Elizabeth Cady Stanton Speeches & Writings File Speech: "Christmas on the Mayflower", Foremothers' Dinner, New York, Dec 22, 1893 CHRISTMAS ON THE MAYFLOWER [*headed*] At the Foremothers' Dinner in New York, Dec 22, 1893 Mrs Elizabeth Cady Stanton said: [*solid*] ¶ Historians take so little note of the doings of women and children, that I presume not one of my audience ever heard of Christmas on the Mayflower, and yet the unwritten history of individuals and nations is always most interesting. I am indebted for my facts to Elizabeth Tudor Brewster, named after the Queen. She was a favorite niece of Elder William Brewster, who went to Holland with the Pilgrims, and lived there several years. My husband's mother was a Brewster, and into her hands came many of the private family letters, dim and yellow with time, and among others this account of Christmas. ¶ While yet at sea, the mothers began to discuss the probabilities of reaching land by Dec[ember] 25[th], and of having some little celebration for the children, as they had half a dozen on board, of the right age to enjoy some holiday performances. The foremothers who came from Holland had imbibed the Dutch love for festive occasions, and were more liberal in their views than the rigid Puritans direct from England, who objected to all such fictions as St. Nicholas. But Elder Brewster, then 79 years old, [*158*] 2 and loving children tenderly, gave his vote for the celebration. Accordingly, as they sailed up the beautiful harbor of Plymouth, the mothers were busy in their preparations for the glad day. Knowing the fondness of Indians for beads, they had brought a large box of all sizes and colors, which they were stringing for the little Indians, as they intended to invite a few of them to come on board the ship. The mothers had also brought a barrel full of ivy, holly, laurel, and immortelles, to decorate their log cabins. Of these they made wreaths to ornament the children and the saloon. ¶ As soon as the Mayflower cast anchor, Elder Brewster and his interpreter, and as many of the fathers and mothers as the little boats would hold, went ashore to make arrangements about their cabins, to visit the squaws and invite the children. The interpreter explained to them the significance of Christmas, the custom of exchanging gifts, &c, and they readily accepted the invitation. Massasoit was sachem of the Wampan-noags and chief at this point. His dominion [is] extended from Cape Cod to Narragansett Bay. The yellow fever had swept his tribe, once estimated at 30,000, down to 300, now scattered all along the Southern coast of Massachusetts. When the Pilgrims landed, there were only a few huts at that point. But that noble chief Massasoit was there, fortunately for our little colony, consisting only of 102, all told, men, women [*159*] 3 and children. Massasoit was a splendid specimen of manhood, honest, benevolent, and loved peace. When Christmas dawned bright and beautiful, he came on board with two squaws and six little boys and girls, all in their ornaments, paint, and feathers; the children in bright scarlet blankets, and caps made of white rabbit skins, the little ears standing up on their foreheads, and squirrel tails hanging down their backs. Each one carried a small basket containing beech and hickory nuts and wintergreen berries, which they presented gracefully to the English children standing in a line ready to receive them. The interpreter had taught them to say "Happy to see you," "Welcome", and "Farewell," in the Indian tongue. So they shook hands and received the natives graciously, presenting them, in turn, with little tin pails filled with fried cakes, almonds and raisins, some bright English pennies, a horn and a drum. The mothers tied strings of beads round their necks, wrists, and ankles, with which they were greatly pleased. They went all over the ship, and asked many questions about all they saw. When Massasoit proposed to go, the mothers urged him to stay to dinner, but he declined, saying that they did not understand English customs in eating, and that the children would not know how to use knives, forks and spoons. Moreover, he said, they never ate except when they were 160 4 hungry, and the sun was still too high for that. The exchanging of presents was a very pretty ceremony, and when they were ready to depart, the good Elder placed his hands on each little head, giving a short prayer and his blessing. Massasoit knelt and asked the Elder to give him one also. While all this was transpiring, the squaws slipped round and asked the foremothers to give them some beads, which they readily did, and placed wreaths of ivy on their heads. As they paddled away in their little canoes, the horns and drums sounded quite martial over the water. Then the mothers decorated their tables and spread out a grand Christmas dinner. Among other things, they had brought a box of plum puddings. It is an English custom to make a large number of plum puddings at Christmas time, and shut them up tight in smell tin pails and hang them on hooks on the kitchen wall, where they keep for months. You see them in English kitchens to this day. So, with their plum puddings, gooseberry tarts, brussel sprouts, salt fish, and bacon, the Pilgrims had quite a sumptuous dinner. Then they sang "God save the King", and went on deck to watch the sun go down and the moon rise in all her glory. The children took their little baskets to their berths, the last objects of interest on which their eyes rested, as they fell asleep. 161 5 This friendly reception, planned by the foremothers, made Massasoit and his tribe steadfast friends of the little colony. Two of his little sons that he brought with him to the May Flower, on Christmas, years after came to the court at Plymouth, to have their names changed to English. They chose Alexander and Phillip and were called so ever after. When Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson some years later were banished from Massachusetts, Massasoit harbored them en their way to Rhode Island. The first rebellious foremother introduced to us is Anne Hutchinson. She married, and came with her husband to this country in 1634. She was admitted a member of the Boston Church, and rapidly acquired great influence in the congregation. She instituted meetings of the women of the church, to discuss the sermons and the doctrines preached. Like our Quakers, she believed in the indwelling of the Holy spirit, in the right of individual judgment and conscience, the revelations of the spirit paramount to all other authority. There were 82 opinions condemned by the Synod at Newtown, and all the articles of Anne's faith were found among these. So she was tried and condemned, and banished to Rhode Island. Bancroft says the dispute over this one woman's faith ran so high that it infused its spirit into everything. It interfered with the levy of troops in the Pequod war. 162 6 It lessened the respect shown to the magistrates. It affected the distribution of town lots and the assessment of rates, and on all sides disturbed the public peace. I really do not wonder, when the men of the present day read about the independence of the foremothers, and what one woman like Anne Hutchinson could do to set a whole colony by the ears, that they are afraid to emancipate 30,000,000 of her descendants at one blow. How nervous our clergy would be, if they knew that every Monday morning the women of their congregations would assemble and pick their sermons all to pieces, separating the wheat from the chaff and throwing the latter to the winds ! There would be new terrors in store too for Cleveland, Gresham, Governors and Senators, if a Congress of women should assemble once a year to review their messages, reports and speeches. What would become of Croker and his statement? Of Supreme Court Judges and their decisions ! ! In ten minutes they would all be limp and lifeless like faded flowers in the hands of the botanist. It behooves us to guard well our words here to-day, lest our President should banish us to one of the Sandwich Islands and set up Queen Lilionkaliani to rule over us. For fear of such a calamity, I shall say no more. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON 163 Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.