CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM LONG AGO BROUGHT CHEER TO THE CANADIAN FRONTIER

by Farley Wuth

During those turbulent frontier years on the Western Canadian Prairies of more than a century ago, the tradition of sending and receiving Christmas Cards was even more meaningful and popular than what it is today. That tradition bespoke of that often religious, rural, and family orientated nature of pioneer society where holiday communications were a welcome treat to those often weary of their isolated conditions.

PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS IMPORTANT AT CHRISTMAS

Christmas cards were particularly popular during those early ranching years in the Pincher Creek area dating from the settlement’s N.W.M.P. founding in 1878 through the hostilities of the First World War and the tough times of the Great Depression of the 1930s. The tradition of mailing Christmas Cards served important social functions for most people residing on the isolated frontier, far removed from family and friends. For many it was an eagerly awaited way of keeping in touch with those family members residing in geographically distant points away from Pincher Creek. Most local pioneers of that era were born and raised elsewhere – they had relatives, often close ones such as parents or siblings, who resided “back home” in central Canada, parts of the United States, or in the old European countries of Great Britain, France or Germany. Cards brought with them the religious or secular greetings of the Season. Most featured handwritten letters or notes which brought with them much sought after news from their places of origin. People on the frontier truly appreciated hearing of their families’ annual happy stories as well as tribulations, traditional religious activities, tales of the economic times and recollections of the “old days”. Letters from out west chronicled the current comings and goings from our pioneer communities, weather conditions, and the nature of the farm crops or adventures on the ranch. Truly, Christmas cards kept those on the Western Canadian Prairies posted of many an event and individual from far a field, and which were eagerly read back here in Pincher Creek.

Given the condition of the times, these seasons’ greetings provided a significant service. The frontier was a very isolated place, compounded by a vast expanse of geography and a general lack of the type of technology as we know it today. Travel to the far distant points of one’s former homeland via horseback, train, and ship was at best a long, arduous process, one which could not be easily or cheaply taken. The modern communications achievements of today – computers and telephones to name just two – were not readily available decades ago. For isolated Pincher Creek residents yearning to hear of the latest chronicles of their far flung family and friends, the annual Christmas correspondence was the most convenient method of staying in touch.

TRADITIONAL SCENES OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Indeed, pioneer Christmas cards continued to serve much wider purposes. The scenes depicted on the fronts of the cards were brightly painted with a variety of festive activities. Many promoted the rural lifestyles so prominent at the time – winter farm scenes with the traditional one and half storey house, a barn off to one side, and the corrals or farm animals depicted were popular themes. Others highlighted the religious message of Christmas with the scene in the manger or the three wise men. Some cards lavishly highlighted various family activities enjoying the winter season, often skating on a frozen lake or taking a sleigh ride in the heavily snow laden outdoors. These were particularly popular because they promoted traditional concepts of the family and the fun of rural winter adventures. Other cards promoted scenes of the Christmas tree decorated in the house’s parlour or favourite corner, or with the children playing with the family dog or cat. Each of these attempted to depict favourite family activities during the Christmas Season.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

For many a pioneer family, the pictorial themes visually brightened up what could otherwise be dull winter surroundings. Most cards were detailed in their design and colourful in their presentation – they were welcome additions to the decorations which carefully adorned frontier house interiors. Many a family tradition placed the cards on the mantle of the fireplace where they could be visually enjoyed throughout the holidays. Others attached them to the walls via lengths of twine, and in some cases, the cards were carefully attached to the Christmas trees themselves. Still others placed them on the windowsills or on favourite cabinets. Whatever their location or the vividness of the traditional pictures, the cards served as well appreciated Christmas messages and decorations.

For some pioneer families, these cards served as well cared for keepsakes, and after the holidays were over, often they were squirreled away in a trunk half buried up in the attic or a wooden dresser drawer not already filed with frontier clothing. There they remained for years and decades to come, in many cases being brought out during subsequent holiday seasons where they continued to be enjoyed. Fortunately, many of these brightly coloured, traditional cards have survived the generations, and now, either as part of a family’s heirlooms or a museum’s priceless archival collections they remind us of those Christmas Seasons of generations ago. Such tangible relics from our past, with their images and newsy letters, are great sources of information for historians and genealogists.