A retired professor will bring a seasonal Civil War icon to life Saturday in downtown Frederick.
Jim Tent — a former professor of military history at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and now a docent at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine — will fill the role of Civil War Santa.
This is the first time Frederick will be visited by its own Union Civil War Santa.
Tent was asked to play the role last spring, he said, and considering his resemblance to Santa Claus, he agreed.
“He has become a terrific volunteer, and he really does look like Santa,” said Adele Air, director of education for the museum.
Tent was studying in the museum next to a framed Thomas Nast picture of Santa in Harper’s Weekly when Air said she noticed the likeness and asked if he was interested in playing Santa.
Nast’s image of St. Nick was the first Americanized version of the Christmas icon, and his demeanor and dress differed from those of his original European counterpart.
Civil War Santa was a plump, rosy-cheeked and pleasant fellow compared with the skinny and sometimes irritable European Santa.
“He had a kind word for everyone,” Tent said, “unlike the well-established European figure who would give coal to those who misbehaved.”
Harper’s Jan. 3, 1863, issue includes a drawing of Santa giving socks to soldiers and wooden toys to young drummer boys — the earliest portrayal of his visits to the Union Army.
“This made kids feel better,” Air said, “that Santa was out with their dad.”
Santa’s presence among the soldiers was as important to Army morale as it was to children, especially after the Union’s devastating defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862.
He has maintained his jolly demeanor for the last 148 years, but his attire has changed.
Civil War Santa wore a blue tunic dotted with white stars over red- and white-striped trousers. The only items that remain unchanged are the tall black boots and red cap.
Tent’s wife, Bunnie Tent, fashioned his outfit by hand, taking five days to complete the task.
“It’s a festive costume, I think the kids are going to like it,” Tent said.
Despite the unusual costume, Air said she believes the children who come to visit Civil War Santa will still enjoy his company.
“I think what makes Santa is his personality and a big white beard,” Air said. “He’s a sweet, wonderful man. I think they’ll really enjoy him.”
The popular Harper’s image of Santa was civilianized at the end of the Civil War, when he traded in his stars and stripes for a plain, red suit.
Musicians, docents and carolers will join Civil War Santa on Saturday at the museum, where supplies will be provided to make cards that will be delivered on Christmas to modern-day wounded veterans.
