- May 2, 2024
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The Ormond Beach Historical Society hosted folklorist and dramatist Diane Jacoby as she brought her holiday show: "Christmas with Mrs. Flagler" to the Anderson-Price Memorial building on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Jacoby performed on stage in period dress in front of a live audience and featured the historical drama of the elegant Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, wife of industrialist Henry Morrison Flagler. The Mary Lily character sparkled in the surroundings of colorful Christmas decor as she recounted the fascinating origins of America’s beloved Christmas decorations, traditions and celebrations.
The Christmas adventure started with the first Winter Solstice celebrations, and included the wild frolics of Medieval 12th Night feasts, and its grand finale was highlighted with glittering Victorian Christmas Celebrations at Henry Flagler’s Grand Florida Hotels.
Many in the audience were intrigued to learn that Christmas trees did not originate with Christianity or Christmas traditions. The heritage of hanging evergreen and spruce branches at doors and windows dates back to ancient times when it was a symbol of good luck, and when many people believed this practice would keep evil spirits, ghosts, and witches away from their homes.
What we would recognize as a traditional Christmas tree appeared in Germany in the Middle Ages. Documentation from the 1400s reveals that early Christmas trees were decorated with such items as apples, flour-paste wafers, gingerbread, nuts, pretzels, straw, tinsel, and wool thread.
The first Christmas tree tradition arrived in America during the 18th and 19th centuries with German immigrants, mainly settling in Pennsylvania.
In 1846, English Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who was from Germany, were sketched around a Christmas tree with their children. This sketch was published in England and the United States and it caused a sensation (today we would say it went viral). The sketch made the Christmas tree fashionable throughout both nations where the tradition survives to this day.
Diane Jacoby is a fourth generation Floridian, now living in St. Augustine, and performs one-woman shows throughout the country. She co-founded The Double Trouble Theatre Co. which specializes in 16th century Spanish Comedia, Murder Mysteries and Ghost Theatre. She has performed in educational films, PBS documentaries and a variety of live theater productions. She is involved with Stetson University’s Road-scholar programs as an adjunct professor where she lectures, performs and coordinates a variety of programs.
