Christmas Kettle

Fundraising campaign by The Salvation Army A Christmas kettle in Sweden Part of a series onThe Salvation Army

Background

Christianity Protestantism Pietism Arminianism Methodism Holiness Movement Evangelicalism

Organization General Chief of the Staff International Headquarters High Council Commissioners Officer Soldier Corps

Prominent Salvationists William Booth Catherine Booth Bramwell Booth Florence Booth Evangeline Booth Ballington Booth Catherine Bramwell-Booth Frederick Booth-Tucker Arthur Booth-Clibborn Elijah Cadman George Carpenter James Dowdle John Lawley George Scott Railton T. Henry Howard Charles Jeffries Theodore Kitching Darkie Hutton William Ridsdel Ray Steadman-Allen Harry Read Eva Burrows Henry Mapp John McMillan Stephen Bulla Earle Maxwell

Other topics Brass bands Promoted to Glory Order of the Founder Limelight Department Christmas Kettle The War Cry Soldier's Covenant Reliance Bank The Blind Beggar Kroc Centers Sunbury Court

Legislation Salvation Army Act 1931 Salvation Army Act 1963 Salvation Army Act 1980

Related organizations American Rescue Workers Volunteers of America Skeleton Army

Christianity portalvte An American Gold Eagle 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.

[edit] Stamp of Finland Christmas collecting by the Salvation Army A tradition on the "kettle" started in 1891, in San Francisco, by Salvation Army officer Captain Joseph McFee. 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. 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. 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.

[edit] 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. Since this drop, many others have taken to dropping not only gold coins, but also other bullion and rare coins, gold medals, jewelry, and large checks. The anonymous donations have included:

Various bullion and rare coins: American Gold Eagle Krugerrand United States Quarter Eagle United States Double Eagle Counterfeit 1804 dollar Jewelry 1⁄3-carat diamond ring Five gold rings (invoking the song The Twelve Days of Christmas) Checks for $14,845.00 and for $500,000.00 Gold teeth

[edit]

^ a b The Salvation Army Spokane (2007). "Red Kettles". Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

^ Uncle John's Facts to Go Nice People. Ashland: Portable Press. 2014. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-62686-238-8.

^ "NFL Thanksgiving Games: History, traditions and best moments". ESPN. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-25.

^ a b c d e f g Oren Dorell (December 7, 2006). "Gold coins from secret Santas bring cheer to Christmas bell ringers". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

^ Chicago Tribune, 2013-12-08, Page 3

^ "Salvation Army again mining gold". Chicago Tribune. December 10, 1992. Archived from the original on 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2024-12-19.

^ Journal staff (December 19, 2007). "Salvation Army gets 10 gold coins". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

^ Journal staff (December 16, 2005). "Gold coin donated again". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

^ Andrea J. Cook (December 21, 2006). "Red kettle gold converted to green". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

^ Bill Sheets (November 28, 2007). "Mysterious gold coin dropped in Salvation Army kettle". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

^ Mary Stegmeir (December 20, 2007). "Salvation Army kettle yields double eagle gold coin". WCF Courier. Retrieved 2007-12-23.

^ "$500K check dropped into Salvation Army kettle in Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2015-12-04.

^ "Gold teeth donated to Salvation Army kettle". USA Today. Associated Press. December 18, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

The bright red kettle has become a visual shorthand for Christmas charity in the UK, not because of its design but because it taps into a collective sense of goodwill that peaks in December. When shoppers pass a volunteer humming carols, the kettle offers a simple, low‑effort way to contribute to a cause without feeling pressured. Its placement outside high‑street stores means it works in the flow of everyday life, turning a routine coffee run into a moment of reflection. Over the years the kettle has also gathered nostalgic value; many people recall their first donation as a child, reinforcing a generational habit that keeps the tradition alive year after year.

If you decide to drop a coin or note in the kettle, keep a few practical points in mind. First, consider small, cash‑free contributions – an online donation linked via the Salvation Army’s QR code can be faster and ensures the money reaches the intended programmes directly. Second, check that the volunteer is wearing the official uniform; genuine volunteers are identifiable and the kettle is usually guarded by a donation box. Third, be mindful of the amount you give relative to your own budget – even a few pounds can add up across a crowd. Finally, if you’re unable to give cash, a kind word or a smile to the volunteer adds the same spirit of generosity that the kettle represents.

A frequent myth is that donations collected in the red kettle are pooled into a single, vague fund. In reality, the Salvation Army allocates the money to specific Christmas‑time projects such as meals for the homeless, shelter heating, and support for families in crisis. Another misunderstanding is that the kettle only appears in large cities; many smaller towns and villages host their own kettles, often positioned outside local pubs or community centres. Lastly, some assume that the kettle is a modern invention, but its origins trace back to early 20th‑century street collections, making it a long‑standing piece of British charitable heritage that has simply been rebranded in the festive red we now recognise.