History
KS1 and KS2
Victorian Christmas
Mid-Winter festivities have been around for hundreds of years, Pagans (those of non-traditional religious beliefs) originally celebrated the Winter solstice and coming of Spring, with celebrations including decorating houses and places of worship with evergreen plants such as Ivy, Holly and Mistletoe, which was believed to not only protect you from evil spirits but also encouraged the return of spring. With the emergence of Christianity, these celebrations began to take on a religious significance.
Christmas as we know it today took off in the reign of Queen Victoria and coincided with the rise of Industrialisation. So, what did the Victorian Christmas do for us?
- The Tree – Having a Christmas tree in the house became popular when Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who brought the tradition from Germany to Windsor Castle in 1840 where a portrait was made of the family beside the tree.
- Industrial Revolution – As more and more items started to be mass-produced this created a very substantial wealthy, middle class who could now take time off work and celebrate two days; Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Boxing day – This was the day the poor would either collect gifts or be given gifts by the rich. Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel, ‘A Christmas Carol’, encouraged this benevolence.
- The Train – As items started to be mass produced, they could be transported quickly and efficiently to many parts of the British Isles by this new fast transport system.
- The Toy – Before the Victorian’s toys would have been hand-made and therefore expensive. With the advent of the factory games, dolls, clockwork toys and books became more affordable…but only for the rich and middle class. Poor children would have been lucky to find an apple, orange or a few nuts in their Christmas stocking or box.
- The Christmas Card – Teacher, inventor and social reformer, Rowland Hill, invented the ‘Penny Post’ in 1840 which allowed you to post a letter or card to anywhere in the British Isles. Inventor, Sir Henry Cole ceased upon this opportunity and created the first Christmas cards in 1843.
- The Christmas Cracker – Invented in 1846 by a sweet maker named Tom Smith. He started with little sweets wrapped in fancy paper, but it soon developed and sold successfully when he started adding mottos, paper hats, small toys and a little Bang!
Father Christmas has become synonymous with Santa Claus but they were in fact two different people – the former being part of an old English midwinter tradition, who wore green and was associated with adults and merry making. Santa Claus derives from St Nicholas, the saint of children (and also sailors). He was a Bishop that lived in the fourth century in a place called Myra in Asia Minor (now called Turkey). He was a very rich man who was very kind and had a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to those in need.
In the 16th Century after the reformation, stories and traditions about St Nicholas became unpopular and Father Christmas or ‘Old Man Christmas’ took over as the gift giving figure. Dutch settlers to America brought the story of St Nicholas (Sinterklass) with them and the rest is as they say is history!
Victorian Christmas in your school
With the Victorians giving so much to this festive holiday, let our festive Victorian Character bring a Traditional Christmas to life in your school.
Great as a Victorian workshop, great as a Christmas celebration. From looking at traditional Christmas gifts to Victorian parlour games, your children will relive the Christmas traditions of yesteryear.
The fun and games will unfold as you rediscover Christmas past.
PTA – why not use this workshop to create a festive fun event for children and family together!
