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Christmas Games and the Role of Children
Victorian Christmas part 6 During the Victorian era, people began to view children as innocent creatures, rather than small workers. This resulted in changes to family life and celebrations, but a few parlour games that might not be...
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Christmas Stockings and the Legend of Santa Claus
Victorian Christmas part 7 A story of St. Nicholas tossing balls of gold into stockings combined with details from Clemenct C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (or The Night Before Christmas) to establish the tradition of Santa Claus...
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What Did Victorians Eat for Christmas Dinner?
Victorian Christmas part 5 The cuisine of the Victorian era was a mix of dishes and ingredients from Medieval times and modern day food. Turkey, duck, goose, and a variety of jellies were common and some dishes moved from savory to...
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How Indistrialization Changed Christmas
Victorian Christmas part 2 The expansion of the railway system across the British Isles and the introduction of Bank holidays made it easier, cheaper, and quicker to travel to see friends and relatives during Christmas. Mass production...
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How Did the Victorians Celebrate Christmas?
Victorian Christmas part 8 The Victorians were the first to create what we might recognize as a modern Christmas, modifying medieval meals and focusing on family, children, and charity during the holiday season.
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How the Evergreen Tree Became a Symbol of Christmas
Victorian Christmas part 1 During the Victorian era, Christmas evolved to become a family-oriented holiday and the tradition of the Christmas tree began! Learn how an image of Queen Victoria popularized the evergreen tree as a symbol of...
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The Invention of the Christmas Cracker
Victorian Christmas part 4 The Christmas Cracker was invented by Tom Smith in 1847. Smith began working in confections and was always looking for new ways to capitalize on the Christmas season. Legend has it that he was inspired to...
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The Invention of the Commercially Available Christmas Card
Victorian Christmas part 3 Sir Henry Cole is usually credited with introducing the commercially available Christmas card. He came up with the idea of creating a single, form card that people could send easily to friends and family rather...
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A Christmas Carol Goes to Court: Charles Dickens in Chancery
National Archive: A Christmas Carol, published 19 December 1843 is one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved works and did much to create our image of an archetypal Victorian Christmas. But its success immediately caused its author trouble,...