Christmas Traditions - English

For many of us, Christmas means a time for family and friends to celebrate at parties or dinners. Today, I'm going to focus on the British Isles for our traditional roots.

Many of the songs we sing for caroling or at our churches have their roots in English tradition. Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Coventry Carol are all from the British Isles. In fact, Christmas caroling seems to have originated in the British Isles then transferred to the United States. Probably due to English being the national language of the United States, England's history is closely connected to our own. Oddly, when we place Christmas carolers in "traditional" style, it's usually during the Victorian Era.

Both in Lancaster County area and Western New York, Christmas carolers can be heard. Some of the carolers might be families or groups of friends who wander around, but my experience has church groups providing most of the caroling.

Even more than the French, English traditions permeate American traditions to the point where the traditions are strictly Christmas. The English have their own Christmas traditions which we don't follow, such as Boxing Day, but some have carried over.

In looking through American history, and wondering why some traditions remain, and others disappear, the conclusion I came to is a simple one: by America welcoming many different ethnicities, we tend to accumulate cross-cultural celebrations (Christmas tree, stockings, caroling) in favor of traditions tied to a particular culture such as Boxing Day.

Out of all the English traditions that we maintain, it's the sound of Christmas that comes from the British Isles: caroling and the songs sung.

Today is Christmas Eve, so I will be taking a vacation for the remainder of the week. In the new year, I'll focus a bit more on both locations as everyone begins to consider summer vacation and spring breaks. Until then: Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Traditions - French

Christmas in Western New York and Lancaster County are beautiful times of the year filled with honking horns, long lines, and general malcontent. Some days, I felt it was worse in Lancaster County area because of the tourists added to the mix. Nothing says simple like flying to Lancaster county to run the length of shopping centers on Route 30 to purchase that perfect gift made from local Amish families.

Yet, somehow, we find quiet in the hustle and bustle to remember why we celebrate Christmas. For many Catholic families, the day begins or ends with Christ's Mass (hence the term, Christmas). For Western New York, with its heavy Catholic under-layer, mass, nativity scenes, and other elements remain.

Our Nativity Scene

Today's traditionally heritage comes from France, which is actually more focused in Western New York than in Lancaster County. Part of the reason comes from the fact that Western New York was once a part of France.

The nativity (or crèche) is a part of many households and churches. The practice developed in the Middle Ages with the first live nativity attributed to Francis of Assisi in 1223. Once again, the practice comes from all over Europe with some countries developing lavish nativities. The term crèche, however, is French.

Other elements that come from France are Christmas carols - Un flambeau, Jeannette Isabelle, Les (Bring the Torch, Jeannette Isabelle) Anges dans nos campagnes (Angels We Have Heard on High), and Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)

Many of these traditions are American in the fact that we all utilize them regardless of our heritage. It is more common for ethnic minorities to hold onto their Christmas celebrations as a way to maintain their culture. For cultures such as the French, English and German, since those are the common heritage for a region, we see less in the way of specific elements and more as an origin of certain traditions.

Tomorrow, we'll focus on the last of the three major ethnic heritage of the two locations: English, though, we'll include all of the British Isles into the discussion.

Christmas Traditions - German

Both Lancaster County and Western New York owe a great portion of their cultural history to those of German descent. In Lancaster County area, the German heritage is most readily observed in the Amish and Mennonite communities. In Western New York, the influence is less noticeable, but still present.

Throughout American culture, one item; one fundamental symbol of Christmas can trace its roots directly to the German-speaking immigrants who came to America: the Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree ... sort of

Some families debate the fake vs. real Christmas tree; my family utilizes both, when we find a real one that doesn't bother my mom, who happens to be allergic to certain types of firs. Take  note of the background of the photograph above (taken this afternoon): our eighteen inches of snow disappeared overnight due to mild temperatures and rain. Keep the families in flood-prone areas of Western New York in your prayers as many of them will have to deal with the flood waters only a few days before Christmas.

Other traditional Christmas elements from German culture: gingerbread houses and Silent Night. One thing we must bear in mind when talking about these traditions is the layout of Europe before the Twentieth Century. For one thing, Germany as the current country did not exist, but German-speaking areas did. These areas covered much of present-day Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and included some parts of France and Poland as well. Therefore, some traditions we hold came from regions, not a particular group. Santa Claus is one such personage. While his name, Klaus, is most directly related to German, the actual person, Saint Nicholas, was from Asia Minor.

Other elements such as stockings, Christmas wreaths and singing are all European traditions that seem to stem from ancient mid-winter rituals. Evergreens have long been a symbol of eternity and hope in Northern European climates since they remain green even into the winter time. Some of these traditions came into the Christian celebration of Christ's mass later in our history.

One tradition in Buffalo that is connected to Eastern Europe is Broadway Market's Christmas and Easter celebrations. While the Easter celebrations are larger, Broadway Market is opened during the Christmas season as well. We'll visit Broadway Market in the new year with for the Easter celebrations, but until then take a look at their website.

Christmas traditions primarily have a European bent to them, especially here in Western New York and Lancaster County area. The Germans bring us Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, and Silent Night (technically written by an Austrian, but written in German). Monday, we'll focus on another culture: French.

Wow Wednesday

Lancaster County and Western New York have a great deal in common, as well as a great deal not in common. Today's Wow Wednesday will focus on some of the similarities and differences, though, bear in mind that many of these are my personal observations.

Crabapple Blossoms, Spring 2013

Weather

We have about a foot to a foot and a half of snow right now, so I thought warm memories would be appropriate. This is probably the biggest difference between the two areas: the weather. Western New York is known for snow: lake effect, blizzards, and cold. Lancaster County area is not (though, in recent years it has had a bit of snow fall). The summers in both places are mild, with temps somewhere in the seventies to nineties. Lancaster County is by far more humid than New York is, and this can be especially seen during the two to three weeks that Western New York receives both high temperatures and high humidity. The natives simply don't know what to do with themselves.

Water plays the biggest part in the weather changes. Lake effect is precipitation resulting in cold air over a warm body of water, i.e. the Great Lakes. Western New York receives lake effect from both Lake Erie (to the west) and Lake Ontario (to the north). Occasionally, when the weather is just right, we can receive lake effect off of Lake Huron.

Lancaster County area, on the other hand, keeps mild temperatures throughout the year as a result of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, and the Chesapeake Bay. During the summer, these two bodies of water bring the humidity, but during the winter keeps the area usually above freezing. While Western New York is usually colder in temperature, it is normally what is considered a dry cold that can be easily countered with plenty of layers. Lancaster County is usually a wet  cold which rarely allows the body to warm up. The amount of moisture in the air is part of the reason why it sometimes feels colder in Lancaster area than in Buffalo. The same is also true in the summer where the humidity makes it feel warmer than the air temperature is.

People & Faith

Both areas have a large old-family population, the major difference here being when the families arrived. Lancaster has several from before the American Revolution whereas Western New York was primarily settled after the American Revolution. The result in both cases is a large amount of people who claim English or German heritage. Both Western New York and Lancaster area have a diverse religious make-up, partly because of the freedom of religion that both colonies enjoyed.

Lancaster County area is primarily made up of English and German-Americans (the Amish are descendants of Germans as are the Mennonites). The large Baptist population in Lancaster area can trace their lineage back to English roots as do the Quakers. Two other groups growing in the area are the black community and the Hispanic community. Lincoln University, one of the historical all-black colleges, is located in Oxford PA, which is part of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Protestant Christianity is the predominate form of religion in the region, but is made up from Baptists, Quakers, Brethren, Mennonites, Amish, Methodists and more. Catholic Christianity is growing especially since the Hispanic community is growing.

Western New York is also an odd mixture. Once again, a large English and German-American ethnic heritage is present, but Western New York also has a large, vocal Irish, Polish and Italian heritage. Historically, there has also been a solid Jewish population present in Buffalo. Because of the Irish, Italians, Polish and others, Catholic Christianity is the larger influence in religions. In recent decades, Hispanic, Muslim, and other groups have made their way into Western New York.

Like Lancaster County area, Western New York has a thriving black community. Interestingly, the reason for this comes from a similar location: escaped slaves. During the Antebellum Era (time before American Civil War), both Lancaster County and Western New York thrived with abolitionist fervor. The Quakers played a large role in Pennsylvania, whereas Buffalo's and Niagara Falls' locations played the role in Western New York.

Conclusion

The history, heritage and faith of these two areas plays a large portion in how, and what, they celebrate. The Christmas season is important to both locales, but each has a slightly different spin on the holidays. In Western New York, the season of Lent is more noticeable than it is in Lancaster County area. Once Lent rolls around in the new year, I'll introduce you to some of the ways Western New York celebrates, but until then, we'll focus on Christmas and Advent.

Back Again

The past few days have been quite the interesting collection, so unfortunately, I've missed posting. Between two fairs, a book signing, and preparing for said fairs and book signing, I've been busy.

However, it's Christmas season now here in Western New York, and Lancaster County area, so the next few days, I'm going to take a look at different cultures and time periods to see how Christmas has been celebrated.

Both areas have a similar background: large German and English heritage with the occasional secondary ethnicity thrown in for good measure. Both areas are part of the original Thirteen Colonies, giving them both a long American history, yet in other ways they are different. Lancaster County area has a large Protestant influence from the Anabaptists, Baptists and Quakers whereas the Greater Niagara Region has a strong Catholic influence. These two parts of Christianity reflect on each area's celebrations in subtle, yet different ways.

Then there is the locations, economies, and general associations with the two locations that also adjust the celebration of Christmas. Believe me when I say, the differences are subtle, but they do exist, so sometimes I've blundered into a difference without realizing I did so. It's interesting since my part of Western New York is a farming community, not unlike where I grew up in the Dutch country.

Lastly, there are differences between the regions therewith. Lancaster County area has fewer differences than Western New York does, primarily because the region is smaller. If I included Southeastern PA as the region then I would have more differences because Lancaster area, the Brandywine area, and Philadelphia celebrate the holiday in slightly different avenues. Once again, subtly different, but different nonetheless.

In Western New York, we have three primary areas: Buffalo, Niagara, and the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming) region. For clarification, not all of the GLOW region is a part of Western New York, but the G (Genesee County), the O (Orleans County), and the W (Wyoming County) are. Livingston County is technically a part of the Finger Lakes Region.

Tomorrow, for the WOW Wednesday, I'll focus a bit more on the differences between the two, but rest assured, I'm looking forward to showing you photographs and places in both locations that reflect the ways these two regions celebrate Christmas.

Wow Wednesday - Brothers Ellicott

Continuing our connections between the two territories, today's Wow Wednesday focuses on the Brothers Ellicott: Joseph and Andrew.

Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) is the elder of the two brothers. Born in Bucks County, PA, Andrew,  became a surveyor. Andrew is best known for working on the foundations of Washington D.C. In 1801, he moved his family to Lancaster PA where he lived and worked for twelve years before finally moving to West Point where he died.

While in Lancaster, Ellicott worked with Meriwether Lewis to prepare the younger man for his survey in the Louisiana Purchase. His home, 123 N. Prince Street Lancaster PA, is the present home of the Lancaster County Preservation Trust.

Joseph Ellicott (1760-1826) was also a surveyor. He worked with his brother on Washington D.C., but Joseph is better known for surveying the Holland Land Purchase which became Western New York. Part of his work included laying out Buffalo NY and Batavia NY.

Joseph lived in Batavia until his family decided it was best to move him into an asylum in New York City. Joseph experienced mental instability towards the end of his life. He died in New York City, but was later re-buried in Batavia. The historical Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue is his resting place.

The house Joseph Ellicott built no longer exists, but you can still visit the Holland Land Office Museum and learn about Western New York History.

Small Business Saturdays

This begins the first of the series focusing on small businesses located in the Niagara Region and the Lancaster County area. The businesses do not necessarily exist in both, however, but they are good places to visit, if you can.

Near and dear to my heart are the artisans that live in both areas. By and far, the area surrounding Lancaster seem to be more supportive of the arts than the Niagara region. There are a great many reasons for this, but it seems that the predominate one is just an element of culture. It is embedded into the culture of Lancaster County area to enjoy quality handmade items; support local artisans, and purchase many of their gifts and housewares from artisans. That being said, there are a few places in Niagara Region where you can find local artisans. I happen to know of one location hidden away in the City of Batavia because I am one of the artisans.

The Artisans at North Street

The Artisans at North Street are a collection of over thirty artisans from the surrounding area who sell their items (click here for their Facebook page)

The store is not the location to visit artisans working, but is a co-op store where local artisans display some of their items. The thirty artisans include quilters, jewelry makers, knitters, soap makers, furniture makers, two authors, a weaver, and two book binders (one makes journals, the other scrapbooks), general décor creators, and seamstresses. Several of the artisans do multiple arts, for example, one of the jewelers is also a quilter.

Not all of the artisans come from the Niagara Region. Due to its location between Buffalo and Rochester, Batavia attracts people from both cities.

Take the time to talk with the cashier who is also one of the artisans. These individuals can introduce you to their items as well as teach you about how the items are made.

Some of the knitters make washcloths and bags to go with the soap. The soap is all made from local individuals from goat milk.

To the right is an up-close shot of a set of earrings for sale. There are around five or six jewelers in the artisans, yet each one has a slightly different style.

One of the artisans creates spoon necklaces that she refashions from spoons collected from yard sales and thrift stores. She takes the spoons and decorates them with beads or other items. Recently, she shifted from necklaces into key chains because of the demand for more items.



Another artisan creates knives, letter openers and cheese spears (to the left). In another part of the store, the same designer uses her skills to create pens with the similar baubles.

I am one of the two authors displayed in the store. My book is Azure Maris, while the other three books belong to our other author, Julie Caton (visit her here)

Her book, White Heart follows the true story of Madeleine de Roybon D'Allone who lived in the Niagara area during the time of Louis XIV.

 If you want to visit:

The Artisans at North Street are located at
301 North Street, Batavia NY.

Hours:
Monday and Thursday, 10 -7;
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10-5;
Saturday 10-3

Happy Holidays

Today is both Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and for Americans around the world; and Hanukkah for the Jews and those who celebrate the Biblical holy days around the world. I hope all you have time to reflect on what these holidays mean: thanksgiving and rededication.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah

Wow Wednesday-Snow

Well, it did snow yesterday; we estimate around four inches fell through the night.

In honor of the snow, today's Wow Wednesday relate to the winter weather. Buffalo, despite popular opinion, is not the snowiest place in the nation. According to Buffalo Research the snowiest city is Blue Canyon, California, (up near Lake Tahoe). The resource he took it from was published in 1994, so the items might be a little out of date. Yet, for someone who has lived in the region for the past twenty years, I can attest that it isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Granted, my town is often blocked from the snow because of Buffalo, but most of our terrible days come from surprise snowstorms such as the Friday the 13th storm in October, 2006.

We do have snowy winters in the Niagara Region. According to the National Weather Service the least snowiest winters have all been before 1950, with the late Victorian age containing three of the top ten. Out of the top ten snowiest winters, only two (1909/10 and 1944/45) were before 1950; all others have been since the 1950s, including the major Blizzard of '77 (which by the way was the snowiest winter in Buffalo).

Lancaster, on the other hand, rarely receives snow beyond a light dusting (where you can still see the grass). Since the beginning of the new millennium, the tradition has changed. According to Lancaster Online, four of the top ten (actually eleven since there was a tie) happened since 2000. Two of those happened in 2010, one in 2009 and one in 2003. Number 7 on the list was from 1993 - my personal favorite since I lived through that storm ... sort of. Because the storm was supposed to track to Niagara area, Dad wanted my sister and I to experience a 'real New York snowstorm', so he took us up to visit Grandma; meanwhile, the snowstorm hit Lancaster.

The following year (1994) would best be remembered as the year with ice. We had more days off in the 1993/1994 school year because of ice than we did the previous year with snow.

From living in the two regions, I have learned one very important concept concerning winter weather: it depends on how you look at it. Some people in the Niagara Region would hate a Lancaster winter due to the wet cold; while people from Lancaster prefer their once in awhile snowstorms over the endless hassle of snow all winter.

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day here, so I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving. Also, Happy Hanukkah to everyone as well.

Storm's a-Coming

It nears Thanksgiving, and as always the men on the TV screen begin their warnings: "Snow's coming." It's a endless sound from November through April, echoed only by the counter-melody of "Lake Effect".

Out the Studio Window, Nov. 26

Currently we have precious little snow on the ground in my part of the Greater Niagara Region. The weathermen claim it will be a region-wide snowfall, but I am quite bemused by their warnings. Often, it proves less then what it could be. "Dodge the bullet on that one," they say the next day.

Hmm. I don't quite know about that.

When we lived in Oxford, PA, we ended up changing the lyrics for the classic Christmas song, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"; the song continues with "just like the ones I always knew." Considering we rarely had snow in the Lancaster region, it became, "just like the ones I never knew."

Now that I have lived in Western NY for almost twenty years, I can safely say I am less inclined to fear the coming snow. For example: since snow rarely comes to Lancaster County area, when they do manage to have a heavy enough one (say, one to three inches) school's cancelled as much for safety as it is for the children to have a chance to play in the snow.

When the same one to three inches arrives in Western NY, we're warned to take it easy on the roads.

Imagine my disappointment on the lack of snow days I experienced in New York when I first moved.

The Niagara Region is expecting a snow storm; they say we can expect almost a foot in my area right around Thanksgiving. We'll see what happens.

Foodie Friday

One of the things that I love the most about my two hometowns is the food. After all, I come from a Baptist, German influenced, Southern family. Besides, when you start looking at all the food places that come from the area (and surrounding areas), you can't help but enjoy a taste here and there.

My actual hometown (and the one I claim) is Oxford, PA on Route 1 which takes travelers from Maine to Key West. South of Oxford is a smaller town called Nottingham PA, the home of Herr's Snack Foods.

Personally, I am not a big potato chip fan, but Herr's chips are probably the only brand that I will eat. The company started in 1946 in Lancaster, but eventually moved to Nottingham by the 1960s. Whenever my family has the chance to visit Pennsylvania, we always stop for Herr's chips to take home to New York, since I rarely find them this far north.

Part of my enjoyment of Herr's chips come from it being in my hometown area, and the memories of traveling past the Herr's Factory every school morning for nearly six years. The aroma of fresh potato chips hovered over the immediate area of Nottingham PA. The factory is near the Route 1 Bypass that goes around Oxford and Nottingham, but when the wind was right, the scent of the chips wafted to the bypass area as my mom, sister and I traveled to school.

Tours are offered for anyone who wants to see how the potato chips are made, and if you have the chance, go visit. If you don't have time for the tour, you can always stop into the visitor's center and look around, purchase some snacks and go visit another location.

Wow Wednesday

It's the middle of the week, and not a great deal is happening, so beginning today, I'll introduce "Wow Wednesday" - little tidbits about the Greater Niagara and Lancaster regions. This week: Presidents.

Three Presidents of the United States, claim these two regions as home. They include:

• Millard Fillmore (presidency, 1850-1853) is from Buffalo NY. His home in East Aurora NY is part of the National Park Service. Millard Fillmore House
• James Buchanan, (presidency, 1857-1861) is from Lancaster PA. You can visit his house, Wheatland for tours. The property is also the home of Lancaster County's Historical Society.
• Grover Cleveland (presidency, 1885-1889; 1893-1897) hails from Buffalo NY as well. Cleveland was both Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York before becoming President of the United States. A group is trying to establish The Grover Cleveland Museum and Library in Buffalo, NY.

The only other connection to Buffalo NY with a president is the dubious honor that Buffalo holds of being the scene of a presidential assassination: William McKinley, 1901 at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.

Visiting places connected to the Presidents of the United States doesn't always include a trip to Washington D.C., but sometimes looking into your own backyard.

Visiting History Series: Old Fort Niagara

One of my favorite activities is visiting cultural institutions (and if you remain with the blog for awhile, you will learn about them). Living history museums, art museums, or old places be it a fort, church, or factory intrigues me. This intrigue becomes even stronger when I visit places connected to my stories and books (for more information visit my website www.bridgettenibrian.com).

Today, I'm going to show you a Old Fort Niagara, in Youngstown NY. I'll provide a short history of the location, but visit their website by clicking on the link above for a more extensive history.

 

The Greater Niagara Region and Lancaster County are both part of the early American landscape. Since both are located in two of the original colonies (New York and Pennsylvania), both have their share of history dating back to some of the earliest explorations. Fort Niagara has the honor of belonging to three different nationalities: French, British and American.

A Short History

Originally established as a trading area, the building called The French Castle is one of the oldest structures in America. The castle (really a large block fortification) was built in 1726. In the collage at the top, the lower left-hand photo was taken inside the French Castle. In the top photograph, the building along the edge of Lake Ontario (on the right side) is French Castle.

From this location where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, the French established a meeting place where they could (a) control river traffic, or at least heavily influence it, and (b) meet with the Iroquois tribes and neighbors in a neutral ground.

After the French and Indian War (also called the Seven Years' War), France lost the territory called New France, or French Canada since France retained control of the territory surrounding the Mississippi River and delta (New Orleans, y'all). For the next thirty years (give or take), Britain controlled Fort Niagara.

Then, a most unusual event happened: the thirteen Atlantic colonies separated, rather forcefully, from Britain to become the United States of America. During this time, beginning in 1781, America controlled the fort, with a couple of exceptions. First, Britain did not readily give the fort over at the end of the American Revolution, primarily as a means to protect any loyal subjects retreating from the new government. Not until the 1790s did Britain remove her troops from Fort Niagara. Many families in Ontario, Canada, can trace their family history to these refugees of the American Revolution. The second time America lost control was during the War of 1812 when British troops from Fort George (directly across the river) launched a night attack on Fort Niagara and took control. At the end of the War of 1812, the fort returned to American hands, and the Niagara River became an established international border between Canada and the United States.

Visiting Today

Today, you can visit Old Fort Niagara, look around the landscape and see what people from centuries past would have seen: a calm river where boat traffic skirts over the water, establishing connections between the Canadian and American lands; an expansive view of lake Ontario where the concept of an inland sea makes a great deal of sense; and a fort of stone and earth, open to the lake, but defended from the land.

The photographs from the fort were taken Labor Day Weekend, 2011 when I went up for a War of 1812 re-enactment. Most of my visits to the fort are in the summer, but the fort is opened year-round. A visit to their website www.oldfortniagara.org will provide you with hours of operation, ticket prices and upcoming events. Over the summer, the fort hosts re-enactments for the French and Indian War, American Revolution and War of 1812. Typically, the events are on a weekend around a national holiday (Fourth of July or Labor Day).

When visiting Old Fort Niagara, make certain that you have plenty of time to walk around. It makes a good day trip up from Niagara Falls (New York and Ontario), Buffalo, NY, or Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Whenever you visit the Niagara region, remember to bring a passport because you cannot enter Canada without it even for a short hop from Niagara Falls NY into Niagara Falls, Ontario.

If you visit in the summer, bring a jacket with you because the lake cools the territory off and is usually windy. We do have hot days in New York, and the territory within the Fort is quite open with little shade.

Welcome

This blog is dedicated to the two regions I call home: the Greater Niagara region of Western New York, and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country centered around Lancaster County. As the blog progresses, I'll add itineraries, getaway days, little known facts, and interviews with people from the areas.

Having lived in both places for more than a decade each, I know both locales could learn some lessons from the other. I also know that there are more than a few connections between the two places beyond my family.

So, are you looking for a guide to the Niagara region and Lancaster County?
Are you from those places, and would like to see what else is out there?
Come wander the paths with me.