When most Americans think of Christmas during the American Revolution, one image rises above all others: George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776, a moment of hardship, resolve, and turning fortune that has become inseparable from our national memory. Yet that powerful scene tells only part of the story.
In reality, Christmas in colonial America was observed very differently depending on region, faith, and tradition. In some places, especially New England, the holiday was scarcely celebrated at all. As we reflect on Washington’s crossing, it is worth exploring how colonists actually experienced Christmas during the 18th century in this article by Jack Campbell from the Fraunces Tavern Museum:
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