 | A tree sparkling with decorations; cards signed, sealed and posted; a bounteous holiday feast centred around a golden turkey; festive crackers ‘snapping’; joyful carol singing – these are all commonly practised Christmas traditions whose origins or, at least, popularity can be attributed to Victorian England. Read the entire article below or in Relish Elgin Holiday 2015 |
The Victorian era (1837-1901) was the period of British history when Queen Victoria reigned. Victoria herself wasn’t responsible for the spread of all the Christmas traditions of the day but she and her German-born husband can certainly claim credit for the popularization of the Christmas tree. Though there were Christmas trees before Victorian times Prince Consort Albert brought the custom to the royal household from Germany. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree and soon everyone in Britain wanted one.
By the end of the 19th century, many facets of the typical Victorian Christmas had caught on in Canada. Even today, for many, planning (or imagining) a warm and festive holiday celebration brings to mind’s eye the traditional “Victorian Christmas”. Here are some ways you can inject a little of that warm and fuzzy Victorian style (or at least a bit of nostalgia) into your holiday season.
By the end of the 19th century, many facets of the typical Victorian Christmas had caught on in Canada. Even today, for many, planning (or imagining) a warm and festive holiday celebration brings to mind’s eye the traditional “Victorian Christmas”. Here are some ways you can inject a little of that warm and fuzzy Victorian style (or at least a bit of nostalgia) into your holiday season.
Clockwise, from top right: "Village Christmas" by Peter Robson; roasting chestnuts at Leo's Tree Farm; Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives; Cindy Bircham's Spirited Fruit Tarts; "Please Mr. Postman" by Shelley McVittie; Old St. Thomas Church; St. Thomas City Hall; Marley's Ghost from Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" (illustration by John Leech, 1834).
LEO'S TREE FARM
Canadian trees in Victorian times were often decorated with homemade decorations, including brightly dyed popcorn until the 1890s when Christmas ornaments began to arrive from Germany. A visit to Leo’s should put you in a “deck the halls” frame of mind, whether your ornaments are kid-made or lovingly collected over the years. Read about Leo’s West Lorne farm where memories have been made for twenty years ...
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
During Victorian times lucky children were taken to the pantomime for holiday entertainment. Pantomime came to Britain in the 16th century as a traveling Italian street theatre and evolved over the centuries. In the nineteenth century stories like Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella were reworked to create “pantos” which specialized in puns and word plays. Over the past few years, many local children have had their first theatre acting or audience experience with the Elgin Theatre Guild’s holiday pantomimes. (For the uninitiated, don’t be misled by the “mime” in pantomime – these interactive performances are NOT without words). “Jack and the Beanstock” plays December 3rd-13th.
VICTORIAN HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Aylmer Malahide Museum & Archives has been transformed into a Victorian home (or at least the parlour, dining room and bedroom of one). An informative guide to the displayed objects includes many interesting tidbits plus a list of rules on table manners from the Nineteenth Century Household Guide, 1896. The exhibit will be decorated for the holidays and available as one of the stops during the Annual Museum Volunteers’ Annual Christmas Tour of Homes on November 20th and 21st.
PUZZLING PASTIMES BY ARTIST SHELLEY MCVITTIE
Early wooden puzzles grew steadily in popularity throughout the 1800s amongst the upper class in Europe and the U.S. You’ll find a short history of the popular pastime in Shelley McVittie’s article in Relish Elgin Holiday 2015. At the Village Collective in Sparta you’ll also find three of her nostalgic paintings – Please, Mr. Postman; The Sewing Lesson; The Pine Pantry; The Laundry Line and The Gingerbread Makers – in puzzle format and just waiting to be part of your holiday down-time.
WARM AND WHIMSICAL GREETINGS FROM THE PETER ROBSON GALLERY
One of the biggest trends introduced by the Brits in Victorian England was the Christmas card. Henry Cole commissioned the first one in 1843 from artist John Callcott Horsley. Initially, costs of both printing and postage were prohibitive but when those came down, Christmas cards were on their way to becoming a booming and long-lived industry. In late Victorian times snow scenes became popular. Although Sparta artist Peter Robson painted in a wide variety of styles, many of his winter scenes burst with a whimsy and nostalgia that perfectly matches the Christmas season. Some of these paintings are available as art cards at the Peter Robson Gallery. Find out what’s new at the gallery ...
A CHRISTMS CAROL AT OLD TOWN HALL
A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens was written at a time of industrialization, urbanization and growing interest in holiday traditions. It helped popularize the incorporation of family, charity, goodwill, peace and happiness as part of the Christmas celebration. All of those traditions can be found wrapped up in the Aylmer Community Theatre’s presentation, “Deck the Old Town Hall” on December 18th. It’s a fundraiser for the Aylmer Corner Cupboard and the evening’s entertainment includes music, dance, storytelling, carol singing and “A Christmas Carol Radio Play” directed by Ron Sawyer.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THE OLD ST. THOMAS CHURCH
The origins of Christmas carols can be found thousands of years before Victorian times, but it was the Victorians who helped revive and popularize them. The first significant collection of carols was published in England in 1833 – Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by William Sandys. Singing carols at the Old St. Thomas Church Annual Carol Sing has become an anticipated tradition for many. Hundreds of people pack the 1824 church to sing a selection of carols, nibble on 500 or so mincemeat tarts and approximately 600 church-shaped cookies, be warmed by several gallons of apple cider and leave filled with a generous measure of Christmas spirit. It takes place Sunday December 6th, 2015.
SPIRITED FEAST
The Christmas feast has its roots in time before the Middle Ages but it was in Victorian England that the “turkey and all the trimmings” dinner started to take shape. Turkey began to replace beef and goose as the star attraction for wealthier British families in the 19th century. The beautiful crackers that today grace many a Christmas table were invented in 1848 by confectioner Tom Smith. Inspired by French bon bons (sugared almonds wrapped in twists of paper) he created simple packages filled with sweets and later came up with a way to increase the excitement of opening, by adding a “crack!”. Later on, the sweets were replaced by small gifts. Mincemeat evolved over time – read about its makeover and find Cindy Bircham’s “Spirited Heirloom Fruit Pastries” ...
VICTORIAN STREETSCAPES
Increased wealth, much of it due to a surge of railway activity in St. Thomas and across Elgin County, encouraged the construction of many grand buildings during the latter 19th century. In Ontario, styles of residences constructed during the Victorian era included Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance, Gothic and Classical Revival, Second Empire Beaux Arts, Arts and Crafts and Queen Anne Revivals. The Victorian style encompassed any building built between 1840 and 1900 of Classical or Gothic design with a “dressing up” via swirls, patterns and details.
Locally, many of the grand homes built during the Victorian years are included in walking tours which can be found on-line at www.elgintourist.com/Tourism/Heritage-Trees-Walking-Tours (Aylmer, Port Burwell, Port Stanley, Talbot Settlement, Sparta and St. Thomas). One example, the Telegraph House (205 Main St, Port Stanley) built in the early Victorian style mixes gables of Gothic Revival and the bay windows and quoining of the Italianate Style. For a feeling of nostalgia try one of the walking tours when there’s a frosting of snow. Or take a stroll down Talbot Street in St. Thomas where you’ll find many examples of late 1800s architecture including St. Thomas City Hall (1899) in the late Richardsonian Romanesque style, or the Southern Loan Building located at 384-390 Talbot St.
COLOUR ME VICTORIAN
The first colouring book is thought to have been the “Little Folks’ Painting Book”, published in 1880 with illustrations by British artist Kate Greenaway. (Crayons weren’t yet being mass-produced.) In recent years, colouring books for adults have become wildly popular. Fans credit the books which are available in a wide range of styles and themes with providing relaxation and de-stressing benefits. Artist Laura Woermke has contributed to this edition of Relish Elgin a splendid Victorian-era woman for your colouring enjoyment. A book full of Laura’s drawings, colour me happy, is available from the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre gift shop with proceeds going to the Art Centre.
Although many popular Christmas customs have a strong Victorian influence, they are just a part of the kaleidoscope of holiday traditions enjoyed in Canada. Those have been derived through influences from First Nations, European explorers, pioneers, early settlers and later immigrants which makes for infinite possibilities of flavours to bring to the Canadian holiday table.
Canadian trees in Victorian times were often decorated with homemade decorations, including brightly dyed popcorn until the 1890s when Christmas ornaments began to arrive from Germany. A visit to Leo’s should put you in a “deck the halls” frame of mind, whether your ornaments are kid-made or lovingly collected over the years. Read about Leo’s West Lorne farm where memories have been made for twenty years ...
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
During Victorian times lucky children were taken to the pantomime for holiday entertainment. Pantomime came to Britain in the 16th century as a traveling Italian street theatre and evolved over the centuries. In the nineteenth century stories like Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella were reworked to create “pantos” which specialized in puns and word plays. Over the past few years, many local children have had their first theatre acting or audience experience with the Elgin Theatre Guild’s holiday pantomimes. (For the uninitiated, don’t be misled by the “mime” in pantomime – these interactive performances are NOT without words). “Jack and the Beanstock” plays December 3rd-13th.
VICTORIAN HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Aylmer Malahide Museum & Archives has been transformed into a Victorian home (or at least the parlour, dining room and bedroom of one). An informative guide to the displayed objects includes many interesting tidbits plus a list of rules on table manners from the Nineteenth Century Household Guide, 1896. The exhibit will be decorated for the holidays and available as one of the stops during the Annual Museum Volunteers’ Annual Christmas Tour of Homes on November 20th and 21st.
PUZZLING PASTIMES BY ARTIST SHELLEY MCVITTIE
Early wooden puzzles grew steadily in popularity throughout the 1800s amongst the upper class in Europe and the U.S. You’ll find a short history of the popular pastime in Shelley McVittie’s article in Relish Elgin Holiday 2015. At the Village Collective in Sparta you’ll also find three of her nostalgic paintings – Please, Mr. Postman; The Sewing Lesson; The Pine Pantry; The Laundry Line and The Gingerbread Makers – in puzzle format and just waiting to be part of your holiday down-time.
WARM AND WHIMSICAL GREETINGS FROM THE PETER ROBSON GALLERY
One of the biggest trends introduced by the Brits in Victorian England was the Christmas card. Henry Cole commissioned the first one in 1843 from artist John Callcott Horsley. Initially, costs of both printing and postage were prohibitive but when those came down, Christmas cards were on their way to becoming a booming and long-lived industry. In late Victorian times snow scenes became popular. Although Sparta artist Peter Robson painted in a wide variety of styles, many of his winter scenes burst with a whimsy and nostalgia that perfectly matches the Christmas season. Some of these paintings are available as art cards at the Peter Robson Gallery. Find out what’s new at the gallery ...
A CHRISTMS CAROL AT OLD TOWN HALL
A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens was written at a time of industrialization, urbanization and growing interest in holiday traditions. It helped popularize the incorporation of family, charity, goodwill, peace and happiness as part of the Christmas celebration. All of those traditions can be found wrapped up in the Aylmer Community Theatre’s presentation, “Deck the Old Town Hall” on December 18th. It’s a fundraiser for the Aylmer Corner Cupboard and the evening’s entertainment includes music, dance, storytelling, carol singing and “A Christmas Carol Radio Play” directed by Ron Sawyer.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THE OLD ST. THOMAS CHURCH
The origins of Christmas carols can be found thousands of years before Victorian times, but it was the Victorians who helped revive and popularize them. The first significant collection of carols was published in England in 1833 – Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by William Sandys. Singing carols at the Old St. Thomas Church Annual Carol Sing has become an anticipated tradition for many. Hundreds of people pack the 1824 church to sing a selection of carols, nibble on 500 or so mincemeat tarts and approximately 600 church-shaped cookies, be warmed by several gallons of apple cider and leave filled with a generous measure of Christmas spirit. It takes place Sunday December 6th, 2015.
SPIRITED FEAST
The Christmas feast has its roots in time before the Middle Ages but it was in Victorian England that the “turkey and all the trimmings” dinner started to take shape. Turkey began to replace beef and goose as the star attraction for wealthier British families in the 19th century. The beautiful crackers that today grace many a Christmas table were invented in 1848 by confectioner Tom Smith. Inspired by French bon bons (sugared almonds wrapped in twists of paper) he created simple packages filled with sweets and later came up with a way to increase the excitement of opening, by adding a “crack!”. Later on, the sweets were replaced by small gifts. Mincemeat evolved over time – read about its makeover and find Cindy Bircham’s “Spirited Heirloom Fruit Pastries” ...
VICTORIAN STREETSCAPES
Increased wealth, much of it due to a surge of railway activity in St. Thomas and across Elgin County, encouraged the construction of many grand buildings during the latter 19th century. In Ontario, styles of residences constructed during the Victorian era included Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance, Gothic and Classical Revival, Second Empire Beaux Arts, Arts and Crafts and Queen Anne Revivals. The Victorian style encompassed any building built between 1840 and 1900 of Classical or Gothic design with a “dressing up” via swirls, patterns and details.
Locally, many of the grand homes built during the Victorian years are included in walking tours which can be found on-line at www.elgintourist.com/Tourism/Heritage-Trees-Walking-Tours (Aylmer, Port Burwell, Port Stanley, Talbot Settlement, Sparta and St. Thomas). One example, the Telegraph House (205 Main St, Port Stanley) built in the early Victorian style mixes gables of Gothic Revival and the bay windows and quoining of the Italianate Style. For a feeling of nostalgia try one of the walking tours when there’s a frosting of snow. Or take a stroll down Talbot Street in St. Thomas where you’ll find many examples of late 1800s architecture including St. Thomas City Hall (1899) in the late Richardsonian Romanesque style, or the Southern Loan Building located at 384-390 Talbot St.
COLOUR ME VICTORIAN
The first colouring book is thought to have been the “Little Folks’ Painting Book”, published in 1880 with illustrations by British artist Kate Greenaway. (Crayons weren’t yet being mass-produced.) In recent years, colouring books for adults have become wildly popular. Fans credit the books which are available in a wide range of styles and themes with providing relaxation and de-stressing benefits. Artist Laura Woermke has contributed to this edition of Relish Elgin a splendid Victorian-era woman for your colouring enjoyment. A book full of Laura’s drawings, colour me happy, is available from the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre gift shop with proceeds going to the Art Centre.
Although many popular Christmas customs have a strong Victorian influence, they are just a part of the kaleidoscope of holiday traditions enjoyed in Canada. Those have been derived through influences from First Nations, European explorers, pioneers, early settlers and later immigrants which makes for infinite possibilities of flavours to bring to the Canadian holiday table.
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