Christmas at the Bordens

[joe1956]

I know that it is a little early to talk about Christmas, but I would love to know your thoughts about how the Bordens celebrated Christmas at 92 Second Street. Did they have a tree in the parlor? Was a wreath hung on the front door? Did everyone exchange gifts? Was there a traditional Christmas feast? I would also love any information about Lizbeth's Christmas celebrations at Maplecroft. I am sure she was very generous during the holiday season.

[mbhenty]

:smile:

Yes: That the Bordens celebrated Christmas at 92 was highly unlikely. Being Congregationalists, that is Protestant Puritans, they would have not celebrated Christmas in the conventional way, if at all.

Some Protestants were very anti Christmas. After all, Christmas was a Catholic tradition. (Christmas / Christ's Mass) Trees and decorations would be seen as idolatrous.

Add to this the fact that old man Borden had his personal issues with the church itself, along with his sterile life style and stern family practices, it is highly likely that Christmas was NOT celebrated at all.

Though it is only a guess, it is hard to believe that Lizzie herself did not give up the Congregational ghost and observe the 25th to some extent. Even if it was one solitary candle in the porch window.

Personally, I doubt even Maplecroft showed signs of celebrating Christmas.

[snokkums]

On another point with the Bordens and Christmas, with Andrew not liking to spend to much money, he probably thought that it would be spending too much money. You know, getting the tree, buying and putting on the ornament, which you would have to buy, presents, and such. Now, I think Lizzie might have liked to do alittle something, not much but something. Just my thought.

[DJ]

I remember reading in some testimony about a relative to whom Andrew gave $10 every Christmas, outside of the household. Of course, that would have been a far more considerable sum then, especially when Bridget's wages were $4/week, which was considered better than average in the day, and she had off Sunday's plus one afternoon a week. (Plus room and board provided.)
I'm thinking that whatever dispensations were made by Andrew at Christmas were probably considered more "charities" than gifts, to help out the less fortunate among his family-- and the needy in town, perhaps.
One gets a sense of a "Yankee Christmas," circa 1863, in Alcott's "Little Women." Warm families had warm Christmases, with a special dinner, caroling, a tree, and simple presents.
Surely there would have been parties, grand and simple, in Fall River. I'd like to think that Lizzie did some socializing, at least. I'd like to think that someone came in and ran their fingers over the keys on the parlor piano.
Maybe there was at least tea and ginger cookies in the upstairs guest room, where the Girls entertained ....

[Harry]

Bridget is asked this question at the Trial (p257):

"Q. You heard them talking over things about Christmas time, didn't you?
A. I don't know; I did not stay much in the dining room when the folks were eating at all.
Q. I don't mean that, but you heard them talking over about Christmas things?
A. No, sir, I don't remember that.
Q. Have you forgotten that?
A. No, sir, I did not."

From the Witness statements, p17:

"Mrs Phebe Warner of Second street, with whom Mrs. Currier, Mr. Borden's sister, lived and said, knew nothing substantial. During her sickness which was quite long, the Bank street Church took care of her. Mr. Borden and the girls called once in a while. Mr. Borden gave her $10. each Christmas."

I've never understood who Mrs. Currier was.

In a newspaper (Boston Globe 8/13/1892) interview, Mrs. Fish, Abby's sister stated this:

"My sister had quite a sum of money left her by our father which had been accumulating, and she also owned bank shares and mill stock, and only last Christmas I know her husband presented her with some other mill stock."

The Boston Globe also reported that while Lizzie was in jail at Taunton she received a number of Christmas presents.

Christmas is hard to ignore and I don't believe Andrew was that much of a miser especially regarding his family.

[mbhenty]

:smile:

Yes Harry: I agree (as you know, it is easier to agree than to disagree. Sure you have leant that in your 16 years) and have always supported the belief that Andrew was not the miser folklore implies. After all, he did give the daughters the house on Ferry Street. That is like your dad giving you 200,000 to 300,000 grand today. A very generous gift.

I don't suggest that the Bordens did not celebrate Christmas at all, just that it was not celebrated in a conventional way or as we do so today.

Just that it was probably remembered in a very orthodox way, in a religious sense, that is to say, celebrating the birth of Christ; no tree, ornaments, gifts etc.

We must understand that there is external pressure to conform or enlist in new-born popular traditions of the day. That is so true today. So some practices would be allowed, such as gift giving or an exchange of cards etc.

So, it does not mean that no celebration of any sort did not go on. Also, I do not imply that they did not celebrate because Andrew was stingy but because he was probably a traditionalist, set in his ways and if he were to observe Christmas it was probably done in a devout Puritan sense.

But, I doubt there were ever any Trees, mistletoe, or etc. etc.

[Harry]

I listed the references I found to the word "Christmas" in my searches. I didn't mean to imply that Andrew was some sort of Jolly St. Nick but I doubt if he would have had much to say in that house of 3 grown women when it came to the holidays.

Gifts in those days would have been far more practical then they are today. If Abby, Emma and Lizzie did indeed receive an allowance of only $4 a week (roughly $80 in today's money) it would certainly limit any extravagant spending on gifts.

Unfortunately without finding a diary of one of the family members we may never know personal things like this.

[Susan]

I did a search for the photo and couldn't find it. But, there is that hand painted Christmas dish that said something like "To Mama from Lizzie" that is alleged to be from Lizzie to Abby. That could be considered useful as well as decorative.

Heres a link to a site where they have a list of gift ideas for men from an 1896 Harper's Bazaar magazine. Though I don't know how many would have pertained to Andrew:

http://www.victoriana.com/christmas/xmasmen-99.htm

[snokkums]

I don't think that the Bordans made that much of a deal of Christmas. Maybe a few presents but nothing major. Lizzie was a bit on the religous side, and Andy being tight don't think they did a whole lot.

Besides, back then, they didn't do Christmas like we do to today, with all the fanfare.

[Kat]

Time to get out and dust off the 'ole Borden tree!

[Kat]

The Fall River Historical Society decorates every year- possibly in a Fall River Victorian manner. Christmas was a big deal in Victorian England, anyway.