Greenwich Historical Society Connects Holidays Past & Present

As Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the same day this year, the holiday gift-giving period is condensed.

Fortunately, there are many options – and still time – for finding perfect gifts in Greenwich for loved ones and friends.

The MacRae twins, children of renowned Impressionist Elmer MacRae and his wife Constance, admiring a Christmas tree at Holley House where they lived. From the Holley/MacRae Collection, provided with permission Greenwich Historical Society Library and Archives

Knowledge of how the tradition of gift exchanges during the holidays originated, particularly in New England, will provide some perspective and even humor for harried shoppers.

According to Historical Society Museum Store manager Barbara Johann, holiday gift giving has evolved tremendously from previous centuries when it was a low key affair.

“The Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas, in fact they banned it outright in 1660, following a similar restriction in England due to rowdy and drunken public behavior associated with holiday celebrations,” Johann said.  “When it was legalized in New England in the late 1600s, gifts were typically in the form of food and drink, and hand-made items such as trinkets, toys, needlework and home sewn clothing of a utilitarian nature.”

Greenwich Avenue, Christmas 1957. Provided with permission, Greenwich Historical Society Library and Archives.

Johann said lower income people often performed street theater, with singing, dancing and caroling for the wealthier.

By the 1800s, holiday gift giving was influenced heavily by Clement Moore’s beloved classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.’ In 1870, Christmas became a federal holiday which prompted retail stores to promote gift giving, and by the early–mid 20th century the custom became a cultural and economic marvel with whole industries devoted to it. The National Retail Federation projects this year’s holiday shopping will result in $979 – $989 billion in retail sales to the economy.

The Historical Society’s Museum Store offers a wide selection of distinctive gift options, including accessories, jewelry and Greenwich-themed items for all age groups as well as complimentary gift wrapping. New this season is a special limited-addition member card at the $100 level which includes all benefits of membership plus NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum) admission to over 1,000 museums in the country.

Shoppers can relax over complimentary coffee and tea in the adjacent Artists Café on the site of the restored Toby’s Tavern which was immortalized by famed Impressionist Charles Hassam.

The tavern also made history on Christmas day in 1886 according to a Port Chester news account when it was the site of a bloody brawl between two young men “who had imbibed very freely of that which doth intoxicate attacked another who was not under the influence,” leading to a recommendation to have a special constable on site or to have liquor banned.

Historical Society’s Barbara Johann and Christopher Shields enjoying books with an historical theme at the Museum Store.

The Greenwich Historical Society Museum Store is located in the Historical Society campus at 47 Strickland Rd.

Hours
Monday – Friday. 9:00am-5:00pm
Weekends 11:00am-4:00pm.