Video

A Holiday Music Tour at White Haven

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

Transcript

- ♪ Dashing through the snow ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ O'er the fields we go ♪ ♪ Laughing all the way ♪ ♪ Bells on bobtails ring ♪ ♪ Making spirits bright ♪ ♪ What fun it is to ride and sing ♪ ♪ A sleighing song tonight ♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ Happy holidays, everyone. Greetings. I am here to help you celebrate the winter holidays with us here at White Haven. My name is Kristine Sneeringer. I am currently a volunteer at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site and formerly an interpreter at this park. Welcome to our program today. We are excited to take a look into what past celebrations may have been like here at White Haven and around the nation in the 19th century. Use your imagination to experience the laughter and the music such as the rendition of Jingle Bells which we have just heard as we wind our way through the home of Julia and Ulysses S Grant and revel with some songs of the era with you. Speaking of music, as folks awaited the imminent arrival of their holiday guests, they may well have heard the merrymaking from afar. Did you hear it? In our imagination, we perceived the joyful cries and laughter along to the sounds of jingle bells. Now we might we'll hear the excitement of the guests upon their anticipated arrival at the farm or home of grandma and grandpa for a wonderful day of visiting and play. The grandchildren of Colonel and Mrs. Grant probably never had the opportunity to visit from afar at Christmas, but seems like the following one played out around the country and indeed the world, certainly the Grants and their children spent Christmases at White Haven, probably along with not only their grandparents, both other family members as well. ♪ Over the river and through the woods ♪ ♪ To grandmother's house we go ♪ ♪ The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh ♪ ♪ Through the white and drifted Snow ♪ ♪ Over the river and through the woods ♪ ♪ Oh, how the wind does blow ♪ ♪ It stings the toes and bites the nose ♪ ♪ As over the ground we go ♪ ♪ Over the river and through the woods ♪ ♪ To have a first-rate play ♪ ♪ Oh, hear the bells ring, Ting-a-ling-ling ♪ ♪ Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day ♪ ♪ Over the river and through the woods ♪ ♪ Trot fast, my dapple gray ♪ ♪ Spring over the ground ♪ ♪ Like a hunting hound ♪ ♪ For this is Thanksgiving Day ♪ Once arrived and greeted, guests would made their way to the comfort and warmth of the food and drink at the dining table, which would be laden with holiday delicacies and beverages, according to custom and affordability. Very likely more singing would ensue. For example, there might have been arousing story and song of good King Wenceslaus and how he brought food and warmth to a poor man's abode. Let's do it now to commemorate the good deeds that we leaned toward performing even now during the holiday season. ♪ Good King Wenceslas looked out ♪ ♪ On the Feast of Stephen ♪ ♪ When the snow lay 'round about ♪ ♪ Deep and crisp and even ♪ ♪ Brightly shone the moon that night ♪ ♪ Though the frost was cruel ♪ ♪ When a poor man came in sight ♪ ♪ Gath'ring winter fuel ♪ ♪ Bring me flesh and bring me wine ♪ ♪ Bring me pine logs hither ♪ ♪ Thou and I will see him dine ♪ ♪ When we bear him thither ♪ ♪ Page and monarch forth they went ♪ ♪ Forth they went together ♪ ♪ Through the rude wind's wild lament ♪ ♪ And the bitter weather ♪ ♪ In his master's steps he trod ♪ ♪ Where the snow lay dinted ♪ ♪ Heat was in the very sod ♪ ♪ Which the Saint had printed ♪ ♪ Therefore, Christian men, be sure ♪ ♪ Wealth or rank possessing ♪ ♪ You who now will bless the poor ♪ ♪ Shall yourselves find blessing ♪ Following of food, the guests would likely have made their way to the parlor for additional entertainment, taking with them perhaps their delicacies and drink, but most especially their holiday spirits. The room like the dining room and other rooms in the home would have been simply but joyously decorated for the year's favorite celebration. Singing would probably have continued with sounds of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly, plants growing nearby on the farm or in neighborhoods, including such things as holly and magnolia, if they were available, may have been used to spruce up the environment of the home and add to the festive nature of the day. The ancient carol was very apt to have been employed to note the festive array of the home and people in it. ♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ Don we now our gay apparel ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ Troll the ancient Yuletide carol ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ See the blazing yule before us ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ Strike the harp and join the chorus ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ Follow me in merry measures ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ ♪ While I tell of Yuletide treasure ♪ ♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la ♪ But there was then as now a serious side to the holidays and Christmas, as this revealed in the lyrics of I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day, this poem written by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863 during the trials of the Civil War and subsequent to the recent death of his wife, reveals the universality of a troubled time and express the spots often evoked in our world today about the difficulties of the present and the hope for the future. The thoughts and hearts of war era Americans identified with the lyrics of Longfellow's poem and the corresponding song. ♪ I heard the bells on Christmas day ♪ ♪ Their old familiar carols play ♪ ♪ And mild and sweet their words repeat ♪ ♪ Of peace on earth, good-will to men ♪ ♪ I thought as now this day had come ♪ ♪ The belfries of all Christendom ♪ ♪ Had rolled along the unbroken song ♪ ♪ Of peace on earth, good-will to men ♪ ♪ And in despair I bowed my head ♪ ♪ "There is no peace on earth," I said ♪ ♪ "For hate is strong and mocks the song ♪ ♪ Of peace on earth, good-will to men" ♪ ♪ Then pealed the bells more loud and deep ♪ ♪ "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep ♪ ♪ The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail ♪ ♪ With peace on earth, good-will to men" ♪ The troubles, which our society is currently facing are not alone in gravitas. 19th century citizens felt the impact of danger as well. Imagine then, that visitors and family alike turned to the most serious side of the Christmas holiday with the famous German language carol known across the globe then and now: Silent Night, Holy Night. In the St Louis area, it was sung not only in English, but also in original German. ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child ♪ ♪ Holy infant so tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ Shepherds quake at the sight ♪ ♪ Glories stream from heaven afar ♪ ♪ Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia ♪ ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ Son of God, love's pure light ♪ ♪ Radiant beams from Thy holy face ♪ ♪ With the dawn of redeeming grace ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord at Thy birth ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord at Thy birth ♪ As the party begins to settle down, the adults recognize that the children had been awfully well behaved but that they now crave attention. The adults may well have made their way to the sitting room where their children would have gathered for play, games and small gifts. Their enjoyment of the arrival of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas can be observed. Now, the stockings hanging in a row near the fireplace. The daughter named in the following song as Nell. You may remember that Grant and his wife, Julia had a daughter named Nelly, too. Today's children are likely to know this song. ♪ Up on the housetop reindeer paws ♪ ♪ Out jumps good old Santa Claus ♪ ♪ Down through the chimney with lots of toys ♪ ♪ All for the little ones, Christmas joys ♪ ♪ Ho, ho ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Ho, ho ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Up on the housetop, click, click, click ♪ ♪ Down through the chimney with old Saint Nick ♪ ♪ First comes the stocking of little Nell ♪ ♪ Oh, dear Santa fill it well ♪ ♪ Give her a dolly that laughs and cries ♪ ♪ One that can open and shut her eyes ♪ ♪ Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Up on the housetop, click, click, click ♪ ♪ Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick ♪ ♪ Next comes the stocking of little Will ♪ ♪ Oh, just see what a glorious fill ♪ ♪ Here's a hammer and lots of tacks ♪ ♪ Also a ball and a whip that cracks ♪ ♪ Ho, ho ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Up on the housetop, click, click, click ♪ ♪ Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick ♪ Had we been present in the 1850s or '60s here at White Haven and elsewhere in America, we might also have observed others celebrating Christmas. I have read that the enslaved were often afforded relief from their daily duties at Christmas time, when the farm workload was lighter due to the winter cold. We're still seeing today one of the carols that enslaved individuals might have sung during the holiday season here and elsewhere in the nation. ♪ When I was a sinner ♪ ♪ I prayed both night and day ♪ ♪ I asked the Lord to aid me ♪ ♪ And He showed me the way ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ When I was a seeker ♪ ♪ I sought both night and day ♪ ♪ I asked the Lord to help me ♪ ♪ And He taught me how to pray ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ Down in a lowly manger ♪ ♪ The humble Christ was born ♪ ♪ And God sent us salvation ♪ ♪ That blessed Christmas morn ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go, tell it on the mountain ♪ ♪ Jesus Christ is born ♪ All good things must come to an end, and the holiday party is no exception. As the guests departed the home of their host and hostess, arousing version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas could be heard in many a neighborhood as the visitors began to depart. Certainly there was enough happiness to carry over into the next period of the winter together with hope for a brighter day. We still cherish this season of the year for these benefits and in our current national and world climate, we continue to call for peace on earth, goodwill to men, just as cited in Henry Longfellow's words. ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ♪ ♪ Good tidings to you wherever you are ♪ ♪ Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year ♪ ♪ Oh, bring us a figgy pudding ♪ ♪ Oh, bring us a figgy pudding ♪ ♪ Oh, bring us a figgy pudding ♪ ♪ And a cup of good cheer ♪ ♪ We won't go until we've got some ♪ ♪ We won't go until we've got some ♪ ♪ We won't go until we've got some ♪ ♪ So bring some out here ♪ ♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ♪ Smiles, hugs, and goodwill are shared with the guests as they depart. They already are looking forward to a rejuvenated new year of health and happiness. This is circling a sentiment that we can share with them at this time in our own existence. As we hope that by the next holiday season, we might freely hug one another and feast safely in greater numbers at our own holiday celebrations. Thank you so much for participating in our little program. Our thoughts are with you as you enjoy your own smaller but very meaningful festivities this year. May much love, joy and peace be with you. Goodbye for now. We hope to meet you online or in the park in the near future.

Description

Join park volunteer, Kristine Sneeringer for this holiday themed musical tour of President Grant's home White Haven. Kristine takes viewers room by room through the house, describing holiday traditions and performing music from the mid 19th-century. Sing along, and enjoy!

Song List: 0:08-Jingle Bells 2:39-Over The River 4:10-Good King Wenceslas 6:23-Deck the Halls 8:04-I Heard the Bells 10:14-Silent Night 13:19-Up on the Housetop 15:12-Go Tell It On The Mountain 17:15-We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Duration

19 minutes, 25 seconds

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