by Jacquie Rogers
The best way to find out (and fun, too!) is to read newspapers that cover the time and place of my stories. When I was researching for my Hearts of Owyhee series, I ran across this item from the December 21, 1872 issue of The Owyhee Avalanche (the oldest newspaper in Idaho, still operating out of my hometown, Homedale, Idaho):
THE CHRISTMAS TREE. The Christmas Tree Festival will be held in Jones & Bonney’s Hall. We will stake in addition to what was said in our last issue, that the Brass Band, composed at present of Messrs. Charles Leonard, Joe Gross, Benj. Davis, Rufus King, Ferd. W. Frost and E. Douglas, will perform some of their best pieces, which will add greatly to the pleasure of the occasion.
The singing, accompanied by the organ, will be done principally by young girls who have learned all the music they know in Silver City, and who by virtue of talent, industry and a good teaching have acquired, in our judgment, wonderful proficiency in the beautiful art over which the Muses preside. They are our little folks, and not imported singers, which will make it all the more interesting; that they will do their part in first-class style for their ages, we have not the least doubt, in fact, we know they will.
The tree will be a prolific one no doubt. The Argosy of Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, & Co. arrived at the port of San Francisco four days ago, as we are informed per telegram, and a large cargo of its merchandise is on its way up here, and will not fail to arrive in time. ~~
I could just see the hustle and bustle of Silver City.
Brass bands were wildly popular all over the West then. Yes, they decorated and put up Christmas trees. They had dances and concerts. And Santa was on his way! So why not have a Secret Christmas Angel event for all the single men and women in town? Seems like something they'd do. And that's what How the Texan Stole Christmas (a Hearts of Owyhee single read) is all about. Here's the blurb:
Winnifred Spangler has thrown herself into community work to ward off the pangs of her lonely heart. Fairview, Idaho Territory, is snowed in—and cabin fever has set in with a vengeance. Winnie organizes a gift exchange for the town’s single young adults. Her hope is that a few of them will find the loves of their lives.
Judd Shaw, a Texas cowhand, hates the ice and cold. As soon as the roads are passable, he’s headed back to Texas. But thanks to his childhood friend, he’s caught up in the Secret Christmas Angel game, and the name he draws is the prettiest widow in all of Idaho—Winnie.
Can Winnie’s smile melt his hardened Texas heart?
How the Texan Stole Christmas
a Hearts of Owyhee single read
Want to win a free book?
Tell me about your favorite holiday tradition--any holiday!
Winner will be picked at random November 21, 2015, at 8pm Pacific Time.
Be sure to include your email address with your comment!
My favorite holiday tradition is exchanging sill gifts after dinner on Christmas.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Sounds so fun! Good luck. :)
DeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is the advent calendar. When I was a child, we had a calendar that had a small felt ornament for each day in December prior to Christmas. We all fought to open 12/24 and put the star on the felt Christmas tree. Now with my own children, I have an advent reindeer rope that has a small stocking for each day, Dec. 1-24, and a little treat is put in each day for them to discover. They love it! And this year, they want to start hiding the pickle in the tree for an "extra" gift on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteI love advent calendars! We had them every year when I was growing up. Thanks for stopping by.
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ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is exchanging our Christmas stockings with our first cup of coffee Christmas morning including our dog's stocking! ;>)
I'm especially big on that first cup of coffee. We usually put chocolate in it, so sort of a mocha, on Christmas morning. And that's also when we open/dump out our stockings.
DeleteAll my kids, grandkids, siblings, mom, and several friends get together at my house for a big dinner Christmas day and I hand out everyone a stocking filled with goodies.
ReplyDeleteThe more, the merrier! Sounds like a wonderfully chaotic and loving day.
DeleteMy husband makes homemade pizza on Christmas Eve and we open presents with our children and grandchildren so much fun
ReplyDeleteOh, YUM!!! That sounds like a really fun (and tasty) tradition.
DeleteYippee, anther Hearts story. Thank you Jacquie. The papers here also talk a lot about those early Christmases. You know me and old newspapers. I just loved the language they used and the one you had, what a hoot. Doris
ReplyDeleteHahaha. I thought you'd like that. Yep, we're soul sisters in that regard.
DeleteMy favorite tradition is the whole family going to my parents house on Christmas Eve. My dad plays Santa and gives the gifts to the youngest ones. We eat, play games and watch Christmas shows.
ReplyDeleteforgot my email address darholley1@aol.com thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book!!!
DeleteDoes he dress up? Mr R will wear a Santa hat but that's as far as he'll go. LOL.
DeleteThis is a great idea for adding historical detail to stories or to inspire new plots. I'm curious how you searched: did you pick the town first and then look through newspaper archives?
ReplyDeleteAnd because I'd love to win a free book, my favorite holiday tradition: My family has sponsored a neighborhood football game every year for about 10 years. The evening before my husband and daughter paint the field in our local park. My daughter paints a big turkey in the center (she has yet to ever make it to a game herself--she sleeps in), which gets better every year. Why is this my favorite tradition? Do I like football? Not at all. Do I like to social with my neighbors? Sometimes but not on this day. I love that I get a few hours of peace and quiet to play around in the kitchen by myself before everyone shows up for the feast.
pattisherrycrews16@gmail.com
DeletePatti, this book is a Hearts of Owyhee single read, so I knew the story would take place in Owyhee County, Idaho, somewhere. The largest city was Silver City and the newspaper was published there at that time, so I used details from a couple of articles, published in different years, to create all the activities. And yes, they did do every single one of those events at one time or another. I love old newspapers for that reason. And the language. I really get a kick out of that.
DeleteOh, I hear you about the quite time!!! But how cool that your daughter is so talented and your husband is to giving.
My favorite thing is to make cookies with the kids so they can decorate them
ReplyDeleteMe, too! We have some pretty wild designs, including gingerbread persons (so dubbed by the 8-year-old) digging for gummy worms. Ew! But the boys thought it was marvelous.
DeleteOur holiday tradition is to have the whole family in our home for Christmas Eve, after supper we watch A Christmas Carol then open presents from the family. Once we clean up from that Grandpa reads the Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then everyone goes home to await Santa's arrival. My husband's family has done this for years. I'm so happy to be carrying on the tradition.
ReplyDeleteOops forgot my email address
DeleteSandyholt74@aol.com
Oh, how fun! Merry Christmas to you and your family. :)
DeleteWhen we moved to our home in 1989, my Christmas ornaments got lost in the move. All of the little ornaments my grown kids had made when they were little plus odds and ends I had collected through the years. I was heartbroken. My husband being the sweetie that he is...has made a point of buying me a new Christmas ornament every year since..This year will be the 28th year. Needless to say our tree has plenty of decorations.
ReplyDeleteYou must have been devastated. That's just painful even to think about... but what a nice tradition your husband started. He's a keeper.
DeleteI'm gratified to have helped change how three lovely, unrelated young ladies feel about Christmas. I can't call it a tradition, but rather a mission to have them enjoy Christmas. At different times we have trimmed the tree together, sang along with Johnny Reid's beautiful Christmas music, even danced sometimes, and these gals have helped me wrap gifts and decorated them with a plethora of bows, ribbons and decorations. They are the daughters I've always wanted and I feel blessed that we have created wonderful new memories to banish the painful ones. Christmas is my favourite celebration of the year, surrounded by family, good food and fun. emclem@telus.net
ReplyDeleteYou have such a big heart, Elizabeth. I bet your house is beautifully decorated. But best of all, it's awesome to make others happy. Thanks for doing that.
DeleteCongratulations, Darlene Holley! I sent your book. Happy reading. ☺
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