Let's
look at some Christmases past, as described in news articles from the
Yorba Linda Star:
--Citrus
farming, along with oil production, topped the economy in early Yorba
Linda, with dozens of page one stories charting the ups and downs of
the citrus industry for decades.
One
interesting story from the Dec. 26, 1924, issue combined the constant
worry about a freezing crop due to winter-time climate with a holiday
weather report about strong winds.
The
front-page article was headlined “High winds spoil pretty Christmas
day but saves citrus from frost.” Later articles stated “Citrus
fruits have biggest Christmas week in history” (Dec. 31, 1943) and
“Good Christmas...enjoyed by California navels and lemons” (Dec.
24, 1948).
--Another
report, from Dec. 28, 1928, brings to mind the current problem of
holiday thefts, with criminals stealing packages from front porches.
A
“Christmas burglar,” as labeled by the reporter, only took a few
cartons of cigarettes, while overlooking $235 in cash from the home
of a resident. A prior July 4, 1924, article had noted the Chamber of
Commerce offered a $50 reward for home burglary arrests.
--Christmas
seals sales, which began in this country in 1907 to outfit
sanitariums for tuberculosis treatment, were the subject of many
articles in the 1930s and 1940s, with civic-minded residents heading
each year's local fundraising activities.
One
early leader in the effort was Mabel Paine, chief of the 1932 charity
drive and a local school district principal from 1915 until retiring
in 1947.
--A
Chamber of Commerce recommendation was reported on Dec. 12, 1941,
five days after the Pearl Harbor attack. The group “discouraged”
the use of outdoor Christmas lighting, an idea supported by a jittery
population.
A
photograph in the Dec. 22, 1944, edition showed some of the 15,000
boxes of oranges that were gathered from the local area and sent to
servicemen for Christmas.
By
Nov. 22, 1946, the story was “Christmas lights already beginning to
radiate Yule spirit,” and on Dec. 26, 1947, the topic was
“beautiful displays” that “radiate Christmas spirit of our
town.” Citizens were “urged to compete in Christmas decorating
contest” on Dec. 16, 1949.
--After
World War II, Main Street merchants spread Christmas cheer with
dramatic appearances of Santa Claus: “Big crowd greets Santa as he
steps from helicopter” noted a Dec. 26, 1947, article, and
“Main Street thronged as copter brings Santa Claus to Yorba Linda”
headlined a Dec. 24, 1948, story.
Later,
Santa's arrival was a bit less spectacular, as noted in a Dec. 30,
1949, story: “Kiddies welcome Santa Claus who arrives on a fire
truck.”
--The
currently popular Christmas celebrations are developing a long
history: Eastlake Village boat parade started in 1987, Christmas on
Main Street in 1989, Handel's Messiah sing-a-long in 2004 and
Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree at the Nixon library in 2010.