Deck the Halls: Female Abolitionists and the Evolution of Christmas
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Date: November 5, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: $15
Join Gables Board Member, Ken Turino, as we delve into the intriguing and intertwined histories of female abolitionists and our modern Christmas traditions!
What we think of as the traditional trappings of Christmas celebrations were just beginning in the first half to mid-nineteenth century. It was actually New England’s female abolitionists who played a large role in the development of modern American Christmas traditions. In fact, they were leaders. These abolitionists, including Maria Chapman, Lydia Marie Child, and Abby Kelly hosted anti-slavery society Christmas Fairs – one of the earliest traditions associated with Christmas in America. It was at these fairs that most Americans first encountered a Christmas tree and the greenery that those who celebrate the holiday now so commonly used as decorations. The female abolitionists also promoted the idea of gift-giving at their fairs, a central part of our traditions today. These women created strong networks that stretched across the then United States and into Europe. They promoted abolitionism while creating goods for sale and organizing the fairs. All this helped move women out of the designated domestic sphere of the home (not without controversy) into the economy, changing forever the role of women in society, while simultaneously creating the holiday traditions many Americans hold dear today.
Tickets are $15 general admission and free for Gables members.