How Washington Irving Shaped Christmas Traditions

A Brief History

Washington Irving Author who wrote stories associated with Halloween and Christmas Source es Wikipedia.

We often associate the author Washington Irving with Halloween and The Legend of Sleepy Hallow. But the author wrote Christmas tales that shaped the Christmas holiday and the legends of St. Nicholas.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Source: DVD Sofa Epipoca

He wrote on December 6, 1809, A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. Washington Irving wrote the book under a pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker. It parodied the Dutch traditions including their celebrating Saint Nicholas during the holidays with a Santa called Sancke Claus.

In his tale Washington Irving let St. Nick smoke a pipe and fly in a wagon at night filled with toys. St. Nick delivered the toys to children sleeping by filling their stocking with gifts. Later he published another book titled The Sketch Book which included tales about Christmas.

The Sketch Book by Washington Irving with Christmas stories Source: World History Encyclopedia

He described in his stories community dinners, caroling, dancing, festive decorations, and blazing fires to warm cold homes. His tales had a wassail bowl highly spiced and sweetened, roasted apples bobbing, and mistletoe.

The Christmas tales described wealthy passengers with gifts visiting wealthy relative in mansions for Christmas. They had game and rabbit, baskets and boxes of food items, and gifts for children and adults

Christmas Banned From Some Communities

Animation from Wix and Giphy

During the time he wrote the books in Colonial America many citizens disapproved of celebrating Christmas. Many communities banned Christmas celebrations due to religious beliefs and because celebrations had too much food, drinking, and fighting. In the tales he mentions a roasted boars head, peacock pie, fruit, nuts and cakes.

About 10 years after The Sketch Book by Washington Irving came out in print New York citizens celebrated Christmas and retail stores were open longer hours. Citizens embraced the vision that Washinton Irving had in his Christmas tales. Some the titles of the sketches were Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas Dinner.

More About His Promotion of Santa Claus and Celebrating Christmas

Early Santa Carrying Toys in a Wagon Image Source: Dreamtime/ Yuthana Rangdang

Washinton Irving promoted St. Nicholas who eventually became Santa Claus. He founded the Saint Nicholas Society in New York in 1835. He served as secretary until 1841. In his writing he depicted Christmas as a festive time to give present and enjoy food and drink with family and friends. He laid the foundation of Christmas celebration in the United States.

Image of St. Nick or Santa Image Source: Public Domain Picture

Santa Animation in a Simple Source: Giphy

REFERENCES

Washinton Irving The Great Chronicler of Christmas Cheer, by Bill Cary, Westchester Magazine, December 23, 2020

The Christmas Dinner by Washington Irving, The Literature Network, 2025

How Washington Irving Shaped Christmas In America by Danny Heitman, Humanities The Magazine for National Endowment For The Humanities, Fall 2016 Volume 37, Number 4

Washington Irving and St. Nicholas by Melissa Huber, St. Nicholas Center- From Independent Conrad Montana, December 29, 2013

Reading Washington Irvings Christmas Tales, Project Gutenberg Old Christmas Tales