How Christmas Trees Became Popular in the 1800s

The husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, gets the credit for making Christmas trees fashionable, as he famously set one up in Windsor Castle in the late 1840s. Yet there are reports of Christmas trees appearing in the United States years before the royal Christmas tree made a splash in American magazines. One classic yarn is that Hessian soldiers had been celebrating around a Christmas tree when George Washington caught them by surprise at the battle of Trenton. The Continental Army did cross the Delaware River to surprise the Hessians on Christmas night 1776, but there is no documentation of a Christmas tree having been present. Another story is that a Hessian soldier who happened to be in Connecticut set up Americas first Christmas tree in 1777. While thats accepted local lore in Connecticut, there also doesnt seem to be any documentation of the story. A German Immigrant and His Ohio Christmas Tree In the late 1800s a story circulated that a German immigrant, August Imgard, had set up the first American Christmas tree in Wooster, Ohio, in 1847. The story of Imgard appeared often in newspapers as a holiday feature. The basic version of the tale was that Imgard, after arriving in America, was homesick at Christmas. So he cut down the top of a spruce tree, brought it indoors, and decorated it with handmade paper ornaments and small candles. In some versions of the Imgard story he had a local tinsmith fashion a star for the top of the tree, and sometimes he was said to have decorated his tree with candy canes. There actually was a man named August Imgard who lived in Wooster, Ohio, and his descendants kept the story of his Christmas tree alive well into the 20th century. And there is no reason to doubt that he decorated a Christmas tree in the late 1840s. But there is a documented account of an earlier Christmas tree in America. First Documented Christmas Tree in America A professor at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Charles Follen is known to have set up a Christmas tree in his home in the mid-1830s, more than a decade before August Imgard would have arrived in Ohio. Follen, a political exile from Germany, became known as a member of the abolitionist movement. The British writer Harriet Martineau visited Follen and his family at Christmas 1835 and later described the scene. Follen had decorated the top of a spruce tree with small candles and presents for his son Charlie, who was three years old. The first printed image of a Christmas tree in America seems to have occurred a year later, in 1836. A Christmas gift book titled A Strangers Gift, written by Herman Bokum, a German immigrant who, like Charles Follen, was teaching at Harvard, contained an illustration of a mother and several small children standing around a tree illuminated with candles. Earliest Newspaper Reports of Christmas Trees The Christmas tree of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert became known in America in the late 1840s, and in the 1850s reports of Christmas trees began appearing in American newspapers. A newspaper report described an interesting festival, a Christmas tree, which was viewed in Concord, Massachusetts on Christmas Eve 1853. According to the account in the Springfield Republican, all the children of the town participated and someone dressed as St. Nicholas distributed presents. Two years later, in 1855, the Times-Picayune in New Orleans published an article noting that St. Pauls Episcopal Church would be setting up a Christmas tree. This is a German custom, the newspaper explained, and one that has been of late years imported into this country, to the great delight of the young folks, who are its especial beneficiaries. The article in the New Orleans newspaper offers details indicating that many readers would be unfamiliar with the concept: A tree of evergreen, in size adapted to the dimensions of the room in which it is displayed, is selected, the trunk and branches of which are to be hung with brilliant lights, and laden from the lowest bought to the topmost branch, with Christmas gifts, delicacies, ornaments, etc., of every imaginable variety, forming a perfect storehouse of rare presents from old Santa Claus.What indeed can be more gratifying to children than to take them where their eyes will grow big and bright, feasting on such a sight on the eve of Christmas. A Philadelphia newspaper, The Press, published an article on Christmas Day 1857 which detailed how various ethnic groups had brought their own Christmas customs to America. It said: From Germany, in particular, comes the Christmas tree, hung all round with gifts of all sorts, interspersed with crowds of small tapers, which illuminate the tree and excite general admiration. The 1857 article from Philadelphia whimsically described Christmas trees as immigrants who had become citizens, stating, We are naturalizing the Christmas tree. And by the time, an employee of Thomas Edison created the first electric Christmas tree in the 1880s, the Christmas tree custom, whatever its origins, was permanently established. There are a number of unverified stories about Christmas trees in the White House in the mid-1800s. But it seems the first documented appearance of a Christmas tree wasnt until 1889. President Benjamin Harrison, who always had the reputation of being one of the less interesting presidents, was nonetheless very interested in Christmas celebrations. Harrison had a decorated tree placed in an upstairs bedroom of the White House, perhaps mostly for the entertainment of his grandchildren. Newspaper reporters were invited to see the tree and wrote fairly detailed reports about it. By the end of the 19th century, Christmas trees had become a widespread tradition throughout America.

Synthetic Psychoactive Drugs Commonly Called...

Amphetamines, a group of synthetic psychoactive drugs commonly called psychostimulants or central nervous system stimulants, were first synthesized by L. Edeleano, a German chemist in 1887 (Amphetamine). This group of drugs includes amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. The racemic ÃŽ ±-methylphenethylamine, a version of amphetamine, was later discovered in 1910 by Dale and Barger (Heal). This version was synthesized in 1927 by G. A. Alles while trying to find an alternative for ephedrine. In 1935, Benzedrine was released onto the market as a treatment for narcolepsy, mild depression, and a multitude of other disorders. Two years later in 1937, the drug, now known by the generic name of ‘Amphetamine,’ became available for†¦show more content†¦Each airman would simply need the oversight of their commander and flight surgeon, as well has having routine physical examinations, explicit guidance for the circumstances under which the drugs could be us ed, and a signed consent form (Caldwell). In January of 1984 the use of amphetamines and â€Å"go-pills† were turned into Air Fore Regulation 161-33 (Jedick). Amphetamine, also known by the IUPAC name of 1-phenylopropan 2-amine, contains the functional groups methyl (CH3) and amine (NH2). These functional groups cause the drug to release the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotine and norepinephrine from the nerve endings in the brain (Iversen). This happens because of the similar structure to dopamine. Once the neurotransmitters have been released, the amphetamines cause a buildup of them around the synapse and plug the transporter molecules preventing their re-uptake. This causes a flooding of extra neurotransmitters in the brain. Since amphetamines are so similar in structure to dopamine, the drug is able to enter the terminal button through the neural membrane as well as through the dopamine transporters. The amphetamine molecules then trick the mind into believing that it is dopamine being taken up. Once in the presynaptic neuron, the amphetamines, disguised as dopamine, push the extra dopamine into the synaptic gap, and the transporte rs are forced to work in reverse, producing even

None_Provided Essay Summary Example For Students

None_Provided Essay Summary Seven years in Tibet portraits a renowned mountain climber and world traveler from Austria, named Henry. Henrys mission is to get travel to the top of Nanga Parabet, which is the fifth highest peak in the world. Nanga Parabet is in the Himalayas and is five thousand Kilometers high. During their expedition Henry and his crew encounter some bad storms which cause them to turn back and go down. On the way down they are captured and become prisoners of war. The time is the early 40s and Hitler was moving his men for world domination. The Austrian men where not in there and presumed P. O.Ws. They were shipped to a prison camp in India where they were kept. Henry tried escaping 4 times and was unsuccessful every time. In October of 1940 Henrys wife sent him divorce papers, while he was in prison camp. In September 1942 he is still in prison, but this is where he will make his escape with his expedition. The escape is successful and Henry goes off on his own. Henry is now in Northern India after being alone for a while he meets back up with his friend Peter. Henry and Peter, at this point have no idea where they want to go. They roam like Nomads through the Himalayas getting ridiculed by all the people they come across. They end up going to Tibet because it is the closet country to them to get food and shelter. Tibet is the highest and most isolated country in the world. Henry and Peter have a world of problems trying to get into Tibet. It is a sacred and spiritual country, them being foreigners get kicked out upon arrival of Tibet. After getting kicked out of Tibet they are escorted 40 kilometers to the boarder of India. However, before arrival to India Henry and Peter escape the guards and try again to get into Tibet. At this point it seems as if Henry is becoming a real jerk. He argues and complains, and treats his friend like garbage. Henry is constantly thinking about his son, whom he has never met before. He decides to write a letter to his son, which he does. Henrys friend Peter is becoming sick, his shoes are turning to pieces so they stop to rest. During the night raiders come through and destroy there tent and hunt for there things. They have nothing. Henry manages to grab one of the Raiders off his horse. He then takes the horse and rides off into the night. They come to a higher elevation in the mountains because there is a lot of snow. They eat the horse to survive, which shows their way of living, which is hard for them to get by because they take nothing for granted. The boy in Tibet is getting older and wiser soon he will be imperial. Henry and Peter both are ready to get into the holy city of Lshana. They encounter some problems with men guarding the holy city. Peter gives the man a piece of paper and tells him it is a permit to get into the holy city. The men are now in the holy city where the Dahlia lama is. The men are invited to lunch and stay with one of the towns people. The man who owns the house that Peter and Henry are at, goes to the ministry and Dahlia lama and tells them what he has done. Peter and Henry are then showered with gifts, of clothes and shelter. The Dahlia lama is eager to learn of the New World, that he has never seen. .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .postImageUrl , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:hover , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:visited , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:active { border:0!important; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:active , .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6 .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua00c173d19e597a10d5574ac08b781c6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Bipolar Disorder Essay Peter ends up getting married. Henry is freelancing around surveying the land making maps. After hearing news that the war is over, Henry decides to leave and go back to Austria, but not before the Dahlia lama wishes to have him in his presents. Henry upon receiving the news is excited in a way. He goes to see the Great Mother, (which is the Dahlia lamas mother) she gives Henry a speech of proper etiquette to use around the Dahlia lama. He cant touch him, ask questions, look him in the eyes, or sit

Mutually Exclusive Events and Independent Events- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theMutually Exclusive Events and Independent Events. Answer: The statement that if two events are mutually exclusive, can be thought of as independent events, is false and I do not agree with it. This is because mutually exclusive events is a different concept from that of independent events. Events are mutually exclusive if one of the events precludes the occurrence of the other event. While in independent events the occurrence of one of the events does not affect, in anyway, the occurrence or none occurrence of the other event (Black, 2009, p. 98). This faults the notion that mutually exclusive events can be thought of as independent events. For example, mutually exclusive events can be represented as: P (A and B) = 0 While on the other hand, independent events can be represented as: P (A) P (B) = P (A and B) This shows that they are very different concepts, even in their mathematical representation. A good example, is the tossing of a coin. In this case, the expected results can either be a head or a tailthey are mutually exclusive; but not independent. This is depicted by the formula below: P (H and T) = 0 and P (H) P (T) = = 0 When two events are said to be mutually exclusive, it means that they do not occur at the same time. This means that when one occurs in a mutually exclusive situation, it excludes the chances of the other event occurring. For example, when we toss a fair coin, we can only get a head or a tailnot both. Therefore, in mutually exclusive events, only one occurrence is expected at any instance; both events cannot occur at the same time. A good example of mutually exclusive events in business is the act of a deciding to purchase something or not to purchase it. The two actions of purchasing or not purchasing are mutually exclusive events. On the other hand, independent events do not affect the occurrence of either of them. This means that, when one event occurs, it does not affect the occurrence of the other eventsneither of the events influences one another (Mukhopadhyay, 2000, p. 10). Therefore, the probability that one of the events occurs does not in any way affect the probability of the other event occurring. For example, in a business organization, the occurrence of 25 years old male employees does not affect in any way the occurrence of 25 years old female employees. References Black, K. (2009). Business Statistics: Contemporary Decision Making. John Wiley Sons. Mukhopadhyay, N. (2000). Probability and Statistical Inference. CRC Press.