Sleigh history

[lieu2]

Is it possible that the sleigh would have been used in the winter during Felicity and Kirsten's time?

[dianasmama]

I would think so, but I don't think Kirsten's would be that bright red color. They wouldn't have brought it with them from Sweden, and they wouldn't afford such a fancy sleigh when they got here.

That's why I was disappointed in the red sleigh, I would have liked it better if it was just black, and it wouldn't look so xmas-y either.

I think it would definitely work for Felicity since her family was also a little more upscale.

Laurie

[dornroeschen]

I know that they had sleigh rides here in Austria during Felicity's time, so I'm sure they'd have used them in the US too in areas where it snowed. Their sleighs might not have been as fancy as the once shown in the painting. Even during Kirsten's time they'd have sleighs during snow months, as the wheels get stuck more easily than vats.

Up in the mountains sleighs are still occassionally used in those areas were they can't use modern trucks etc.

[lieu2]

Good to know, because we will use our sleigh for all our dolls. Even if they come out with the carriage for Felicity we will probably not get it.

[horsemom]

In the book "Kirsten's Suprise" they go to town in a sleigh to pick up the trunks. They did make elaborately painted sleighs in Kirsten's time, but Kirsten's family would probably not have owned one due to their status as poor immigrant farmers. In the East, away from the frontier, people often had wagons, buggies, and sleighs made by cartwrights who elaborately carved and painted them.

Sleighs have been around a long time since people figured out early on that wheels don't work well in the snow. So although the paint and style of the sleigh may not be entirely historically accurate for Kirsten and Felicity's eras, the presence of a sleigh itself is.

[adriana82]

In Kirsten Snowbound! Kirsten's mom leaves on a wagon and returns on a sleigh!

We used to go for "sleigh" rides with the pony at my grandpa's house when I was little, it was so much fun! I probably have a picture around here somehwere. We attached jingle bells and everything! Except there were wheels instead of runners, so we went on the road.

Sleighs were definitely around in Felicity's time, but probably not in Virginia where they got very little snow!