Slave Narratives Review Article

Chris'mas, we allus had plenny good sumpin' t'eat, an' we all got tegether an' had lots er fun,"' stated Rias Body, an ex-slave from Alabama, to a Federal Writers' Project interviewer. Of particular enjoyment was the seasonal ritual of running up to the '"big 'ouse early Chris'mas mawnin' an' holler out, "Mawnin,' Chris'mas Gif"!"' when the plantation master and mistress '"give us plenny Sandy Claus"' with the distribution of presents and other festive tokens (Crew, et al, p. 74). '"I know for Christmas de ole messus allus give us a biscuit and a apple"', remembered 85-year-old Silas Spotfore of Louisiana. '"We tho't dat wuz something"' (Tanner, p. 15). Slave children received stuffed toys or candies, fruits, and nuts. Typically, most slave families received clothing provisions, extra rations, and other small articles at Christmas time. '"Marse Elbert"', said Carrie Hudson of her master, arranged '"to have hog killin' close enough to Christmas so dere would be plenty fresh meat"' on his Georgia plantation, '"and dere was heaps of good chickens, tukkeys, cake, candies, and just evvything good"', she remembered (Crew, et al,. Alcohol was also allowed as a Christmas treat. '"Massa David allus give us eggnog and planty good whiskey at Christmas"', recalled Gus Bradshaw of Texas. '"We had all day to eat and drink and sing and dance"' (Crew, et al, p. 75). It was also customary for plantation owners to permit their slaves to attend dances, tea parties, and other forms of entertainment, or 'frolics' as they were often called, on neighbouring plantations.