The Moravians, years back, were intentionally simple people. This is not to be confused with being simple-minded. As regarding Christmas Moravians of old would not understand our extravagance in Christmas gift giving.
Records and diaries of the period seldom describe the gift given although they were mentioned. One Peter Wolle in 1816 references small gifts like “sugar-things” for his godchildren. He also mentioned receiving “a wax-candle with three wicks and 2 apples.”
In a paper given to the Alumnae Society of the Moravian Girls Boarding School in Salem, on June 3, 1890, Miranda Miller Scarborough talked about the period of 1831-1834. She said:
“I still remember how happy we were on every Christmas morning when we entered our study rooms to see on each of our table drawers a profusion of candy, cakes, nuts, etc. and also two wax candles for each girl, which were burning emblematic of the ‘light which was coming into the world,’ and made everything look so pretty. We enjoyed it all…”
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