6 Ways to Celebrate Christmas Like a Victorian
Your holiday may have more in common with Queen Victoria's than you think.
You may not know it, but when it comes to Christmastime, you probably have more in common with the Victorians than you think. That's because the popularity of Christmas as well as many of the traditions that we think of as quintessential to the holiday are actually holdovers from the Victorian era. Whether you're looking to bring an extra traditional touch to your holiday this year or just looking for some insight into why we all put trees in our houses at the end of December, here's a look at a few of the Christmas traditions we owe to the Victorians.
Put Up a Christmas Tree
While Christmas trees have a long and storied tradition in Germany, it wasn't until the Victorian era that they made their way to England, and subsequently the U.S. The trend really kicked off when a drawing circulated in 1848 of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children with their Christmas tree.
Hang Some Mistletoe
Victorians may be thought of today as prudish, but "kissing balls" made of evergreen and mistletoe were popular in the Victorian era for the same reason that it's remained a tradition ever since—the chance to get a kiss under the mistletoe.
Send Holiday Cards
Along with helping Prince Albert organize the Great Exhibition of 1851, Henry Cole is also credited with having sent the first commercial Christmas cards (seen here) in 1843. He didn't just use the cards to make his own life easier in the hectic holiday season, though; Cole also had a thousand of the cards—featuring a design of Cole and his family as well as a seasonal greeting, created by artist John Callcott Horsley—and sold them for a shilling each.
Pop a Christmas Cracker
In the early 1840s, British candymaker Tom Smith got the idea for Christmas crackers while on a trip to France. There he discovered bon bons, paper-wrapped sugared almonds, and decided to make a sweets-filled version of his own that snapped when pulled apart. The crackers, which are now typically filled with paper crowns and toys, have been a staple of the holidays in the U.K. ever since.
Read Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol
Dickens's Christmas classic was first published in 1843, and its popularity in turn popularized many of the elements of Victorian Christmas, including a focus on family, charity, and good cheer.
Go Caroling
Caroling wasn't a 19th century invention, but the Victorians did bring the practice of going from house to house singing carols back in a big way. Many older carols got a revamp during this time, changing the lyrics to some of the time-honored versions we're familiar with today.
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.
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