Workshop Words

The Legacy of Lincoln

Five days from today is a small mid-winter holiday that celebrates the birth of one of my favorite historical leaders – Abraham Lincoln. It is difficult to even talk about him in modern times because the folktales, legends, stories, accounts, and opinions surrounding his life are completely iconic. I carry his face around on five-dollar bills, but it seems fitting that he also represents the penny – the humblest of coins. And, indeed, Lincoln’s story represents the humblest of beginnings and the greatest of tragedies. Even now, it’s hard for me to write about him while still reminding my dear readers he was a real human being with real qualities!

Although his campaign nickname was "The Rail-splitter" and he was born in a one-room log cabin, Lincoln was not an advocate for the simple country life. He was a very progressive individual, and at no time does this demonstrate his personality more than when he tested the first machine gun – the Gatling gun – on the White House lawn! Lincoln believed in technology, urbanization, progress, and industry. He was an Industrial Revolutionist of the highest order.

Next year is going to be a wonderful celebration for Lincoln enthusiasts – February 12, 2009 is his 200^th birthday! Congress has already authorized $30,000 to the Lincoln Memorial to repair the Gettysburg Address etched in the stone walls of this awe-inspiring tribute. A Bicentennial Commission has sprung up as well. Take a look at thier official website.

Would you like to be a part of the birthday celebrations?

I have a February birthday, too – but mine is the 9^th! I fell three days short! Oh, well. I guess I’ll have to settle for admiring and studying my favorite President. I have never been to Illinois or Kentucky, but I did visit Washington, D.C. and saw the Lincoln Memorial ‘in the marble.’ I must say, it was a moving experience. It was raining and gray out, so there weren’t that many people there. The statue was immense and the whole interior of the memorial was hushed like a cathedral. If I walked towards the left or right, it felt like he was watching me! It was incredible.

In this momentous year of elections, take a look at our 16^th President. Check out a biography from the library or take a look at his Wikipedia entry.

He’s a wonderful role model to follow – driven, bright, philanthropic.

Hang our Lincoln Portrait in a prominent place and be reminded of his legacy with the Americana Print titled "Created Equal." We also feature a wonderful Gettysburg Address print with antique parchment and the beautiful penmanship of the 19^th century.

Oh, and speaking of February birthdays – Don’t forget George Washington on the 22^nd. He did a lot of great things, too!

Let it Glow! Let it Glow! Let it Glow!

Ten days until Christmas! We’re due to have a Nor’easter tomorrow. That’s Maine-speak for a huge winter storm. It’s been snowing very steadily all month, so the entire Portland area is a winter wonderland. The weather can be very frightful, though! Thankfully, I put four brand-new snow tires on my little car. I can definitely tell the difference!

We are also fast approaching another late-December holiday of both scientific and spiritual origins: Winter Solstice. Next Saturday night, December 22, is the longest night of the year. The Winter Solstice is a special time of year celebrated by many cultures throughout the world. Many countries' modern winter holiday traditions have their roots in ancient Winter Solstice celebrations. Does your family have a special time set aside for celebration during the winter? It’s never too late to start a fun tradition!

Solstice means: "standing still sun." Such precision we have about it now! Winter solstice is when, because of the earth's tilt, the Northern hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun, and therefore: The daylight is the shortest. The sun has its lowest arc in the sky. A scientific reason for a much-revered phenomenon!

There are many things to do to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the holidays this year. Strengthen bonds with family and friends by visiting and/or exchanging gifts and greetings. Decorate your home with lights, greens, and holiday colors. Bless your home with a Yule wreath on your front door and sprigs of mistletoe inside. If you are part of a group, take up a collection of food and/or clothing at your Yule gathering and give what you collected to a social service agency to distribute to those in need. Place sunflower seeds outside for wild birds to feast upon. Greet the sun at dawn on Solstice morning by ringing bells. I’m sure you can come up with many other ways to honor the darkest night of the year.

Here at Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, we thank you for choosing our holiday gifts. Light the Angel Gourd Lantern or the Santa Gourd Lantern on December 22, to bring light to the long night. Our large Snowman Gourd is lighted from within, but don’t worry – he won’t melt! For a romantic solstice dinner, use our fun Wine Topper with two candles. And, toast marshmallows with our Iron Fire Fork, waiting for your mittens to dry on our Iron Drying Rack. It’s going to be a cold night.

But, I love the snow!

Counting Down to Christmas!

I hope you’ve been keeping an eye on the Weather Channel lately! Especially if you’re a fellow New Englander, we are receiving lots of snow. It was barely another inch of dusting last night, but it did make the roads slippery. I have yet to install snow tires on my car, which is not very smart! But my goodness, the snow makes our neighborhood very festive! My neighbor across the street has draped pretty white lights around their front door, and it’s fun to look at through my living room windows.

When England’s Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, the handsome German royal brought with him some wonderful traditions from his native country. Setting up a Christmas tree and putting packages beneath is a German custom, as is following the fun Advent Calendar. Both of these practices have become part of the holiday celebrations, with the Advent Calendar being one that is particularly amusing.

The origin of the Advent Calendar can be traced back to the 19th century. Religious families made a chalk line for every day in December until Christmas Eve. The first known handmade calendar dates from 1851. But the colorful cardboard ones are from one hundred years later, in the 1950’s. The original scenes are very pretty, with idyllic snow-covered Swiss chalets, little towns, and special religious paintings. Behind the little doors, you might read a Bible verse or see a tiny hand-drawn picture. There are only twelve days to go – we’re halfway through the countdown already!

Did you know that World War II stopped the printing of Advent Calendars? The cardboard was one of the items that were rationed. Thankfully, production started up again in 1946, as soon as the war was over. Do you know what other items were rationed during World War II? Take a look at a list here. Hmmm – I think chocolate, butter, sugar, and flour were on that list. It’s a little difficult to make Christmas cookies without those ingredients! If you can, ask Grandma and Grandpa what Christmas was like during the war. It might put current holiday craziness in perspective!

These days, Advent Calendars are a fun family-centered tradition that kids especially love. It’s fun to open the little doors (or drawers) and either take out a special treat to eat or smile at the little picture. If you are handy with a needle and thread, then a homemade calendar would be cute, with little pockets to hold various trinkets. Or, test your knowledge of other cultures with this online version. And hey, who says the calendar is for Christmas, only? It might be fun to countdown to a special vacation, a milestone birthday, or the last day of school!

Our fabric Christmas Tree Advent Calendar has 24 little pockets for ornaments, and they stick on the tree with Velcro. By now, you should have twelve ornaments on the tree. Have you set up and trimmed your full-size Christmas tree, yet? We always had way more than twelve ornaments on ours!

Thank you for gift shopping with Sturbridge Yankee Workshop this holiday season!

Thoughts on Giving Thanks!

The story of the first Thanksgiving, a humble meal of root vegetables, oysters, and venison offered by the Native Americans to the hungry Puritans is amongst the most familiar tales told in America. It has been an indelible part of our country’s heritage, and was even recognized in a proclamation made by George Washington in 1789:

“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States . . .”
George Washington, 1789

In his first year as President, Washington realized the unifying effect of having a national holiday unique to our fledgling country. But it would take another seventy years before it became official!

Thanksgiving in the early 1800’s was mostly a New England holiday, resembling something very similar to today. The ‘three sisters’ – corn, squash, and beans – were served alongside a typically bounteous harvest meal. This echoed earlier observances of Thanksgiving as a festival celebrating the autumn crop, represented by the cornucopia overflowing with fruits and vegetables.

During the Civil War, a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale wrote continuous letters asking for Thanksgiving’s recognition. Finally, President Lincoln honored her request and our first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863. Incidentally, in the same month he traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to read a short address about the great battle.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.”
Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863

May we all remember and be thankful for what we have. If you’d like to celebrate this wonderful holiday with festive décor, take a look at some of the things offered by Sturbridge Yankee Workshop. Our Cornucopia is bursting with fun colors and harvested grains. The Pilgrim couple is dressed in their 17th-century garb, cheery and fun to set up on your table or mantel. Display our Peacock platter proudly, a bird of plenty for the gathering of friends and family.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Gobbling up Turkey!

When Benjamin Franklin proposed in a letter to his daughter that the turkey was a more majestic national bird than the eagle, he could not have foreseen just how intricately tied to our American holiday the silly fowl is! But the birds in his day were wild turkeys, much different than the large, round fellows stomping around farmyards and woods.

Have you heard of the term Turkey Trot? According to history, this describes an annual English event that took place in the 1700’s. Turkeys were lined up and driven to market. Some intrepid owners even put little booties on their feet to protect them from the long journey. Later, it was adopted as a ragtime song my great-grandmother likely danced to. Read all about how to kick up your turkey feet and ruffle your turkey feathers at: Turkey Trot

I have a funny story that illustrates the ‘majestic’ personality of this quirky bird. I used to work at a gift shop on a farm. One hot summer afternoon, I left for just a short time, and when I came back Tom, the huge male turkey, had come into the shop! He’d pushed in the door all by himself and was waddling around, pecking at the gifts. Startled upon seeing me, he squatted and left a mess on the floor! Then he approached me, thumping his feet and bristling those ubiquitous tail feathers. I was not impressed, however. I opened the door and luckily, he took the hint and walked out. Nothing like shooing a 30-pound aggressive male turkey out of your shop to start the day! Tom roamed free on the farm, but turkeys are not very intelligent. In fact, the young poults will sometimes drown themselves when it rains. They point their heads skywards, open their beaks, and don’t have the sense to quit drinking! Pigs are much smarter, let me tell you!

In honor of our American holiday, hang the Benjamin Franklin print high above the Thanksgiving table. Our Large Turkey looks more inquisitive than the real bird, so set him up near the bountiful feast. Folk artist Laura Megroz has created another timeless design for the Turkey Pillow. You can put this one in your home, safe in the knowledge that he won’t mess on your floor.

Gobble gobble!

Shake it up!

The people of the Shaker communities have a wonderful history of handicrafts such as basket-weaving, floral and herbal crafts, and, of course, gorgeous furniture. Compared to the decadence of the artistic Victorian look in the 1800’s, the simplicity and clean lines of Shaker furniture must have seemed like a breath of fresh air!

The Shaker people, led by their founder Mother Ann Lee, came from England and first settled in New York in 1774. They were a religious group, and their popularity soon spread to 19 communal settlements – over 200,000 members! A simple and spiritual lifestyle was recommended in a century of industrialization and booming cities.

The Shakers infused their architecture, clothing, textiles, and their furniture with their simplistic philosophy. “Hands to Work, Hearts to God” was their motto. Only one Shaker community remains, and it’s here in Maine! In New Gloucester, the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village has been preserved and is still a working homestead for its remaining followers.

The arts of these salt-of-the-earth people became part of the American design landscape along with the Arts and Crafts movement and Frank Lloyd Wright. Today, the remarkable popularity of Shaker-style furniture is a steadfast testament to the ones who, with simple carpenter tools, an eye for beautiful simplicity and ingenious practicality, created one of the most popular décor looks of all time.

STURBRIDGE SHAKER – Here at Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, we honor both our American and New England heritage by offering three different styles of Shaker Furniture. Choose from Country Shaker, Apple Hill or Casco Bay. Each is unique, so check them out! We have an array of tables and desks that come in many colors. Call us if you have any questions about what we offer!

Click here for more information about Sturbridge Shaker Furniture.

The photograph below shows some Shaker furniture. Used with permission by Wikipedia: