Christmas throughout the decades, as seen through the pages of the Eagle
Christmas has been Christmas for centuries, but the ways it has been observed and celebrated have changed considerably over time. Nothing shows this more than a look at the pages of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from the 1860s through the early 1950s.
Some things have remained constant, like Christmas trees and Santa Claus. The Eagle from Dec. 26, 1879 describes the “Annual Visit of Santa” to the children of Plymouth Church Sunday School in Brooklyn Heights. The hall was decorated with Christmas trees, and the children were entertained by Christmas carols, the singing of secular holiday songs like “The Little Tin Soldier,” readings from the Scriptures and the handing out of awards. Finally, the sound of sleigh bells was heard, and through the front doors stepped Santa himself.