Category: Victoria

In the 19th century, it was apparently not uncommon for some to hang upside-down Christmas trees from the rafters of homes. “In the small common rooms of the lower classes, there was simply no space,” CBC reports Bernd Brunner wrote in his book, Inventing the Christmas Tree. Why did Victorians hang Christmas trees upside down? […]

Coastal towns like: Blackpool, Scarborough, Llandudno and Brighton quickly grew into popular holiday resorts. The working classes went there on day trips from the factory towns. Wealthier people went for a week in the summer, staying in hotels or guest houses. Where did people go on holiday in Victorian times? Popular Victorian seaside resorts Wales […]

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 […]

Seaside Holiday in Victorian Times Some beaches were divided for men and women. Sunbathing wasn’t in fashion back then, so Victorians would go to the beach fully clothed. Why did the Victorians go to the beach? Families went to the seaside because the bracing air was believed to be healthy. Nobody went to sun- bathe, […]

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, […]

Many poor people in the Victorian era, spent their Christmas in the workhouse. This was a place where those who didn’t have a home usually lived and worked. The workhouse wasn’t a place which was mandatory, people could come and go if they pleased. However, the alternative for people, was to live on the streets. […]

Red stockings were especially fashionable during the Victorian era. Sometimes they were plain red. Other times they were embellished with decorative patterns or embroidery. The red, silk knit stockings below feature a design of playing cards. What was in a Victorian stocking? Victorian stockings were very beautiful as they used to be the children’s main […]

The stockings themselves were made of cotton, linen, wool or silk. A polished cotton called lisle was common, as were those made in the town of Balbriggan. Before the 1920s, stockings, if worn, were worn for warmth. How were stockings made in the 1800s? Until the late 40s, stockings were made with the seam running […]

Garters were worn over the upper sock, with the stocking edge extending beyond the garter, literally to hold it up in lieu of today’s elastic edging. How were stockings held up? Until the late 40s, stockings were made with the seam running up the back of the leg and only came in a small variety […]

Victorian Christmas lights Most householders lit candles on the tree up until the 1950s, which still fills me with anxiety! Many families used to have a bucket of water next to the tree in case of an unfortunate accident. You may not be familiar with illumination lamps but these were also very popular tree decorations. […]