CHRISTMAS ON THE HOMEFRONT
For women on the home front, Christmas during the Civil War was a subdued and often difficult day. For children, presents were fewer, especially in the devastated South.
"The day has passed most quietly, not a cake, not a visitor. We did have an eggnog but only the servants enjoyed it. ..dear little Beverly raised up in bed, and looking at her stockings saw only some homemade toys, bedstead and chairs made of white pine by the plantation carpenter, hid her head, sobbing that she 'would not have the ugly common fings.' Aunt Laura told her how bad that was and that poor Santa Claus had done his best but he could not get through Yankee lines."
"We had to be “Santa Claus” ourselves this season, for cakes, apples, a little candy, & some picture books were all that could be procured for the children. We had to tell them Santa Claus couldn’t get thro’ the pickets."
Soldiers celebrated Christmas with makeshift trees decorated with hardtack pork and biscuits, with dried fruit and popcorn. They sang familiar hymns and carols like "Silent Night," and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" to boost morale. While some experienced meager meals of coffee and hardtack, others received packages from home with brandy, sugar for eggnog, or other small luxuries.
painting by Mort Kunstler
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