Victorian Christmas traditions

Victorian Christmas traditions like, sending of Christmas cards, decorating Christmas tree and bursting of crackers are followed till today. The existence of most of these Christmas traditions date back to hundred of years. Christmas celebrations were banned by the Puritans, though it bounced back with its various ancient traditions after 200 hundred years.

Top Victorian Christmas traditions:

Victorian Christmas traditions are a part of almost every Christmas celebrations throughout the world. These traditions have remained the same through; the presentation styles and the mode have gone through a lot of change. Some of the best Victorian Christmas traditions are:

 

Victorian tradition of Sending Christmas Cards:

 

Christmas cards are very much a part of the Christmas celebrations. During the ancient years, children of Victorian England made hand-drawn greetings and wrote personalized messages in them for their loved ones. Much later, these hand-drawn greetings were replaced by printed Christmas cards. The printed greeting cards became more popular in England, after these were sent by Henry Cole. These cards were created by an artist named Calcott Horsley and were printed at a cost of 1 shilling per card.

 

Victorian custom of Christmas tree decoration:

 

The Victorian Christmas tree was introduced in England, after Queen Victoria of England got married to Prince Albert of Germany in the year 1840. It was Prince Albert who brought a well-decorated tree and displayed it in the Windsor Castle of England. The Christmas tree was further decorated with lighted candles and ornaments. Decorating the Christmas tree gradually became an important Christmas tradition all over the world.

 

Singing Christmas carols as Victorian tradition:

 

Christmas carols were not as popular as they later became, in the initial years. The Victorians were initially not so much into the idea of singing carols for Christmas. The custom was revived later as a form of entertainment. Old religious words were formed into verses and tuned to form the Christmas carol. In 1833, a collection of carols were collected and published.

 

Using Ivy, Holly and Mistletoe for decorations:

 

The various berry plants were utilized in decorating purposes. It is more like a Victorian Christmas tradition to use the leaves and other parts of Ivy, Mistletoe and Holly plants and make garlands and wreaths out of it for decoration purposes during the festival. Not just did these plants decorate the homes and surroundings, but were also used to decorate the traditional Christmas pudding made of plum.

 

Victorian Christmas Kissing Balls:

 

Victorian kissing balls were also known as kissing boughs or kissing bell. These kissing balls were used for other functions like, marriage functions and social functions. These Victorian kissing balls were made up of, Rosemary, flowers, Mistletoe, Thyme, herbs and Lavender. The ball was tied with ribbons and glitters and had an apple or potato base. The plants and flowers used in these Victorian balls had some significance or the other.

 

Victorian Christmas feast:

 

The grand Christmas feasts too have a Victorian era connection. Starting from the Middle Ages to the Victorian period, the tradition of Christmas dinners and feasts has continued with the festive spirit. Traditional Christ recipes like, mince pies, roasted turkey and other goose and beef items have been a favorite since the Victorian era.

 

Other well-known Victorian Christmas traditions:

 

Victorian Christmas traditions and customs, though old have still been retained with its full value. Imagining a Christmas celebration without Christmas trees, Christmas dinners and Christmas carols are quite impossible. Some of the other famous traditions of this festival include:

Father Christmas
Victorian Christmas gifts
Victorian Christmas decorations
There have been a lot of change in the way of execution of these Victorian Christmas traditions, but the actual essence of it still remains.

Last updated on 18/11/2010