a new gospel. Published in December 1843, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was an instant bestseller, followed by countless print, stage and screen productions. Victorians called it “a new gospel,” and reading or watching it became a sacred ritual for many, without which the Christmas season cannot materialize. What was the original title of A […]
Author: Clint Curtis
How Did Victorians Wrap Their Christmas Presents?
The traditional colors for Victorian Christmas gift wrapping were white and red: either white paper with red ribbon, or red paper with Christmas ribbons. What did Victorians use to wrap Christmas presents? Victorian gift wrapping was luxury orientated and involved the use of lace, ribbon and heavily decorated paper. How did they wrap presents in […]
What Are Victorian Christmas Songs?
Victorian Era Christmas Songs: 1818 Silent Night Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr 1847 O Holy Night Adolphe Adam 1849 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Edmund Sears 1853 Good King Wenceslas John Mason Neale 1857 Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont What Christmas songs were around in the 1800s? The middle 30 years of the 1800s, […]
What Did They Call Santa In The Victorian Times?
Father Christmas. 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. What was Santa originally called? Sinter KlaasThe name Santa Claus evolved from Nick’s Dutch […]
Did Victorians Have Glitter?
Long Before Festival Fashion Was A Thing, Victorian Women Wore Glitter In Their Hair. Did Victorians use glitter? But there was more to Victorian holiday decorating than tinsel and candles. Just like us, many Victorians had a fondness for glitter and gold. What did Victorians Wear facts? The fashion of the 19th century is renowned […]
Why Were Candles Used At Christmas In Victorian England?
The candle was lit on Christmas Day itself to symbolise Christ’s arrival as the ‘Light of the World’, a phrase used by Christ to describe himself in the Gospel of St Matthew. What is the significance of the Christmas candle? By lighting candles during Christmas eve, this represents the Star of Bethlehem that guided the […]
How Did Queen Victoria Celebrate Christmas?
Presents were shared on the evening of Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day as is traditional in the 21st century. In the royal household Queen Victoria insisted unwrapped presents be spread out across tables, as they did with royal birthdays. What did Queen Victoria do for Christmas? “Queen Victoria and Prince Albert brought the tree […]
Is The Victoria Sandwich Named After Queen Victoria?
Queen Victoria was known for eating small cakes with her afternoon tea. The Victoria Sponge cake, or Sandwich evolved from the pound cake. Equal weight amounts of flour, butter, eggs and sugar were used. How did Victoria Sandwich get its name? The way Queen Victoria would have enjoyed her cake was what we have come […]
Did Victorians Have Dressing Gowns?
Victorian Dressing Gown This Victorian era (1837-1901) dressing gown would’ve been part of a set of three. It would’ve had a matching nightgown and chemise to be worn underneath the corset. What kind of dresses were worn in the Victorian era? The fashion of the 19th century is renowned for its corsets, bonnets, top hats, […]
Did Victorian Novels Focus On Social Relations?
Victorian poetry was more important than Victorian prose fiction. Few Victorian women wrote novels. Victorian novels often focused on social relations. Victorian novels often featured Arthurian legend. What did Victorian novels focus on? The realistic Victorian novel focused on characters and themes such as the plight of the poor and social mobility that was being […]