“The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
”
Hearthstone’s Christmas Celebration 2019
From November 30, 2019 to January 12, 2020, Hearthstone’s holiday exhibit captivated guests. Daytime tours and nighttime events alike saw the residence filled with decorations and delight. Among the decorations were sixteen trees that told the story of Christmas in the English-speaking world from its humble beginnings around 1850 to the over-the-top Gilded Age approach of the 1880s. Among the delights were evening live performances of holiday music and the sumptuous interiors of Hearthstone.
Many of today’s Christmas traditions had their origins in Victorian America and England. Outside of German- and Dutch-speaking communities, Christmas was not celebrated as a major holiday prior to the second half of the 19th century. Before Queen Victoria‘s reign, hardly anyone in Britain, and few in English-speaking America, had heard of Santa Claus or even St. Nicholas. No trees were decorated. No Christmas cards were sent. No one was given holidays from work. No one sang Christmas carols. No turkey dinners were eaten. In the early 19th century the celebration of Christmas in the English-speaking world was associated with the countryside and peasants, disconnected to the increasing urbanization and industrialization reforming society. This was about to change.
Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert, a German noble, in 1840, brought a new vitality to the German customs practiced by the English royals and, in turn, by the rest of English and American society. Victorian society transformed the idea of Christmas, centering it on family, the preparation and eating of a feast, decorations and gift giving, entertainment and singing. Each aspect became central to the celebration of a festival to be shared by the family and society in general. As a result, many of these traditions that are the basis of current American and English practices, are over 150 years old.
Understand today’s Christmas traditions by exploring excerpts from Hearthstone’s 2019 exhibitVictorian Christmas: Sugar Plums.
Borrowing from German and Dutch traditions, trees were initially table-top in design. There was a practical side to this: Families were cutting their own trees from their property and a smaller tree was easier to handle and replace.
“Chandelier” trees often incorporated a home’s elaborate electric light fixtures into the decor as tree toppers. Here an exquisite Bergmann fixture casts a beautiful glow with recreation Edison electric lamps.
Christmas Trees
While already popular in Germany and the Netherlands and in the areas of America settled by German and Dutch immigrants, the spread of Christmas trees in England and the rest of the United States is attributed to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Learn more.
Sugar plums and other fruits were a three-fold treat. The candied fruit sparkled in candle- and electric-light (while also being well preserved). They scented rooms wonderfully. And best of all, children were allowed to eat the delicious treats on Christmas Day. No wonder visions of sugar plums were dancing in their heads!
By the 1880s, manufactured ornaments were more commonplace. This tree features over 1000 historic and antique ornaments courtesy of Twigs Floral Gallery in Green Bay.
Ornaments
When the idea of Christmas trees was just taking hold, there were no pre-made ornaments. Victorians has to use their imagination and things found in nature to decorate their trees. Eventually, inexpensive pre-made ornaments became commonplace. Learn more.
“Stockings were hung by the chimney with care…” first written in 1822 as part of A Visit from St. Nicholas. The beautiful wreath and mantle decorations are also courtesy of Twigs Floral Gallery in Green Bay.
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly…” Deck the Halls is a Victorian carol, written in 1862 with some lines of the current version added in 1877 and 1881.
Holiday Home Decor
Decorating the home at Christmas also became a more elaborate affair. The medieval tradition of using evergreens continued, however the style and placement of these decorations became more important and elaborate. Uniformity, order, and elegance were encouraged. There were instructions published on how to make elaborate decorations for those residing in towns. Learn more.
Fine china, crystal, and silver… plus Christmas crackers… a lovely setting for a turkey feast.
Surrounded by decorations and gifts…
Christmas Dinner
The Christmas feast has its roots in the Middle Ages (if not before), but it was during the Victorian period that the dinner featuring roast turkey began to take shape. (And why are they called “turkeys”?) Learn more.
"Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" from the c. 1860 “Autograph VI” version by Gruber.
Hearthstone’s 1875 Kranich and Bach square grand piano was a focal point of the evening events with marvelous pianists performing traditional Christmas music.
Carols and Caroling
Wassailing or caroling actually began in medieval times as a pagan ritual. A hot beverage of ale or mulled cider, called a wassail, was made to honor the orchard trees in the dead of winter. Farmers went from farm to farm to make offerings by pouring wassail on the roots of trees. They made noise to scare off the bad spirits responsible for shorter days. Eventually the custom evolved into going door to door singing and drinking. A Christmas tradition was born. Learn more.
Cartoonist Thomas Nast created the image associated today with Santa.
Illustration to verse 1 of Old Santeclaus with Much Delight, published in 1821.
Santa and His Reindeer
The classic image of the bringer of holiday gifts and his unique mode of transportation are firmly rooted in the 19th century and so was his favorite mode of transportation. Learn more.
Gifts under a tree decorated with popcorn strung on thread and glowing lights.
Once presents became larger and store-bought they were wrapped, initially in simple brown paper.
Gift Giving
Gift giving had traditionally been a New Year tradition. But as Christmas became more important to Victorians, the tradition moved to the new holiday. Initially gifts were quite modest – fruit, nuts, sweets, and small handmade trinkets hung as decorations on the Christmas tree. However, as gift giving became bigger and shop-bought (because of industrialization and the time constrains of urban life), they moved under the tree. Learn more.
Christmas Cards
The first Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, the initial director of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1843. Learn more.