Christmas Traditions in Victorian England were not as extravagant and festive as they are today.
At the time, Christmas was a religious holiday that celebrated Jesus Christ’s birth. It also marked the end of Advent which is a period of fasting and charity for Christians to prepare for the celebration.
This meant that many people would give gifts to family members or the less fortunate during this time. The most popular Christmas tradition during this time was the Yule log.
This was a large log that would be placed in the fireplace and burned for twelve nights. It was believed that the Yule log would bring good luck to the household.
Other popular traditions included decorating homes with holly and ivy, and eating special Christmas foods such as mince pies and plum pudding.
10 Popular Victorian Christmas Traditions
1. Decorating Homes with Holly and Ivy
The tradition of decorating homes with holly and ivy dates back to the Victorian era. Homes would be decorated with these plants to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
People would also place holly and ivy wreaths on their doors to welcome guests during the holiday season. This would often be done on Christmas Eve so that the house would be ready for Santa Claus when he came down the chimney.
It is said that the tradition of decorating homes with holly and ivy came from the story of Saint George and the Dragon. In the story, Saint George kills a dragon and rescues a princess.
He then takes the dragon’s blood and sprinkles it on some holly and ivy. The plants grow overnight and he uses them to decorate the princess’s home. This is said to be the origin of the tradition.
2. Giving Gifts on Christmas Eve
It was believed that Santa Claus would come down the chimney on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to good children. This is why many people would give gifts to their loved ones on this day.
It was also a tradition to leave out a plate of food and a glass of milk for Santa. This tradition is still practiced today in many homes around the world. The Christmas Eve box is also a popular tradition that originated in Victorian England.
This is where people would put all of their presents into a box and open them on Christmas Eve. This was done so that people would have something to open on Christmas Day if they didn’t get any gifts from Santa.
3. Eating Mince Pies
Mince pies are a traditional Christmas food that originated in Victorian England. They are made with a filling of minced meat, fruit, and spices. The pies would be baked in large quantities and given to friends and family.
It was also common to leave out a mince pie for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. This tradition is still practiced today and mince pies can be found in most supermarkets during the holiday season.
4. Making Plum Pudding
Plum pudding is a traditional Christmas dessert that originated in Victorian England. It is made with a mix of dried fruits, suet, and spices. The pudding would be cooked for hours and then served with a hard sauce made from butter, sugar, and brandy.
This dessert was usually made on Christmas Eve and then eaten on Christmas Day. The pudding would also be served with a dollop of cream or custard.
This tradition is still practiced today and plum pudding can be found in most supermarkets during the holiday season.
5. Burning the Yule Log
The Yule log was a large log that was burned in the fireplace for twelve nights. It was believed that this would bring good luck to the household.
The Yule log would often be decorated with holly and ivy. This tradition is still practiced today in many homes around the world.
6. Decorating Christmas Trees
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees dates back to the Victorian era. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were said to be the first people to decorate a Christmas tree in their homes.
This tradition then spread to other homes and eventually became a popular custom. Christmas trees would be decorated with candles, balls, and other trinkets.
This tradition is still practiced today and Christmas trees can be found in most homes during the holiday season.
7. Sending Christmas Cards
Sending Christmas cards is a tradition that originated in Victorian England. The first Christmas card was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.
He commissioned an artist to create a design that he could mass-produce and send to his friends and family.
The tradition of sending Christmas cards then spread to other parts of the world and eventually became a popular custom. Christmas cards would often be decorated with images of Christmas scenes, such as snow-covered landscapes or jolly Santas.
This tradition is still practiced today and Christmas cards can be found in most homes during the holiday season.
8. Singing Christmas Carols
Singing Christmas carols is a tradition that originated in Victorian England. The first known Christmas carol was “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” which was written in the 15th century.
However, it wasn’t until the Victorian era that caroling became a popular tradition. Christmas carols would be sung in public places, such as streets and pubs.
This tradition is still practiced today and Christmas carols can be heard in most homes during the holiday season.
9. Parlor Games
Parlour games were a popular pastime in Victorian England. These games would be played in the parlor, which was a room in the house where people would gather to socialize.
Some popular parlor games included charades, cards, and chess. This tradition is still practiced today and many homes will have a selection of board games that can be played during the holiday season.
10. Entertainments
Christmas entertainments were a popular way to celebrate the holiday season in Victorian England. These entertainments would often be held in public places, such as town halls or theaters.
They would include a variety of performances, such as plays, musicals, and dance recitals. This tradition is still practiced today and many towns and cities will hold Christmas events, such as concerts and plays, throughout the holiday season.
The Victorian era was a time of great change in England. This was a period of industrialization and modernization. However, it was also a time when many traditional Christmas customs were established.
These traditions are still practiced today and have become an integral part of the holiday season.
Last Words
Since the early days, Victorians celebrated Christmas using unique Christian traditions. Many of these traditions have been passed down from generations and are still in use today.
We can all learn from these Christmas traditions and apply them to our ways of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.