geeky
Hayes was elected president in 1876 following the most contentious presidential election ever. In 1877, following his first White House Christmas, he wrote in his diary:
December 26, 1877 – Our visit to New York, 21st and 24th, was a most happy one. The Union League reception, 22nd, the American Museum of Natural History opening, and the New England dinner, all enjoyable. Christmas, the presents to the children made them and their parents equally happy.
President and Mrs. Hayes had eight children – one daughter and seven sons. The entries in Hayes' diary make it clear that he loved his children very much and often wrote about them with humor in his diary. Christmas of 1880 was spent in the White House library with his children, some friends, and the servants. The Christmas presents were kept in the Red Room and his children would run to get the presents one at a time and bring them to their father, who would then take a great deal of time distributing the gifts to the proper recipients. All parties present shared in the fun and received at least a five dollar gold piece from President Hayes.
While serving as United States President, Hayes spent four Christmases in the White House, and there is evidence that although he didn't send Christmas cards out, he received several of then. First Lady Pat Nixon set up a Christmas display in the East Wing corridor that included three Christmas cards received by President Hayes during his term and a large doll house made for Fanny Hayes (shown in the picture below) by White House carpenters, given to her during her first Christmas in the White House.
First Lady Lucy Hayes would not serve alcohol in the White House, so lemonade would have been served on Christmas Day. (Those who liked their liquor would derisively refer to her as "Lemonade Lucy">) President Hayes loved to take family and friends out on sleigh rides during the Christmas season and this was the inspiration for the official White House ornament that was issued in 2004 by President George W. Bush (pictured below).
First Lady Lucy Hayes was said to have loved the holiday season. She would invite staff members and their families to celebrate with the First Family on Christmas morning and to have Thanksgiving dinner with them. Lucy Hayes was known for her sing-a-longs during her White House stay and Christmas in the White House included many Christmas carols.
On Christmas Day in 1878 President Hayes made this entry into his journal:
25th December, 1878. A happy day for Fanny and Scott. Lucy not quite well. Mrs. Austin and Lizzy and Lena Scott visiting us. Ruddy at home. More presents than ever before. But a long day! We are prosperous — our main ideas more acceptable than ever — Resumption seems assured — The Southern policy safely vindicated — we both long to be at home, and free and at peace! Two years more of responsibility, care, and labor!
(Ruddy was the President’s then 20-year-old son. Fanny and Scott were his two youngest children.)
The Christmas season of 1852 was likely a memorable one for Hayes as well. That year, Hayes was preparing for his wedding to Lucy Ware Webb. He had met Lucy when he was 23. When she graduated from Wesleyan Female College, they became engaged for a year and a half before getting married at her mother’s home on December 30.
During the Civil War, Hayes missed the company of his family and sent many letters to his wife. Lucy Hayes spent the time raising her growing family and volunteering as a nurse in the military hospital. In 1861, Hayes received a Christmas gift in the form of a telegram announcing the birth of a new son. During Christmas of 1862 Hayes was still away in the army, but he was able to share a Christmas meal with four of Lucy’s cousins at his camp. He received a Christmas gift from his wife of spurs and pictures of the children and her.