The history of the holiday that we now call Christmas is long and quite interesting.
In Colonial America, the Puritan leaders disapproved of it so strongly that they banned all celebration of Christmas. The ban was eventually lifted, but it was not until the mid-19th century that celebrating Christmas became fashionable in the Boston region. While the celebration of Christmas wasn't yet customary in some regions in the U.S., Henry Wadsworth Longfellow detected "a transition state about Christmas here in New England" in 1856. "The old puritan feeling prevents it from being a cheerful, hearty holiday; though every year makes it more so". In 1870, Christmas was formally declared a United States Federal Holiday, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.
A fabulous year to commemorate with a sampler, in my opinion.
Stitch Count: 145 x 173
Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 40ct. Angel Hair
Using flosses from The Gentle Art: 0190 Forest Glade, 0390 Buckeye Scarlet, 7061 Caramel Corn, 7078 Toffee
And flosses from Weeks Dye Works: 1236 Mocha, 2220 Curry
The frame is an antique.
This chart is now available for purchase in my etsy shop or directly through me via email, and may also be found in a needlework shop near you.
