On the 4th Day of Christmas Past,
Question: What unexpected problems could not dim the enjoyment during two Pioneer Christmas Celebrations?
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“December 25, 1877 (Southeastern Nevada) “
“As the first year of settlement ended in the little town of Bunkerville, twenty-three people made up the community. It had been a struggling year, with no time for fun or recreation in the face of a serious effort for sheer survival. But the crops had been good, so it was decided to celebrate with a dance.
A few rude kerosene lamps gave some illumination, and music was supplied by Ithamar Sprague playing his accordion. Settlers came from near and far and admission was paid in potatoes, pumpkins, squash, or other produce, which was piled near the musician’s stand.
Big tables groaned under stacks of refreshments for the dancers, who tromped and stamped with thankfully huge work shoes and not slippers, because of the rough planking used as a dance floor to keep from kicking up all the dust on the ground. They loved to dance and this was their first opportunity in more than a year.
They danced with such enthusiasm that unexpectedly rough pine splinters would slough off the make shift dance floor and would build up. Splinters started to be flicked every which way at all the dancers. Every few minutes the dancing had to be paused for the floor to be cleared away, removing all the splinters so it wouldn’t continue to become kicked into anyone’s eyes or skin. The dancing continued until daybreak, when weary couples sorted out their own slumbering children from the heap in back of the musician and made their way to their homes out in the sagebrush.”
“1907 La Verkin, Utah”
By Sarah A. Sanders
“The La Verkin LDS Ward had their first Christmas party and program in 1907. Bishop Morris Wilson Jr., hauled a cedar tree in from the foothills. The butt of the tree was thrust into a hub of a wagon wheel which served as a stand. They decorated the tree with threaded popcorn, colorful homemade paper chains and wax candles. They bought mosquito netting from Isom’s store in Virgin City and made bags which were filled with nuts and candy as gifts for the children.
The eyes of the children sparkled when the candles were lit and the program was presented. Then old Santa appeared to distribute the sacks of candy and nuts. His cotton beard caught on fire while he was removing the candy from the tree. Mrs. Joseph Bubler began clawing the burning cotton from Old Santa and scratched his face. Although Santa’s helper lost his disguise, no serious injury was caused and everyone still enjoyed the party.”
Splinters from rough wood and a beard on fire could not dampen the joy and spirit that the Christmas season brings.
Splinters and Santa’s beard catching fire are unusual problems for us nowadays at Christmas, but if we feel the true meaning of Christmas we can enjoy our friends and family no matter what happens.
At Bunkerville, the enthusiastic dancers had to stop every few minutes to sweep away the splinters caused by their boots, but they still danced until dawn.
Santa’s beard cUght on fire during the LaVerkin Christmas celebration, but was quickly clawed off his face, and the party went on.
I loved this story so much because my family settled Bunkerville and Mesquite. I love that splinters and fire on Santa’s beard didn’t stop the fun and joy they received that Christmas.
Very special that you have that family tie to the story!
I have many memories of simpler and sweeter Christmas celebrations with family and friends. My parent talked of dances in their days that lasted until the wee hours. Though farmers they could dance full ballroom and the then popular jitterbug.
What great enthusiasm those pioneers had for dancing even on a floor that kept becoming a hazard because of splinters caused by the dancing. Picturing Santa’s beard catching fire had to be frightening at the time, but a story told from one generation to the next!
In the first account, I love the way they danced the night away in celebration even with the trials that came their way. In the second account I think it is awesome that they mention how the children’s eyes light up to see the meager sacks of candy and nuts. Both accounts show trials but took the time for sharing with friends and family in celebration.
The story of the splinters on the dance floor and the enthusiasm of the dancers showed how our early pioneers would find joy in being together and dancing until dawn. Santa’s beard catching on fire could have ruined the celebration but the pioneers still enjoyed the Christmas party.
Ok. Both of these stories gave me visuals that made me laugh a little. Splinters flying every which way and Santa’s beard in flames. Christmas Memories that would never be forgotten…
Cute stories.. the pioneers danced and danced until the wooden planks they were dancing on splintered . It was the first fun event they’d had in a year.
In the second story, Santa was passing out candy to the kids when his cotton beard caught fire. Some lady put it out and the party went on.
These wonderful pioneers had such hardships and trials, but through it all they needed to be together and celebrate what they had. In both stories they pooled their resources and pulled together to celebrate the good in their lives.
The holiday parties were not damped by the splinters in the dance floor or Santa’s beard catching on fire.
The pioneers in the first story had to stop dancing periodically to clear the dance floor of splinters from the rough planks, so they wouldn’t
Injure anyone as they danced. In the second story, Santa’s beard caught on fire from the Christmas tree candles. Luckily he was not injured. Neither of these incidents seemed to dampen the spirits of those joined together to celebrate the wonderful Christmas season. Hopefully, we can learn from their example and be strong in our celebration of the birth of the Christ child.
We can all relate to unexpected happenings at family and community Christmas celebrations like children being pushed off the stage at a ward party.
Pioneer Christmas celebrations were no different from Splintered dance floors to smoldering Santa beards. It only makes the joyful gatherings more memorable.
The best Christmases come with family and friends gathering and sharing love with each other. Merry Christmas everyone.
I’m a direct descendent of Edward Bunker, Sr., founder of Bunkerville, Nevada. It was a fun story to read–I wasn’t aware of the incident. Considering the enormous challenges of carving out a settlement in the Nevada desert along the Virgin River, flying splinters from the dance floor were probably more of an nuisance than anything else. But, Santa’s beard catching fire in LaVerkin and having the poor elf’s face inadvertedly scratched by a well-intended rescuer would be a tramatic event for both Santa and all the children witnessing the incident!
How neat that you have that family tie to that story!
They were not going to let splinters or santa’s Beard catching fire stop them from celebrating what Christmas is all about!
When a grand harvest allowed the town to celebrate a dance with a plentiful feast. With the weight large tables covered in refreshments and and enthusiastic movement of dancers on the dance floor, rough pine splinters would build up. This caused the dance to be paused every few minutes to have it cleared away.
When Santa’s cotton beard caught fire when he attempted to remove candy from the church’s Christmas tree, Mrs. Joseph Bubler clawed the beard from Santa’s face. Santa had lost his disguise, and thankfully no serious injury was caused and everyone still enjoyed the party.
The people of Bunkerville danced so much that they kicked up splinters off the pine planks they put down. They had to stop every so often to remove the splinters so they didn’t hurt anyone. And the Fire that caught Santa’s beard on fire and Santa got scratched badly by a lady trying to help him. Ibut no one was hurt and they all were able to celebrate Christmas!