By Brad Dison
For much of the English-speaking world, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree inside the home became popular in the Victorian era. For hundreds of years, people had decorated Christmas trees, but they were kept outside. Prior to 1840, when Queen Victoria married her German-born cousin Prince Albert, indoor Christmas trees were normally a tradition only held by the royal family. A few upper-class families adopted the tradition, but the popularity of indoor decorated Christmas trees quickly spread when commoners saw an etching of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children celebrating around a festively decorated tree. Other countries, including the United States, quickly adopted the tradition. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to celebrate in the same fashion as the royal family. Well, almost everyone.
In September of 1901, Junior, his second wife Edith, and four of their children, Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and Quentin, moved into a new-to-them house. The house was over a hundred years old when they moved in. Junior and his family loved to celebrate Christmas, but they had never adopted the tradition of having a decorated Christmas tree in the home. Although his children would certainly have enjoyed a festively decorated Christmas tree with all the trimmings, Junior ultimately decided not to get a tree. Junior had nothing against Christmas trees in particular, there was just not enough room in the home for a tree. Can you imagine not having a Christmas tree as part of your holiday decor?
Late in the afternoon on Christmas day, Junior and his family gathered around the table for Christmas dinner. As Edith and the children looked on with watering mouths, Junior carved the 32-pound turkey. After they ate their fill of turkey and all the trimmings, they turned their attention to the mince and pumpkin pies. What a feast it was.
Not wanting his children to miss out on the Christmas tree tradition altogether, Junior found a solution. Following Christmas dinner, Junior made some excuse and conveniently disappeared. Edith and the children took a carriage to the nearby home of Junior’s sister and brother-in-law, Anna—they called her Bamie—and William Cowles. The two families, minus Junior, were enjoying a festive celebration around the cedar Christmas tree complete with red, white, and blue electric lights when they had a visit from Santa Claus. He had white hair, white beard, and belted out the unmistakable “Ho! Ho! Ho!” However, this Santa had no red suit and hat lined with white fur as we would expect. He wore the khaki uniform of a soldier and a sombrero pulled down low over his eyes. Santa passed out a large number of presents to the children, then they all joined in games and the telling of ghost stories over snacks. As the celebration was winding down, the unusually dressed Santa Claus said a final “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and made a hasty exit. Edith and the children said their goodbyes, wished each other “Merry Christmas,” and returned to their house. With a twinkle in his eye, Junior met them at the door and asked for details of their celebration at the Cowles’ home, which they were only too eager to share. Even without a Christmas tree in their new-to-them house, Junior, Edith, and the children had a most memorable Christmas together.
The home that Junior and his family moved into, which Junior deemed not large for a Christmas tree, now includes just under 100 Christmas trees as part of its annual holiday décor. The house had plenty of rooms to be sure, but Junior was so popular and received so many visitors on a daily basis that all the rooms were required for guests. The house is still popular with guests. Visitors wanting to get a glimpse inside the house must apply months in advance for the chance to take a tour. The Santa Claus that joined the celebration at the Cowles residence was wearing, not a traditional Santa suit, but the uniform of a Rough Rider. Junior, the 26th president of the United States, was Theodore Roosevelt. The house without room for a Christmas tree was the White House.
Sources:
1. The Baltimore Sun, December 22, 1901, p.2.
2. Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), December 25, 1901, p.3.
3. St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 25, 1901, p.2.
4. The Washington Times, December 25, 1901, p.5.
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