Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
CHRISTMAS (Pioneer)
CHRISTMAS (Pioneer). Christmas for Dubuque residents of 1855 was very different from celebrations currently known. While children still hung stockings on Christmas Eve, they found homemade objects the next morning including candy. Young men and women did not exchange expensive gifts. She might make him knitted mittens; he might present her with cloth for a dress. Church services were simple. (1)
The major feature of the celebration was the Christmas Eve Ball at one of the local hotels. A huge dinner would be offered preceding music and dancing. The last of these gatherings of the old settlers was held in 1866. (2)
Mary C. AGARD wrote in 1915 about the Christmas eve ball at the CITY HOTEL which her father managed. After seventeen years, he became the manager of the Key City Hotel. It was there that in 1866 that "the hotel was the scene of one of the last big gatherings of Dubuque's early settlers." Among the dinner offerings were roast young pig and turkey with a "mammoth" bowl of egg-nog. Quail were so plentiful that large barrels of them came to the hotel and all were served on toast for breakfast. (3)
Mrs. T. J. Levan remembered that the Christmas tree in those days were unknown "in the sparsely settled village." (4)
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Source:
1. "Christmas Much Different Back in Pioneer Times," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, August 24, 1930, p. 45
2. Ibid.
3. "Christmas in Dubuque During the Early Days, Telegraph-Herald, December 19, 1915, p. 29
4. Ibid.