experience our Christmas at Kearney display of ten trees representing the ten decades the Fresno Historical Society has been preserving our local traditions and history. All the details are on our website, valleyhistory.org.

We want you to know how much we value your continued generosity and support.

With warmest regards,

Elizabeth Laval

President

GIVE A GIFT TODAY

Claude Laval, Jr. with his Christmas tree, circa 1907

THE HISTORY

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is thought to go back to 16th century Germany. Germans decorated evergreen trees with apples, which were referred to as paradise trees. Paradise trees represented the tree of forbidden fruit in the Bible. Later trees were decorated with wafers, candles, and pastries in the shapes of angels, flowers, hearts, and stars. These traditions spread throughout Europe and Germany. Martin Luther, a 16th century German religious reformer, was thought to be the first person to put candles on a Christmas tree; inspired after seeing stars twinkling through evergreen trees. Other decorations included paper streamers and berries.

People began to put glass ornaments on their trees. One legend says the first glass ornaments were created by a glassblower named Hans Greiner in the 16th century. He couldn't afford apples to decorate his tree, so he decided to make his own. Other people liked what they saw and began to order their own glass fruit

Glass was included in other decorations such as beads. People also started using paper, painted nutshells and tinsel. Early tinsel was created using real silver and first appeared in the 1600s.

Christmas ornaments remained in Europe until the 1770s and are thought to have come over to America with Hessian soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. Americans thought the tradition was a bit odd, however. Christmas was a sacred holiday, and Christmas trees were thought of as a pagan symbol and rather frivolous. This mindset continued until about the 19th century.

The 1800s finally saw an acceptance of Christmas ornaments in America due to German and English immigration. These immigrants brought their traditions with them, and people decided that maybe decorating a Christmas tree wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The popularity of Christmas trees and ornaments skyrocketed during the reign of Queen Victoria. Decorated Christmas trees became quite a fashionable thing to have in England and America.

F.W. Woolworth visited Germany in the 1880s and decided to import glass ornaments to sell in his stores. Most of these glass ornaments were made in Germany until after World War II. Hallmark Keepsake ornaments began in 1973, marking a yearly tradition for many families.

Santa Claus at Gottschalks Department Store, 1916

Get Tickets

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

December 1, 2019 from 10am to 3pm

Christmas through the Decades Holiday

Installation Grand Opening. Take a self-guided tour of

beautifully decorated trees and historical holiday photographs throughout Kearney Mansion.

December 7, 2019 from 10am to 3pm

Meet Santa at the Kearney Mansion Museum.

Create a unique family memory in a gorgeous setting this year. Bring your family to take pictures with Santa and enjoy a self-guided tour of this historic home decorated with 10, themed Christmas trees and antique toys that just might not be on your children's wish list!

December 8, 2019 from 4pm to 6pm.

Holiday Reception

Enjoy holiday treats while sipping hot Kearney Punch, or raise a glass of chilled champagne for a toast to the season. Enjoy Kearney Mansion lavishly decorated for the season and filled with beautifully decorated trees. Also featured will be a Holiday Photo Exhibition courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation featuring images of Central Valley Christmas Celebrations.

December 14, 2019 from 3pm to 5pm

Holiday Tea Party. Enjoy the elegance of Holiday Tea served in the glorious Kearney Mansion Museum this December. This event will fill quickly and space is limited.

Full hours of operation in December are on the Fresno Historical Society website. Check valleyhistory.org for more information .

GROUP TOURS FOR

CHRISTMAS AT KEARNEY

NOW AVAILABLE

Start your own holiday tradition and e njoy the magic of Christmas at Kearney with a group tour this December.

Gather your office, organization or favorite group of friends to share in this cherished seasonal event. Admission prices are $10 per adult, $8 per senior (62 and up) or student (ages 13-17), and $6 for children (12 and under). A minimum of ten guests is required to reserve a private tour date.

The Kearney Mansion Museum is open for public tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm all month long with no advanced reservation required.

Please contact Group Tour Coordinator Erric Douglas at edouglas@valleyhistory.org to schedule a private tour today.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON: A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION FROM THE POP LAVAL COLLECTION

For the first time, the Fresno Historical Society has opened a Gallery on-site at the Kearney Mansion Museum. Located in the Servants Quarters behind the Museum Store, you can now enjoy an installation of holiday images from famed Fresno photographer, Pop Laval.

Within his vast collection of work, Pop Laval captured the joy of Christmas and documented the traditions of the holiday in stunning detail. From raucous snow play to classic Christmas morning photos, Pop captured it all. Now, we can step back in time and enjoy a nostalgic celebration.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Delk’s Christmas tree with child celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas , January 5, 1918. Pop Laval Collection.

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP TODAY

The Fresno Historical Society is a member supported, non-profit organization that is responsible for the collection and preservation of our history.

We rely on the ongoing generosity of our community through financial investment to meet our mission each year.

Help us keep our history alive with a membership gift now.

JOIN TODAY

THE FRESNO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

valleyhistory.org