traveler James Stuart first arrived in New York City.
His timing was such that he had missed the city’s New
Year’s Day celebrations by a good eight months.
Perhaps fortunately for him. He might have been
callithumped. There are a number of possible origins
of the obscure word ‘Callithumpian’. Whatever the
source, it’s described in “Mrs. Byrne’s Dictionary of
Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words” as,
“a noisy demonstration”. The whole thing was a
British import, as described by historian Stephen
Nissenbaum's The Battle for Christmas.
“By beating on tin pans, blowing horns, groaning
and shouting catcalls, the music was performed as a
gesture of deliberate mockery . . . the callithumpians
. . . directed their 'rough music' against those who
seemed to be claiming too much dignity or abusing
their power."
On January 1, 1828, the entire cacophonous shivaree
got out of hand. It had begun up in the theater district
along the Bowery, when a contingent of middle-class
revelers, armed with all sorts of noisemakers and well
fortified with liquid refreshments started tossing
limes (don’t ask me where they found limes in early
Manhattan during the winter) through the windows of
one of the local bars. Then they made their boisterous
way over to the City Hotel on Broadway (where the
Stuarts would put up in the coming summer). After
roughing up attendees at a fancy ball there, they turned
next to a nearby African-American church, bursting
through the street door, smashing windows, breaking
up the pews, and physically assaulting the congregation
who were gathered to see in the new year. Heading down
Broadway they looted shops all the way down to the
Battery Park, where they tore down its iron fence and
tossed assorted missiles through windows surrounding
the park where the city’s elite had their town houses.
Then they presumably scattered, stumbling off to nearby
gutters to lie down and make their resolutions.
got out of hand. It had begun up in the theater district
along the Bowery, when a contingent of middle-class
revelers, armed with all sorts of noisemakers and well
fortified with liquid refreshments started tossing
limes (don’t ask me where they found limes in early
Manhattan during the winter) through the windows of
one of the local bars. Then they made their boisterous
way over to the City Hotel on Broadway (where the
Stuarts would put up in the coming summer). After
roughing up attendees at a fancy ball there, they turned
next to a nearby African-American church, bursting
through the street door, smashing windows, breaking
up the pews, and physically assaulting the congregation
who were gathered to see in the new year. Heading down
Broadway they looted shops all the way down to the
Battery Park, where they tore down its iron fence and
tossed assorted missiles through windows surrounding
the park where the city’s elite had their town houses.
Then they presumably scattered, stumbling off to nearby
gutters to lie down and make their resolutions.
We don’t hear of repeat performances in the immediately
following years.
Certainly now, in 1830, the Stuarts apparently enjoyed a
much more sedate celebration, since he makes no mention
of any merrymaking at all. The sun rose on a quite mellow
January 1st; the Stuart party caught a steamboat out of
Hoboken and headed off to Brooklyn Heights to watch
the various sailing packet boats headed for and returning
from Europe.
Stuart reports, “I never witnessed a more animating scene.
On our return through New York we were surprised to
observe the streets more crowded than at any former
period . . . it is usual for people of all descriptions to call
at each other's houses, were it but for a moment, on
the first day of the year. Cold meat, cake , confectionaries,
and wines, are laid out upon a table, that all who call may
partake; and it seems the general understanding,
that such a one's friends as do not call upon him on the
first day of the year are not very anxious to continue his
acquaintance.”
following years.
Certainly now, in 1830, the Stuarts apparently enjoyed a
much more sedate celebration, since he makes no mention
of any merrymaking at all. The sun rose on a quite mellow
January 1st; the Stuart party caught a steamboat out of
Hoboken and headed off to Brooklyn Heights to watch
the various sailing packet boats headed for and returning
from Europe.
Stuart reports, “I never witnessed a more animating scene.
On our return through New York we were surprised to
observe the streets more crowded than at any former
period . . . it is usual for people of all descriptions to call
at each other's houses, were it but for a moment, on
the first day of the year. Cold meat, cake , confectionaries,
and wines, are laid out upon a table, that all who call may
partake; and it seems the general understanding,
that such a one's friends as do not call upon him on the
first day of the year are not very anxious to continue his
acquaintance.”
As we’ve seen repeatedly 19th century Americans really
liked to pack away the vittles. Local bakers outdid
themselves creating the ‘confectionaries’ Stuart mentions.
During the holidays they would each advertise their
grandest creations and visitors come around to gawk
at the grandest, before they’re cut.
One of the bakers would seem to have been going for a
Guinness record, had such things existed then.
His cake weighed in at 1500 pounds.
liked to pack away the vittles. Local bakers outdid
themselves creating the ‘confectionaries’ Stuart mentions.
During the holidays they would each advertise their
grandest creations and visitors come around to gawk
at the grandest, before they’re cut.
One of the bakers would seem to have been going for a
Guinness record, had such things existed then.
His cake weighed in at 1500 pounds.
April 15, 2006
© 2006 David Minor / Eagles Byte
