When it comes to Kansas holidays, it’s hard to beat Christmas in Kansas. As a Kansas winery, we love the holidays in Leavenworth at our flagship winery, and at our vineyard in Lawrence–there’s nothing like it!
Bring the Twisted celebration home–order a 32 oz. jug of our famous mulled wine to heat and serve to friends and family!
In light of the impending holiday season, we’re going to share some of our favorite holiday traditions with you. Before we do, let’s take a look at the history of the holidays in Kansas. This heartland state has a lot of history, and we love to share it!
Historic Kansas Holidays
Even before there was officially a Kansas, holidays were a part of the fabric of the society and culture!
Most of what we know about how the early settlers and pioneers celebrated Christmas comes from primary sources. The letters and journals of those brave, intrepid men and women paint a tantalizing picture of Christmas past.
The Kansas Historical Society quotes some journal entries from a woman named Julia Hand, writing on Christmas 1872, ten years after Kansas became a state. Living in Reno County as some of the very first settlers, she describes Christmas as “lonely.” To mark the day, she makes popcorn and makes molasses candy for her kids.
Julia’s decision to make candy from molasses would have been fairly common. Sugar was expensive, and often had to be imported from great distances. Molasses was a frequent sweetener, as was honey and sorghum.
A year later, they are able to celebrate with a friend, and she describes her children finding small gifts in their stockings. Perhaps not the merriest of Kansas holidays. However, it certainly gives us an understanding of the difficult circumstances people faced in the early days of the state.
Around the same time, in eastern Kansas, Christmas in Kansas was a little different. That part of the state was a little more established, meaning their holidays were slightly jollier. The Kansas Historical Society has the recollections of a Harriet E. Smith.
Her description of Christmas as a child in 1870s Marysville would not seem much out of place today. She remembers worrying if there would be snow for Santa’s sleigh. She asked her mother whether Santa could leave presents, since her family’s house lacked a chimney.
Clearly, these are not the concerns of a child whose holiday celebrations consisted primarily of popcorn and homemade candy.
Another reality faced by Kansas pioneers: the difficulty of travel during the winter. In order to attend Christmas services at church, early Midwest settlers sometimes had to walk for many miles. If it was too difficult to travel such a distance, families would opt to read Bible stories and perform religious observances at home.
Christmas in Kansas: O Christmas Tree!
Again in the 1870s, historical Kansas newspapers start to mention Christmas trees in a way that suggests they were quite common. These trees would have been decorated with simple, handmade ornaments: popcorn strings, dried berries, even candles.
There is also evidence that during Christmas, Kansas holidays included presents on the tree itself. Small gifts we might typically think of stocking stuffers today festooned the tree. Things like handkerchiefs, knives, and candy were hung from the trees’ branches.
By the mid-twentieth century, aluminum Christmas trees were all the rage. Today, of course, those have been largely replaced by the ubiquitous fake plastic trees. Unlike their aluminum forebears, these are usually designed to closely resemble the real thing.
Before we move on, we’ll never hear the end of it from our lawyers if we don’t tell you something important. The US Fire Administration discourages the use of real candles, and encourages the use of flameless candles. Oh, and if you have a real tree–be sure to keep it watered!
Kansas Holidays in Leavenworth and Lawrence: Traditions of Today
Here at Z&M, we love traditions. Even our name, “Twisted Vines,” refers to the combination of our adopted Kansas roots, traditions and legacy from Bryan’s military service, and Gina’s Italian heritage.
We bring these unique influences forward in the flavors and textures of our innovative wines. Even though we love doing things our own way, we wouldn’t be who we are without tradition.
That’s why we’d like to share our treasured Christmas traditions with you here.
BRYAN & GINA’S CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
Food and family inform a lot of our holiday traditions. Bryan’s Hispanic heritage and Bryan’s Italian traditions inform their holiday celebrations.
They load the table with festive favorites from their families’ home countries, where eating is a big part of being merry. Often in Italy, Christmas Eve dinner is pretty light, with the bigger meal saved up for Christmas Day itself. Italian-Americans, however, tend to go in for heavier fare.
Above all, the main Z&M holiday tradition is spending the day together as a family. As a veteran-owned business, we never take for granted the ability to spend the holidays with each other.
We are careful to keep in mind those military families who are not so lucky. If you’re looking for a special way to spend the holidays, perhaps consider giving back by supporting a charity that supports veterans, service members, or their families. If there’s a military family in your neighborhood who’s separated for the holidays–consider dropping off dinner, holiday treats, or a bottle of wine!
Celebrate the Holidays in Leavenworth and Lawrence with Z&M
If you’re looking for the ideal holiday gift, we’ve got you covered. Stop by Z&M (or order online) to brainstorm Christmas gift ideas for the special people on your list.
Come see us at our winery in Leavenworth and our Lawrence vineyard to shop wines, gift baskets, wine accessories, and more! We have items made by military spouses, as well as Bella Vino soap, scrubs, candles, and lip care made from our ingredients.
However and whatever you’re celebrating, make Z&M a part of your special days. We are standing by to get you what you need to make your days merry and bright!