3 Christmas on Ellis Island

If you moved to the US between 1892 and 1924, you might first arrive on Ellis Island. Infamous for harsh medical inspection, the island looked different during Christmas.

(Children display their Christmas gifts on Ellis Island)

Lillian (Russia --> US in 1921):

"It was like a huge assembly with movies and Santa Claus, and we got little gifts! The beauty of Christmas hit me…I had never heard of Christmas before!

"The next day somebody took away my mum. She seemed to have arthritis."

Reference:

‘Oral History Library’, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation <https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/oral-history-library>

Waring, Scott M., Cruz, Natalia, “Using SOURCES to Examine and Understand Immigrants’ Journeys to the United States through Ellis Island”, The Social Studies (2023)