Memories of Shaker Christmas: Traditions of Love and Giving at a Feast of Delights
Shaker Christmas: ‘A Feast of Delights’ By Darryl Thompson
Long hours of hard labor and a spirit of giving are synonymous with the Shaker image, yet zestful fun also was an important part of their lives—particularly in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Picnics, sleigh rides, game nights, musical entertainments and special dinners were among their many forms of recreation. Zestful fun also was part of celebrating Christmas, which one Shaker sister called “a feast of delights.”
Six decades ago, now deceased Eldress Bertha Lindsay and Eldress Gertrude Soule sat with me in their sun-lit parlor in Canterbury discussing Shaker Christmases. I recall many holiday seasons in the village myself, because though I am not a Shaker, I lived in the Canterbury Shaker community full-time and part-time for more than 31 years as my father, Charles “Bud” Thompson, was the curator of the historical restoration there.
“Just as hard work must be finished before enjoying relaxation, our founders believed that a time of strenuous ‘spiritual labor’ had to come before welcoming in the joy of the Christmas season,” said Eldress Bertha. “A section of the Millennial Laws called the Order of Christmas set up a special custom called the ‘Christmas Gift’ or ‘Yearly Sacrifice.’ In the days before Christmas, we were called to sit in deep meditation and examine our souls for any anger, jealousy or resentment that we had developed during the past year or any hurtful words or deeds that we had rendered. Then we confessed these to one another and our leaders, asked forgiveness, made restitution and went about settling whatever caused these feelings.
“By our laws nothing that had t been settled on or before Christmas Day could thereafter be brought forward against one another. The sense of tenderness, kindness and brotherly love this custom produced was overwhelming,” she said.
Eldress Gertrude explained, “It was felt that all negative emotions must be banished from the heart before the Christmas Spirit could fully take residence. Also, all old spiritual dead wood had to be cleared away before New Year’s resolutions could bring new spiritual growth. Of course, we believe in trying to ‘never let the sun set on our anger’—practicing forgiveness daily throughout the year. That’s part of keeping Christmas.”
We talked about Shaker traditions that used to be a part of Christmas. Tables were heaped with pies, pastries and steaming food. Members would sit talking while passing around bowls of nuts and popcorn after a Christmas church service. When the sisters were young, everyone picked names from a bowl to decide to whom they would give gifts. In this way, no one was forgotten. It was also the usual practice to give presents to the leaders and to those close to you. Gifts were usually handmade and always practical: a scarf, a leather-bound diary, a small chest or an article of clothing.
The Shakers believed in changing with the times. Around the turn of the 20th Century, Christmas trees became common and were decorated with lights, ornaments and strings of popcorn and cranberries. One popcorn string, kept in a special tin box, lasted for over 50 years.
In the 1960s, when I was a small boy, the sisters arranged apples in a star around the base of each Christmas tree that adorned their rooms. Sometimes they would put an orange at each point of the star. On Christmas Day, the stars would be broken apart and the apples and oranges would be distributed to everyone in the ‘family’ or to friends who came to visit. Sisters who lived in the Enfield House also had a “Friendship Tree” that was adorned with Christmas cards received from friends and relatives.
I remember the busy round of cooking, decorating and gift-making that the sisters engaged in as the holiday approached; visits by our Quaker neighbors who sang carols to (and with) the Sisters and staff; Christmas services and singing in the Dwelling House Chapel; a concert of Christmas music performed for friends in the Chapel; and holiday meals shared with the sisters.
Above all, I remember the trips my father and I made on the day before Christmas to deliver food baskets the sisters had prepared for less fortunate neighbors. This was also done on the day before Thanksgiving.
Sister Lillian Phelps told me of late-19th Century celebrations that remain my most enduring images of a Shaker Christmas.
Before sunrise on Christmas morning, the young people of the Canterbury community assembled in the large dormitory called the “Dwelling House.” The door slowly opened to reveal an elderly brother holding aloft a lighted lantern. The group softly climbed the long double stairs to the attic loft. Opening the globe of the lantern, the brother assisted a few youths in lighting candles that each carried. Some of the young people used their candles to kindle those held by anyone standing near them. The brother then pulled the heavy rope cord that rang the Revere bell in the bell tower. Its clear tones broke the silence of the morning and announced to the sleeping residents that Christmas Day had begun.
As the last peal of the bell faded, the young people burst into a chorus of Shaker songs or Christmas carols learned from the outside world. Meanwhile, down below, the older residents of the Dwelling House, awakened by the bell and songs drifting down from above, rolled out of bed, hurriedly washed and dressed, then stood by their doorways in anticipation. Slowly, the sound of the singers grew louder as they began marching through the corridors. As the line passed by their rooms, the older people quickly stepped into place behind it and joined in the singing. Moving down the double stairway, women and girls on one side and men and boys on the other, they arranged themselves around the tables in the communal dining hall.
With each at their proper place, the candles were extinguished and the singing ceased. Then, every person knelt by their chair and in silent prayer gave thanks for the special day and for the One whose teaching brought new light and hope into an ailing and confused world.
After a special breakfast, each person again knelt by their chair to offer thanks for their home and their many blessings. Then each went to their room and selected a special possession, wrapped it, and placed it in a large barrel in the center hallway. This item might be a warm coat, a woven blanket, shoes, a lamp or candlestick or woolen underclothing. These items, along with groceries, would be given that very day to less fortunate neighbors. The strict rule was that the item must be cherished by the giver, not just something that was no longer needed. The Shakers felt a gift is not a gift if it is not wanted or needed by the one who gave it. Above all, they believed Christmas should be more than just a day to receive. It was a day to give back to God small tokens of gratitude for the many great blessings that He had showered upon them throughout the year.
All photos by Charles “Bud” Thompson, courtesy of Darryl Thompson.
Hi Darryl,
This story is overflowing with examples of generosity and kindness. Something to help guide me through these trying times
Thank you.
Bill
Thanks, Bill! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the article!
Darryl