Christmas Kettle facts for kids
The Christmas Kettle, also known as the Red Kettle, is a famous way The Salvation Army collects money. You often see these red kettles during the Christmas season. Volunteers stand outside stores, singing carols or ringing bells. They encourage people to put donations like cash or checks into the kettles.
History of the Christmas Kettle
The idea for the Christmas Kettle started in 1891. It began in San Francisco, thanks to a Salvation Army officer named Captain Joseph McFee. Captain McFee wanted to give a free Christmas dinner to poor people in San Francisco.
He remembered seeing a large pot in Liverpool, England, when he was a sailor. This pot, called "Simpson's Pot," collected donations from people passing by. Captain McFee decided to try this idea. He got permission to place a crab pot and a tripod at the Oakland ferry landing. The kettle, along with his call of "Keep the Pot Boiling!", helped collect many donations.
This simple idea quickly spread. Now, many Salvation Army groups around the world use the Christmas Kettle. Over time, new ideas have been added. These include kettles that ring bells by themselves and booths that play Christmas music. Some kettles even accept credit card donations!
Since 1997, the Christmas Kettle campaign often starts during a special event. It kicks off during the halftime show of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day football game. An extra-large kettle is placed near the field. Sometimes, players even interact with it after scoring touchdowns:
- In 2006, Terrell Owens caught a touchdown pass. He then dropped the football into the kettle, donating it to The Salvation Army.
- In 2016, Ezekiel Elliott scored a touchdown. He then jumped right into the oversized kettle!
- Elliott did it again in 2018. After scoring, he dropped $21 (his jersey number) into the kettle. Later, when his teammate Dak Prescott scored, Elliott playfully dropped Prescott into the kettle too.
Secret Gifts in the Kettles
In the United States, a special tradition has grown. Some people secretly drop valuable items into the kettles. Bell ringers collect donations, and sometimes they find gold coins inside! This tradition seems to have started in the Midwest. The first known gold coin was put into a kettle in Crystal Lake, Illinois, in 1982.
Since then, many others have joined in. They drop not only gold coins but also other precious metals and rare coins. People have also donated gold medals, jewelry, and even very large checks. Some of these secret gifts have included:
- Different types of gold coins, like the American Gold Eagle or the Krugerrand.
- Jewelry, such as a diamond ring or five gold rings (like in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas").
- Checks for large amounts, including one for $500,000.
- Even gold teeth!
