What do you think?
Rate this book
Victorian Christmas Book
Diaries, novels, poems, letters, and magazines of the period contribute to a comprehensive survey of the customs, traditions, and flavor of Christmas in Victorian England, while greeting cards, toys, cartoons, advertisements, and engravings provide visual delight.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1988
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 19, 2023
AN INFORMATIVE AND WELL-ILUSTRATED SUMMARY OF VICTORIAN CUSTOMS/TRADITIONS
Authors Antony & Peter Miall wrote in the Introduction to this 1978 book, “It must have seemed incredible to the Victorians… that anyone had ever disapproved of Christmas. There was, however, a time when Christmas was not only disapproved of, but actually abolished by Act of Parliament. In 1647 under the influence of the Puritans. The observance of the Feast of the Nativity was classed as ‘popish’ and made a punishable offence. In successive years several priests, congregations and unrepentant revellers were imprisoned for making Christmas Day different to any other. But it was hard to suppress the customs and traditions of 1500 years. Despite the fact that it had been decreed that shops should be kept open and churches closed on 25 December, most Englishmen still kept a small ember of Christmas joy glowing until, with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, it flared up again into a bonfire. Observance was reinstated and Christmas celebrations became, once more, the order of the day.” (Pg. 7)
They explain, “It would be impossible, in a book this size, to cover adequately every facet of the nineteenth-century Christmas… certain aspects have had to be omitted… Whenever possible we have allowed the Victorians to speak for themselves in the hope that they will reveal far more about their attitudes and beliefs than any modern sociological study could do… we have not included any photographs… a good drawing or painting speaks volumes about the attitudes of the artist and his models. Finally, a plea on behalf of nostalgia. Nowadays we see it as a symptom of the sick society, but to the Victorians it was a positive force in their search for a means of self-expression. It was one of the starting points for romanticism and, most important here, the main ingredient of that prodigious social edifice of the nineteenth century---the Victorian Christmas---which we should feel no guilt in enjoying to the full.” (Pg. 10)
“Prince Albert is credited with the establishing of the Christmas tree in England. In fact Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, had set up a tree at Windsor in the eighteenth century, but it was after 1841 when Prince Albert imported trees from Coburg that the fashion really caught on… Prince Albert’s innovation had certainly caught the public imagination and the ‘German’ Christmas tree quickly became established as the centre-piece of all seasonal decorations. The brightness of the little candles and the excitement of the children who waited around to claim their presents were described by many Victorian writers…” (Pg. 55-58)
They observe, “Christmas Eve in the nineteenth century was a busy time---a time for arrivals and for last-minute preparations before the day itself dawned. For children it was a time of excited anticipation. For many, at boarding schools, it was the end of the winter term and the beginning of the Christmas holidays. For the carol-singers it was a busy evening, and for Father Christmas, a busy night. Christmas Eve was also a day for traveling. Those who were going to spend Christmas with friends or relatives travelled by train or coach. Both modes of travel were crowded and uncomfortable. Everyone brought food and drink for the journey and to present to their hosts. Everyone had more than the usual number of cases and parcels, and everyone was in a hurry. And yet, descriptions of Christmas Eve journeys were always full of merriment, and the excitement of the occasion seemed usually to outweigh the discomfort of the moment.” (Pg. 69)
They explain, “to the Victorians Father Christmas was more than just St. Nicholas. He was also closely related to the early nineteenth-century ‘Spirit of Christmas’ who was seldom depicted without a glass in his hand. This jovial figure was one of the most often seen in Victorian Christmas pictures. He was shown as the founder of the Christmas Feast, the purveyor of jollity as well as the children’s present-giver. Half pagan and half Christian, he inspired awe as well as love. But in the latter half of the century he became less associated with carousing and more akin to his European counterparts---the German Christkind, the Scandinavian St. Lucy and the Dutch-American Santa Claus.” (Pg. 87-90)
They point out, “Bob Crachit’s salary was fifteen shillings a week. How could he afford a goose of such magnificence? The answer lies in one of the great Victorian working-class institutions---The Goose Club. Even the lowest paid worker could enjoy a goose at Christmas with his family by contributing to his local Goose Club a small part of his week’s wages throughout the year. Some Goose Clubs also raffled geese and bottles of wine or port.” (Pg. 115)
They state, “And so, while the Victorians at home in the mother country thought of their friends and relatives in other climes, those same friends and relatives thought of them. Christmas, above all times in the year, produced an orgy of nostalgia. While Englishmen in England raised their glasses to absent friends, Englishmen in the far-flung corners of the Empire raised theirs. The regimental band played ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ Lady G. Brassey decorated the Christmas table aboard the Sunbeam and New Zealanders performed ‘Messiah’ as the temperature soared to 100⁰ in the shade. And all dreamed of the Christmas to come when they would be reunited in the bliss of an English Christmas at home.” (Pg. 159)
This book will be of great interest to those studying the customs and history of Victorian England.
Authors Antony & Peter Miall wrote in the Introduction to this 1978 book, “It must have seemed incredible to the Victorians… that anyone had ever disapproved of Christmas. There was, however, a time when Christmas was not only disapproved of, but actually abolished by Act of Parliament. In 1647 under the influence of the Puritans. The observance of the Feast of the Nativity was classed as ‘popish’ and made a punishable offence. In successive years several priests, congregations and unrepentant revellers were imprisoned for making Christmas Day different to any other. But it was hard to suppress the customs and traditions of 1500 years. Despite the fact that it had been decreed that shops should be kept open and churches closed on 25 December, most Englishmen still kept a small ember of Christmas joy glowing until, with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, it flared up again into a bonfire. Observance was reinstated and Christmas celebrations became, once more, the order of the day.” (Pg. 7)
They explain, “It would be impossible, in a book this size, to cover adequately every facet of the nineteenth-century Christmas… certain aspects have had to be omitted… Whenever possible we have allowed the Victorians to speak for themselves in the hope that they will reveal far more about their attitudes and beliefs than any modern sociological study could do… we have not included any photographs… a good drawing or painting speaks volumes about the attitudes of the artist and his models. Finally, a plea on behalf of nostalgia. Nowadays we see it as a symptom of the sick society, but to the Victorians it was a positive force in their search for a means of self-expression. It was one of the starting points for romanticism and, most important here, the main ingredient of that prodigious social edifice of the nineteenth century---the Victorian Christmas---which we should feel no guilt in enjoying to the full.” (Pg. 10)
“Prince Albert is credited with the establishing of the Christmas tree in England. In fact Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, had set up a tree at Windsor in the eighteenth century, but it was after 1841 when Prince Albert imported trees from Coburg that the fashion really caught on… Prince Albert’s innovation had certainly caught the public imagination and the ‘German’ Christmas tree quickly became established as the centre-piece of all seasonal decorations. The brightness of the little candles and the excitement of the children who waited around to claim their presents were described by many Victorian writers…” (Pg. 55-58)
They observe, “Christmas Eve in the nineteenth century was a busy time---a time for arrivals and for last-minute preparations before the day itself dawned. For children it was a time of excited anticipation. For many, at boarding schools, it was the end of the winter term and the beginning of the Christmas holidays. For the carol-singers it was a busy evening, and for Father Christmas, a busy night. Christmas Eve was also a day for traveling. Those who were going to spend Christmas with friends or relatives travelled by train or coach. Both modes of travel were crowded and uncomfortable. Everyone brought food and drink for the journey and to present to their hosts. Everyone had more than the usual number of cases and parcels, and everyone was in a hurry. And yet, descriptions of Christmas Eve journeys were always full of merriment, and the excitement of the occasion seemed usually to outweigh the discomfort of the moment.” (Pg. 69)
They explain, “to the Victorians Father Christmas was more than just St. Nicholas. He was also closely related to the early nineteenth-century ‘Spirit of Christmas’ who was seldom depicted without a glass in his hand. This jovial figure was one of the most often seen in Victorian Christmas pictures. He was shown as the founder of the Christmas Feast, the purveyor of jollity as well as the children’s present-giver. Half pagan and half Christian, he inspired awe as well as love. But in the latter half of the century he became less associated with carousing and more akin to his European counterparts---the German Christkind, the Scandinavian St. Lucy and the Dutch-American Santa Claus.” (Pg. 87-90)
They point out, “Bob Crachit’s salary was fifteen shillings a week. How could he afford a goose of such magnificence? The answer lies in one of the great Victorian working-class institutions---The Goose Club. Even the lowest paid worker could enjoy a goose at Christmas with his family by contributing to his local Goose Club a small part of his week’s wages throughout the year. Some Goose Clubs also raffled geese and bottles of wine or port.” (Pg. 115)
They state, “And so, while the Victorians at home in the mother country thought of their friends and relatives in other climes, those same friends and relatives thought of them. Christmas, above all times in the year, produced an orgy of nostalgia. While Englishmen in England raised their glasses to absent friends, Englishmen in the far-flung corners of the Empire raised theirs. The regimental band played ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ Lady G. Brassey decorated the Christmas table aboard the Sunbeam and New Zealanders performed ‘Messiah’ as the temperature soared to 100⁰ in the shade. And all dreamed of the Christmas to come when they would be reunited in the bliss of an English Christmas at home.” (Pg. 159)
This book will be of great interest to those studying the customs and history of Victorian England.
November 19, 2023
I did like this book, but ideally, I wanted a book that tells you everything you wanted to know about Victorian Christmases, and I feel like this just had something/somethings missing. I've found much shorter books with much more information.
I did, however, find the pictures fascinating, and from what information was there, it was a good collection of writings, poetry, excerpts, and recipes!
I did, however, find the pictures fascinating, and from what information was there, it was a good collection of writings, poetry, excerpts, and recipes!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews