By Sophia Ulmer
Of all the holidays, Christmas evokes the most sensory memories: bells, carols, and lively chatter of fire-warmed gatherings; the rich smells of the kitchen and distinctly festive flavors on the palate; the deep red and green of holly boughs amid constellations of little lights all a’ twinkle.
Was that same cherished holiday spirit in the Old West? Well, you may find that a few things differ. Improvisation was key for frontier communities, who forged their own celebratory traditions with what the landscape offered. The gifts in the Old West were both inspired and generous, despite limited resources.
A Time for Gifts
On the frontier, where harsh conditions often left people struggling to make ends meet, holiday gift-giving and charity were consequential gestures of compassion that helped solidify bonds within communities. Acts of kindness during Christmas weren’t just reserved for those who could afford them—many individuals gave from what little they had, spreading joy and hope during the winter months.
In the first recorded Western Christmas, Lewis and Clark presented the group with some of the few remaining supplies—handkerchiefs and tobacco. Eventually, community Christmas trees at local churches served as a “means of conveying gifts.” In an 1880 account from Nebraska, a child writes of visiting a Christmas tree, receiving a “red calico dress” and “strings of candy and raisins.” Other common gifts for children were handmade toys and trinkets—carved wooden figures or corn-husk dolls—and treasured treats like fruit, nuts, and sweets, or perhaps a copper penny.
In many frontier towns, someone would dress as Santa Claus to distribute gifts at community events. Evolved from the Dutch figure Sinterklaas, Santa gained popularity after Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” By the mid-1800s, the mythologically generous elf reached even remote frontier areas. St. Nicholas Magazine became popular among frontier children, bringing holiday stories, games, and crafts to isolated communities during long winters.
But on the toughest terrain, you were lucky to see an elk or antelope to shoot, let alone a flying herd of reindeer pulling a fantastical sleigh.
But in one 1888 account, a miner recalled a Christmas eve “up in Pass Creek, northern Wyoming.” He’d been fantasizing about Christmas with friends in Billings, “a mug of steamin’ Tom and Jerry” in his hand, when his companion lit a kerosene lamp and it was revealed: a “big wooden box” from their bosses in Boston. “We pried off that lid in a hurry, began pullin’ out things. We was as happy as any two little boys you ever saw,” he wrote. The goods? “Two Arctic sleepin’ bags. We wouldn’t be cold any more at night. Thick wool socks, tobacco, a big fruitcake, candy, [and] … several good books.”
The Generous Spirit of the West
The Gunsmoke episode “P.S. Murry Christmas” captures this spirit of giving, with a dose of holiday mischief, when Titus Spangler, recently fired from the orphanage run by the strict Emma Grundy, overhears the children lamenting their lack of a Christmas celebration. Wondering if you can kidnap the willing, Spangler, with Grundy at his heels, smuggles the kids to Dodge City. There, the townsfolk, led by a clever Miss Kitty, rally against the headmistress to give the orphans a proper holiday party. [A young Jodie Foster appears in this episode (S17E15) as well as S15E13 and S17E20.]
Historical accounts confirm such charitable deeds, often initiated by some of the wealthiest frontier women (or at least those in a relatively high-earning profession common to the region and era), this altruism often extending to strangers. In 1909, Colorado madam Blanche Burton used her earnings to purchase a ton of coal for local families, ensuring they had heat through the bitter winter.
Memoirist Madeleine Blair, when she was a saloon girl in Kansas City “wanted to go to church” on Christmas, “but several reasons” prevented her. “There was an unwritten law among the girls that religion was taboo,” Madeleine explained, but “no such superstition hindered” her. “I had been taught that Christ came to save sinners, not saints, but since I could not leave my profession, I looked upon it as being in questionable taste.”
Intending to go into “one of the many restaurants which lined that thoroughfare, Madeleine spotted two half-frozen newsboys standing on the corner.” When she offered to buy them dinner, “they responded with alacrity,” saying “they knew two more kids on Main Street who had no Christmas dinner.” Accompanied by her “four newly found friends,” Blair secured a private table at Staley & Dunlop’s. “The head waiter said no doubt they were working me, but I did not care,” she wrote. “I was perfectly willing to be worked.” She enjoyed “the society of these dirty-faced urchins as much as they enjoyed the dinner which they consumed.”
Bolstered by hope, California pioneer Catherine Haun, who subsisted on bear meat when her riverside community flooded on Christmas in 1849, later wrote of the experience: “Although very tired of tent life … I do not remember ever having had happier holiday times.” Madeleine, too, concluded, “Christmas Day had not been so dreary as I supposed it would be.” Surely, this impulse to share with others is the gleefully infectious holiday spirit.
Cowfolk Gifts for Anyone
Here are some Wild West-themed gift ideas for anyone on your list.
Dinner: Like Madeleine to the boys on the street, as the gentlemen patrons had to her, treating someone to a meal—really making an experience of it, whether at a restaurant or with special ingredients at home—is a memorable, meaningful gesture.
Edibles: Just like today, settlers in the West shared treats like fresh or exotic produce, homemade candy and fudge, gingerbread, cookies, breads and, yes, fruitcake. Got your apron hand? Now’s your time to shine in the kitchen! If you’re a little rusty, go ahead and treat yourself to a practice batch before sharing.
Tools: For most settlers on the frontier, store-bought presents such as tools were rare luxuries; today, most folks, regardless of age or gender, light up at the idea of visiting either an arts/crafts store, a hardware store, or a fabric store.
Decor and Accessories: From footstools and embroidered pillows to handkerchiefs and perfume sachets, most presents in the West were handmade, with families often working on them for months in advance. Whether you’re a practiced pro or just getting started, if you have a crafty hobby, gather your supplies and reallocate the time you’d spend shopping to flexing your creative muscles. Alternatively, using websites such as Etsy to purchase gifts from Western-based artisans, especially those on reservations, boosts those local economies.
Cold-Weather Comforts: Who doesn’t savor a soft, cushiony pair of fresh socks? Or some warm new gloves, a hat, or a scarf? Any of these items would have been given as gifts in the early West. Similarly, inspired by the 1888 miner’s delight at the “Arctic sleeping bags,” nearly everyone appreciates a good blanket. Certainly, if you are a quilter, a handmade blanket or quilt is one of the most heartfelt gifts imaginable. But there are throws for every season, climate and budget. If your recipient has “too many” cozy things (preposterous!), suggest they replace an older blanket, launder and seal it in a waterproof bag, and hand it off to someone less fortunate.
Books: “Best of all,” wrote the 1888 miner, “there was several good books.” If your loved one love Westerns, you can gift them just anything by Cormac McCarthy or Willa Cather, or other beloved titles like “Lonesome Dove” or “Riders of the Purple Sage.” For our esteemed geeks, scope out nonfiction related to their particular interest, including books for younger readers. Visit your local independent bookstore to ask the employee their recommendation, or delight in the thrill of the hunt searching antique shops, thrift stores, and rare book collections for classics that are as absorbing as they are objets d’art.
Kindness: No books to give, pioneer Elizabeth Le Breton Gunn and her husband included hand-written letters in their children’s stockings. Indeed, any loved one would appreciate receiving kind words and updates in the days leading up and into the new year. Christmas cards were introduced to the U.S. in 1875 by German immigrant Louis Prang, who created the affordable miniature images to stimulate popular interest in original decorative art and to educate public taste and, thanks to the mid-century sophistication of mail delivery, Christmas cards made their way West.
The cold, hard stuff: Speaking of greeting cards and what may hide within them, giving small amounts of money has always been a Christmas custom for some. For a Wild West twist, you could present your loved one with gold–bars, or vintage coins or jewelry.
Cowfolk Gifts for Children
Stash of Precious Minerals: In the West, depending on the financial position of one’s caretaker, even a child might receive a miniature nugget of gold as a present. Even into adulthood, some may keep special rocks to display in potted plants or on bookshelves. Hand-selecting a collection of multi-colored semi-precious gemstones from your local hippie haven will be a hit with most kids. Pyrite—fool’s gold—is a must!
Shiny, but sensible: Stockings, if filled, likely contained only simple necessities; children delighted in a new pen or toothbrush. One of Laura Ingalls’s childhood Christmas gifts was “a shiny new tin cup.” Today, too, remember that children delight in the smallest things. A fresh set of glittery markers! An electric toothbrush with my favorite superhero! A shiny new tin cup!
DIY 1800s Pharmacy Kit: Sometimes, even medicine was included in children’s stockings. Elementary-aged kids love making “potions,” and you can create “1800s Pharmacy Kits” with common grocery store finds like various herbs, roots, and dried flowers. Add vinegar, oil, vanilla extract, rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka (just make sure you label these as poisonous and advise supervision!), glass jars, a funnel. You can also include other food-safe ingredients like salt, sugar, or food coloring.
General Store Candy: A fun history lesson and delicious activity is to conduct an old-fashioned candy taste-test! Raid the local candy or general store, or search online for the sweets of yesteryear: molasses, licorice, and horehound candies, maple sugar, rock candy, marzipan, gumdrops, taffy, and candies nuts are good examples. Include a miniature notebook and pen to record the final judgements.
Fancy Fruits: Oranges were a rare delicacy, especially in the first half of the 1800s, and were coveted by children and adults alike. Another engaging gift that embodies the adventurous nature of the Wild West is to go to the international market or the “fancy fruit section” in your grocery store, collecting fruits you don’t recognize and tasting them: think dragonfruits, starfruit, guava, papaya, persimmons and pomegranates, rambutan and lychee. (Not just for kids!)
Cowfolk Gifts for Adults Only
Hearkening to the days of Lewis and Clark, gifters might purchase loose tobacco and rolling papers—with filters of course—in the hopes that their beloved smokers waste time fumbling and, in effect, consume fewer cigarettes, presumably resulting in an extension of their lives. And for the cowfolks whose vice takes a more liquid form, a bottle of quality whiskey or some antique bar accessories can go a long way.
About Sophia Ulmer
Sophia Ulmer, writer of all genres, is most interested in gender, politics, art, and culture. Her work appears in various anthologies and literary journals. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and is currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina.