The Victorian Christmas – A 19^th Century Reinvention?The Victorian Christmas – A 19^th Century Reinvention?

By the early 19^th Century, Christmas had become a shadow of the extravagant festival we know today. It took the Victorians to reinvent the Christmas season. This fully illustrated talk looks at the pagan and Christian origins of this mid-winter celebration in the darkest days of the year and then considers the influence of authors Washington Irving and Charles Dickens, and our Royal family had on how we celebrate today. Christmas trees, cards, crackers, carols, Father Christmas and presents all make an appearance as do the parlour games our ancestors played, what they ate for their Christmas dinner and their visits to the pantomime. As the festive season extended for twelve days, New Year celebrations are also described.