2. Christmas
Traditions
Kissing beneath the mistletoe, Santa, exchanging gifts, caroling,
all wonderful traditions embraced by the Victorian Era, are
some of our best loved traditions. The Nativity has been celebrated
since the 4th century. "The Colonies", however, were slow to embrace the
idea of Christmas, as the celebration of a Father Christmas in his long fur
trimmed robes was seen as a heathenish notion.
The First Christmas C
Presents
Christmas Greenry
The
Christmas
Tree
Boxing Day
Santa

3. The Christmas
Tree
The Christmas tree has been a German tradition
since as early as the 17th century, but many
ancient civilizations held evergreens to be a
symbol of life during the long winter months and
decorated trees as a symbol of eternal life. In
1841 Prince Albert, German husband of Queen
Victoria, introduced the charming custom to the
royal family. In 1850 a tinted etching of a
decorated tree at Windsor Castle was published
and the Tannenbaum became a necessity for
every fashionable Victorian home. It was a
tradition quickly embraced by Victorian
England. Live trees were set up for the
Christmas season decorated with lighted
candles, draped with tinsel, ribbon, paper chains,
cookies and candies.

4. The First
Christmas Card
The first Christmas card, designed by
J.C. Horsley, was sent by Henry
Cole, who decided to send some his
usual Christmas letter. They sold for
one shilling each, and only one
thousand copies were
lithographed. It depicted the charities
of clothing and feeding the poor. It
proved to be a very popular idea.

5. Christmas
Greenry
The Victorians used mistletoe suspended
from the ceiling. Those who met under it
could claim a kiss. The number of kisses
allowed under each plant depended on
the number of berries. Each time a kiss
was given, a berry was taken off. No
more berries, no more kisses!

6. Presents
The exchange of presents, of
ancient origin, symbolized the
good luck, prosperity, and
happiness wished for friends. The
Victorians began planning their
presents many months
ahead. Most gifts were
handmade, needlework, or
something useful. People
exchanged remembrances with
family and friends. Children made
their gifts also.

7. Boxing Day
Boxing day, the first weekday after
Christmas, is devoted to Charity. Gifts
of money are put up in small boxes to
be given to servants, and tradesmen,
and distributed to the needy in the
area. The more affluent and upper
classes of Victorian society see charity
as a duty they rigorously perform.

8. Santa
Santa is a mixture of many different figures
from many different cultures. The Dutch St.
Nick, England’s Father Christmas, and the
German Kris Cringle. In ancient times Norse
and German people told stories of The Yule Elf
who brought gifts during Solstice to those who
left offerings of porridge. When Clement
Moore's poem "The Night Before Christmas"
became enormously popular, the "Jolly old elf"
was adopted as the ideal Santa. Years later
Thomas Nast illustrated him as a round bellied
whiskered figure in tight red leggings and
coat. Coca-Cola's popular advertising
changed the concept of Santa to a cheerful full
bearded man with the now popular red suit,
black boots and wide belt.

9. Merry
Christmas To
All !