Victorian Christmas Traditions


Many people love Christmas, but have they ever stopped to wonder how Christmas was celebrated in the 1800s? There were many famous periods that have transcended into current Christmas decorations and customs, but one more so than Victorian Christmas traditions.

The Victorian Christmas Was Elegance Personified

To understand what Victorian Christmases were all about, one must first have a basic understanding of the Victorian period. The Victorian period refers to the long reign of Queen Victoria, who ruled England for over sixty years. The Victorian era was a time of morals, but it also was a time of unique decorations, none more so that the ones for Victorian Christmases.

The traditional Victorian Christmas involved the tree being brought by sleigh to the home. The tree was then set up, usually in the sitting room or parlor. White candles were strategically placed throughout the tree, and lit at night. The lighting of the tree became a tradition within itself.

In addition to the white candles, the tree was adorned with ribbons, usually maroon in color. The top of the tree was often in the form of either an angel, or a cascading ribbon. Nowadays you see this effect in houses that choose to decorate their trees in the elegance of the Victorian manner.

The family would gather together in front of the lit Christmas tree to open their presents. If you have heard the phrase Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, then you would be interested to know that this was a custom that many Victorian families partook of.

At the Victorian Christmas dinner, the food that was served was usually the Christmas goose. You have probably heard references to the Christmas goose in literature from that period. The most anticipated part of the meal was the plum pudding. In fact, a little ceremony was made out of lighting the pudding so that it would be warm.

There is another Victorian tradition that has been passed down, and that is in regards to Christmas crackers. People in the United States now get those crackers as party favors for any time of the year, but in England crackers are still most popular at Christmas. When the sides of the cracker are pulled, a pop is heard, and a little gift falls out.

If you would like more information on how holidays were celebrated during the Victorian era, all you have to do is go to your local bookstore and look for the books. If you have an y local museums that represent the Victorian era, be sure to visit them. You are sure to find excellent information with the proper research.