Author: Clint Curtis

The children of the poor were not thought to be a blessing, but often a burden on the family. With no laws to protect children, this meant they had few rights and were badly treated. Seen as simply the property of their parents, many children were abandoned, abused and even bought and sold. What was […]

Comprised of dried fruit, suet, egg, flour, and other basic ingredients, it was a popular holiday dish in both the Regency and Victorian eras. What was the original Christmas pudding made of? When were Christmas puddings first made? The very first version of the pudding originated in the 14th century. The British made porridge called […]

Christmas trees were traditionally decorated with dried fruit, candies in wrappers, cookies, nuts, and strands of popcorn or cranberries. Small home made gifts were also popular. What items are traditionally put on top of a Christmas tree? Tree-toppers can take any form, though the most common include a star (representing the Star of Bethlehem), finial, […]

The original crackers were love tokens; neither more nor less. They were simply bits of twisted and fringed colored tissue paper, with a sweet and a little verse inside; and they were called “Kisses.” The French were the first to have these, and called them “bon-bons,” but the fashion soon spread to England. What did […]

But as later Victorian Christmases developed into child-centric family festivals, Father Christmas became a bringer of gifts. The popular American myth of Santa Claus arrived in England in the 1850s and Father Christmas started to take on Santa’s attributes. Was Santa a thing in the Victorian era? The English Father Christmas was now Santa Claus […]

Dogs were very popular for Victorians, partly because they embody cultural values Victorians were really keen on: they’re seen as steadfast, loyal, plucky and courageous,” Hamlett added. Did Victorians have pet dogs? Victorians kept pets for a variety of reasons. Pedigree dogs conveyed class and status, cats caught mice, and rabbits could be eaten when […]

Where’s Santa Claus? Victorian-era Christmas cards featuring lobsters, dancing dice and leap-frogging bears are VERY different to today’s festive scenes. What was the traditional Christmas meal in Victorian times? Most Victorian families had roast goose for their Christmas dinner, wealthy families ate beef, venison and turkey, often served with a chestnut or veal forcemeat stuffing. […]

Victorian novels tend to be idealized portraits of difficult lives in which hard work, perseverance, love and luck win out in the end; virtue would be rewarded and wrongdoers are suitably punished. They tended to be of an improving nature with a central moral lesson at heart. What is Victorian literature characteristics? Victorian era literature […]

Battenberg Cake: The Victorians invented the Battenberg, a light sponge held together with jam. The cake is covered in marzipan and, when cut, displays a check pattern of pink and yellow squares. What desserts did the Victorians eat? Sorbets were popular as courses in their own right during elaborate meals, as well as for a […]

After Albert’s death Victoria descended into deep depression—“those paroxysms of despair and yearning and longing and of daily, nightly longing to die…for the first three years never left me.” Even after climbing out of depression, she remained in mourning and in partial retirement. Why did Queen Victoria wear black after Albert died? “When her beloved […]