When life becomes complicated…holidays and celebrations become difficult and thorny…for instance…Christmas during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
During these hard times, the Lincoln White House left no record of Christmas trees in the halls or parties, other than a family Christmas dinner in 1861 when they were all together. President Lincoln served the people, met his presidential responsibilities…attended to the needs of war…he and his First Lady directed their energies…spending countless hours in the military hospitals administering to the wounded…writing letters for injured soldiers to send home to loved ones…such unselfish devotion to a divided nation left little time for holiday festivities.
Additional sorrow and mourning entered the White House when third son, Willie, died in February 1862. Imagine…the White House doors and windows still shrouded in black, black arm bands…stark black attire during that Christmas combined with a civil war. Lincoln told Tad, his youngest son, “I want to give him all the toys I did not have and all the toys that I would have given the boy that went away”.… referring to 11 year old Willie and his short sweet life.
War deeply influences our lives and our cultural legacy…look for the next History Nugget: “1863 Santa Claus drawn political and choosing sides”
Inspiring photo of William Wallace Lincoln by Pinterest
heartclosetblog 
Such unnecessary sadness sometimes due to circumstances beyond one’s control and interesting how what was right culturally in the past like donning in black to show that someone had pass. Nowadays those customs in our society has all but gone.
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All but gone for sure…that wearing black worked as a clear cultural message was simply to broadcast to all…mourning.it was like a heads up…go lightly…those social cues worked.
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When my husband passed away, 11 years ago, I wished for those black armbands so everyone would know why I was a little touchy at times.
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Those arm bands really did send out a signal that was easily understood. I am so sorry for your loss. I appreciate each time you visit me and Brodie.
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Aww. Thank you. I enjoy your posts.
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🙂
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What a deeply beautiful post.
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A golden thanks for your continued reading.
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That was a hard time, for a lot of reasons. Bless the Lincoln’s for all that they did for this nation.
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Forever grateful…
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