Civil War era Santa adorns Gettysburg's downtown
Downtown decorations set in time for Remembrance Day Weekend
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 11/16/2006
Known as “the most famous small town in America,” Gettysburg now has a holiday image reflecting its Civil War heritage. New holiday banners depicting a Civil War-era Santa Claus adorn Gettysburg’s charming downtown streets.
Additionally, Gettysburg’s street-side wrought iron flower baskets are filled with holiday greenery, period decorations and white lights this year for the first time. Thousands of white lights will illuminate the trees on Lincoln Square, thanks to corporate sponsors Century 21 Neighborhood Realty, Ensco Inc, and Gettysburg Pediatrics. And, an effort is underway to brighten hundreds of downtown merchants’ shop windows with welcome candles this holiday season.
A few facts and figures: nearly 50 holiday banners are being hung from telephone poles, nearly 50 baskets of greenery are attached to downtown light posts, and nearly 20,000 lights—that’s 300 strands—are illuminating the trees on Lincoln Square.
The period decorations and new holiday image are the work of Main Street Gettysburg’s Holiday Décor Committee. “The committee, meeting since June, had two primary objectives: to develop design elements unique to Gettysburg and to connect the two commercial districts, Steinwehr Avenue and the downtown,” explains Alice Estrada, Executive Director of Main Street Gettysburg.
Gettysburg’s holiday banners depict a patriotic Santa wearing stars and stripes—an image with ties to the Civil War. Artist Thomas Nast first depicted Santa arriving at a Union Camp dressed in stars and stripes, handing out gifts to soldiers, in Harper’s Weekly on January 3, 1863. This is considered “the birth of American Santa,” since it was the first illustration of Santa to appear in this country. Nast continued to draw numerous pictures depicting Santa and Christmas scenes of the period. He is credited with creating our popular image of Santa as we know him today in America.
The town’s new holiday décor was made possible through grants from the Hoffman Trust and the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor. Dozens of community volunteers gave their time and talents by assisting with the planning and implementation of the new holiday décor. Interfaith Housing Authority workers installed the holiday baskets and workers with the Borough’s Highway Department installed the Civil War Santa Banners.
Captions for attached images:
1 - Gettysburg’s new holiday image includes this banner design depicting a traditional 1860’s era Civil War Santa.
2 – Original Thomas Nast Illustration depicting Santa arriving at a Union Camp dressed in stars and stripes, handing out gifts to soldiers, from Harper’s Weekly, January 3, 1863. This is considered “the birth of American Santa,” since it was the first illustration of Santa to appear in this country. Nast is credited with creating our popular image of Santa as we know him today in America. Illustration courtesy Sons of the South, www.sonofthesouth.net.
###
CONTACT: Karen Hendricks, Events Coordinator, (717) 337-3491
VisitPA.com
