A Jane Austen Christmas: A Step Back in Time

With all of the commercialism in our modern day Christmas holidays it can be nice to take a step back in time to a simpler era where celebrations involved visiting family, having small parties, balls, playing games and giving homemade presents. I am referring to Christmas as it was during Jane Austen’s time or the Regency era.

During Austen’s time Christmas went beyond 12th Night and ran from 6 December through to 6 January! It included decorating with evergreens such as holly, ivy and laurel. Goose was a favourite main dish as well as plum pudding for dessert. Boxing Day came about from giving gifts to the poor in donation boxes. Parlour games were also popular. It all sounds lovely to me!

I write this just as Yule and 12th Night approaches wishing you all a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2023!–L.P. Kirkbride, 20 December, 2022