Soup at Six: Early Christmas in Canton, Ohio

6:00 PM. Join Mark G. Holland, Archivist, as he transports you back to a time in Canton, Ohio, when there were no Christmas lights, no office Christmas parties (ugh!), and no Charlie Brown Christmas. The universal celebration of Christmas today makes it hard to imagine that in the early days of Canton, Stark County, or even the state of Ohio, Christmas wasn’t recognized as a holiday—it was just another workday. While New Year’s and the 4th of July were celebrated, Christmas was not. Stores remained open, law courts were in session issuing writs and orders, and sheriff’s sales proceeded as usual. Churches didn’t hold Christmas services, and people didn’t send cards or letters. Streets and houses weren’t decorated, and Christmas trees were virtually unheard of. It's particularly curious, given Canton’s strong German influence, as Germans were well-known for their devotion to Christmas. Reservations are required. Pre-registration is required, available online at www.mckinleymuseum.org under the events tab or call 330-455-7043. Deadline for reservations is July 17. Cost is $25 per person and includes soup, bread, and dessert.

Day / Start Time / End Time
Thursday 6:00 PM 6:00 PM

(Source: ohio.org)