Christmas Kettle
{{Short description|Fundraising campaign by The Salvation Army}}
{{The Salvation Army}}
Image:2006 AEGold Proof Obv.png
The Christmas Kettle (also referred to as the Red Kettle due to its color) is The Salvation Army's most famous street campaign. It is most recognized during the Christmas season through its volunteers who stand outside of businesses and play or sing Christmas carols, or ring bells to inspire passersby to place donations of cash and checks inside the trademark red kettles.
History
File:Stamp of Finland - 1989 - Colnect 47237 - Christmas collecting by the Salvation Army.jpeg Christmas collecting by the Salvation Army]]
A tradition on the "kettle" started in 1891, in San Francisco, by Salvation Army officer Captain Joseph McFee.{{cite web|url=http://www.salvationarmyspokane.org/event_kettles.php
|title=Red Kettles|access-date=2007-12-20|author= The Salvation Army Spokane |date=2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212211442/http://www.salvationarmyspokane.org/event_kettles.php |archive-date = 2007-12-12}} Captain McFee, resolving to provide a free Christmas dinner to the poor of San Francisco, remembered a sight he saw in Liverpool, England. From his days as a sailor McFee remembered a large pot displayed on the Stage Landing, called "Simpson's Pot." The pot took in donations put in by passersby. Taking this idea, McFee asked for permission from San Francisco city authorities to place a crab pot and tripod at the Oakland ferry landing. The kettle -- and McFee's call of "Keep the Pot Boiling!" -- drew in passengers and donations.{{cite book|title=Uncle John's Facts to Go Nice People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aCpZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT10|year=2014|publisher=Portable Press|location=Ashland|isbn=978-1-62686-238-8|page=10}}
The idea spread, and is in use by many Salvation Army charities worldwide. Innovations from the crab pot have included self ringing kettles, booths that play Christmas music, and Credit Card capabilities.
Since 1997, the Christmas kettle campaign is traditionally kicked off during the halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day football game.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32646037/nfl-thanksgiving-day-games-history-lions-cowboys-play-every-year-moments-traditions-records|title=NFL Thanksgiving Games: History, traditions and best moments|website=ESPN|date=2023-11-21|access-date=2023-11-25}} An oversized kettle sits just outside the playing field, which has on several occasions been featured after touchdown celebrations. Under NFL rules such celebrations result in league fines, which players pay without objection, often donating an equal amount to the Salvation Army.
Anonymous donations
A tradition has developed in the United States where, in some places, gold coins are anonymously inserted into the kettles in which the bell ringers collect donations. The tradition appears to have started in the Midwest when the first known drop of a gold coin was put into a kettle in Crystal Lake, Illinois in 1982.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-07-goldcoins_x.htm|title=Gold coins from secret Santas bring cheer to Christmas bell ringers|access-date=2007-12-20|author=Oren Dorell |publisher=USA Today |date= December 7, 2006}}Chicago Tribune, 2013-12-08, Page 3{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/12/10/salvation-army-again-mining-gold/ |title=Salvation Army again mining gold |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=2024-12-19 |date=December 10, 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219184133/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/12/10/salvation-army-again-mining-gold/ |archive-date=2024-12-19}}
Since this drop, many others have taken to dropping not only gold coins,{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/12/19/news/top/doc47685bec7df96762290528.txt
|title=Salvation Army gets 10 gold coins|access-date=2007-12-20|author= Journal staff |publisher=Rapid City Journal |date= December 19, 2007}} but also other bullion and rare coins, gold medals,{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/12/16/news/local/news08.txt|title=Gold coin donated again|access-date=2007-12-20|author=Journal staff|publisher=Rapid City Journal|date=December 16, 2005|archive-date=2013-01-04|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104194013/http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/12/16/news/local/news08.txt|url-status=dead}} jewelry, and large checks.
The anonymous donations have included:
- Various bullion and rare coins:
- American Gold Eagle{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/12/21/news/top/news00l.txt|title=Red kettle gold converted to green|access-date=2007-12-20|author=Andrea J. Cook|publisher=Rapid City Journal|date=December 21, 2006|archive-date=2013-01-04|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104132342/http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/12/21/news/top/news00l.txt|url-status=dead}}
- Krugerrand{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071214/NEWS01/712140076
|title=Mysterious gold coin dropped in Salvation Army kettle|access-date=2007-12-20|author= Bill Sheets |publisher=The Daily Herald |date= November 28, 2007}}
- United States Quarter Eagle
- United States Double Eagle{{cite web|url=http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/12/20/news/breaking_news/doc476a846856335960905030.txt
|title=Salvation Army kettle yields double eagle gold coin|access-date=2007-12-23|author= Mary Stegmeir |publisher=WCF Courier |date= December 20, 2007}}
- Counterfeit 1804 dollar
- Jewelry
- ⅓-carat diamond ring
- Five gold rings (invoking the song The Twelve Days of Christmas)
- Checks for $14,845.00 and for $500,000.00{{Cite web|title = $500K check dropped into Salvation Army kettle in Minnesota|url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-salvation-army-kettle-gets-500000-check/|website = www.cbsnews.com|access-date = 2015-12-04}}
- Gold teeth{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2005-12-18-gold-teeth_x.htm
|title=Gold teeth donated to Salvation Army kettle|access-date=2007-12-20|agency= Associated Press |publisher=USA Today |date= December 18, 2005}}