HISTORIC CAPE CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS QUIETLY

When Cape Girardeau was founded 200 years ago on the west bank of the Mississippi River some 45 river miles south of Ste. Genevieve, Christmas was not observed as it is today. Christmas, with all the decorations, the programs in churches, schools, organizations, the commercialism, has mushroomed during the 20th century.

The French rivertown, established as a Spanish post under the supervision of Louis Lorimier, the commandant, was quiet and dark on Christmas Eve. Candles were extinguished in the log cabins and residents were asleep. Outside, the stars were bright in the night sky. If the night was clear, the sound of the river lapping against the shore seemed loud because of the stillness of the night. If there was snow covering the ground, the scene must have resembled one of our modern Christmas cards.

The traditions we observe today in connection with the birth of Christ were not known or practiced. Life at Christmas was the same as on any other day. It was hard. Supplies were short and scarce. The residents were few in number and expected nothing that they could not provide for themselves from the labor of their bodies.

Early Cape Girardeau is difficult for us to imagine because today our lives are so different. There was no church in the town until after a Catholic priest from St. Mary of the Barrens turned one of the first riverfront warehouses into a chapel. That priest was Father John Timon, who was ordained in 1825 and began his mission work in Perry and Cape Girardeau counties. Until then, what religious services there were were held in the home of Daniel F. Steinback, whose wife, Agatha, was one of Louis Lorimier's daughters.

The French people are essentially mindful of their religion at all times. And although they may not outwardly profess their faith and inner feelings, their observance of their Christian beliefs are in their minds and hearts from the time they are young until their deaths.

The Christmas tree we associate with the holiday was not in early Cape Girardeau homes. When it was introduced years later, it was a cedar because the area was a natural-growth region for cedars. The pines or various varieties that are sold and used as Christmas trees are beautiful and are brought to the area from the north, but they were not popular here years ago. Even today many families cling to the traditional cedar tree.

The Christmas tree was an English custom made popular by English families who began crossing the Mississippi in numbers after 1804, bringing their families and customs with them. Not only did the English families come, but so did German families.

Jackson was settled mostly by Germans who were steeped in Christmas customs, including the decorated holiday tree. Their native Prince Albert gave his bride, English Victoria, a tree, and since Victoria was Queen of England the English adopted the tree and thoroughly enjoyed the new-found holiday decoration in their homes. They in turn brought the idea with them when they came to the New World.

The wonder of it all is that the French, who were the original settlers of the Mississippi River towns along the west bank from the north to the Gulf, and who gave us French Christmas customs, were not forgotten and lost to us forever. Fortunately, they have remained, and the French families who still are plentiful throughout the region continue to practice their native Christmas customs during the holiday season.

Christmas in a French home is not commercialized. The tree is under the supervision of the father, who puts it up behind closed doors not to be seen by the family until after they return from Christmas Eve midnight mass and after the Christmas feast that prepared by the mother over several days is eaten. There are many special dishes served during the Christmas meal. It goes on for a long time, and continues even after the family views the Christmas tree. Most of the time the tree is cedar. Originally the tree was lighted with candles, and father had buckets of water close by in case a candle began to burn some of the cedar.

The children's shoes that had been polished days before Christmas were lined up on the hearth, and into one shoe of each pair two presents were placed one by the parents and one by St. Nick. Only the young children received gifts. When one became a teenager, gifts were not left by St. Nick.

Christmas was a family celebration, the time of family reunions and sharing of concern and love for one another. The day, the week, the season was a reverent time and observed as the birthday of the Christ child. The manger was always beneath the tree. From the time French children were young, they were taught Christ lived within them and gave them life, and they were to serve him.

The Christmas cake was sponge cake iced with chocolate, baked as a jelly roll yule log, and eaten on the eve of Joyous Noel. The coconut cake that became popular with southern families at Christmas has also been added to the Christmas menu. Fruit cake is English.

Other nationalities have now come into the area and added their customs for the Christmas season to those that have been practiced since the days of the pioneers. Today, Christmas, as we begin the 200th birthday of the city of Cape Girardeau, is full to the brim with the joy of Christmas, and the season's best wishes are extended to all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!