|
Kevin Rawlings will portray a 19th-century Santa, modeled after one drawn by artist Thomas Nast, tomorrow night at historic Chatham Manor in southern Stafford. Others will depict Union troops after the Battle of Fredericksburg. |
FIFTEEN YEARS ago, Kevin Rawlings was a Civil War re-enactor looking for an interesting role to play at a grand illumination commemoration at the Antietam battlefield.
Looking for a different twist, he seized upon the Civil War Santa Claus depicted by Thomas Nast for the 1862 Christmas season Harper's Weekly.
The Sharpsburg, Md., resident enlisted the help of his wife for the costume, a blue coat with large white stars, topping red-and-white striped pants.
Though the celebration was beset with such cold weather that Rawlings' Santa had to move indoors, visitors were struck by the costume's authenticity and the amateur historian's love for the Civil War and the evolution of the character known as Santa.
"Before long, I was traveling all over the country, to historic sites, museums and other places to portray a Civil War Santa," Rawlings said. "It's to the point now where I'm booked a year or two in advance."
Tomorrow night, Fredericksburg-area residents will get a chance to see Rawlings as the Thomas Nast Union-sympathizing Santa, and to hear about Christmas traditions during the Civil War. The National Park Service is holding a special program, "Privation and Joy: Wartime Christmas at Chatham," at the historic Chatham Manor in Stafford County, from 6 to 8:30.
In addition to Rawlings' Santa, the look at Christmas in 1862 will include a visit with Federal soldiers around a fire. They will talk of missing loved ones, and of the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Fredericksburg days earlier.
Inside Chatham, a Southern lady and a slave will give details about their Christmas in 1862, surrounded by greenery and candles similar to what would have been used for decorations during the Civil War.
Rawlings will appear each half-hour or so. After the presentations, visitors are welcome to enjoy refreshments and an open house with the chance to see some of the rooms not normally open to the public.
After hearing about Rawlings from the folks at Chatham, I was curious to find out how he's become perhaps the foremost authority on Civil War Santas, as well as other historic representations of the big, bearded figure.
"As I began to get more calls to do the Civil War Santa, I wanted to be up on his history, to have something to say when kids ask questions," said the 47-year-old Rawlings, who charges enough for his appearances to cover his expenses and buy a few Christmas gifts. "I have always liked history and enjoyed learning more about that and about the way Christmas and its traditions developed in this country."
When he talks at Chatham, the white-bearded gent--his day job is with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore--will focus partly on Christmas for soldiers during the Civil War.
"I'll tell them about the Christmas boxes some men on both sides got from wives or sisters and mothers back home," said Rawlings, pulling back the long hair that he must treat to keep it as pure white as his beard.
Those boxes, he said, might have been filled with chickens, hams or turkeys, fresh preserves or jam, pies or cakes and and a new shirt, socks or other necessities, he said.
"Those who were lucky enough to receive a Christmas box with those items would share it with others who didn't," he explained. "Putting a few of those boxes together, they could make a fine Christmas dinner for the whole outfit."
Rawlings said that he also does a contemporary Santa.
"Once you have the hair and the beard of white, the rest is easy," said Rawlings, who dispenses Santa lore and history when he dons the traditional red suit.
"I like to tell them that St. Nick is a character who hasn't been around for just a hundred years or so, but for more than a thousand," he said. "I tell them what I'm wearing is just what I grabbed from the closet on that visit."
Whether he's discussing the first use of Christmas trees in Civil War-era homes or the various publications that gave Northern and Southern ideas for new styles of Christmas decorations, Rawlings can go on for hours about the evolution of Christmas in this country and others.
A favorite tidbit: the fact that the Civil War helped raise the price of a dearly loved Christmas tradition, shooting off firecrackers.
"They shot up to 45 cents," Rawlings said. "Kids who used to shoot them off on Christmas morning couldn't afford to set off a handful as they had in the past. Also, there was a concern that the explosions could cause trouble, being taken for an enemy advance."
For more information, call one of the park visitor centers at 540/373-6122 or 540/786-2880.
To reach ROB HEDELT: 540/374-5415 rhedelt@freelancestar.com
