Hearthstone’s Victorian Christmas: The Holly and The Ivy

England’s Christmas traditions date back over a thousand years to the 6th century when legend has it that King Arthur and his court held merry feasts with music, dancing, and jousting to celebrate Christes (Christ) and Masse (feast or festival). 

England was invaded by many peoples over the centuries, and their Christmas customs became a blending of foreign influences along with remnants of old pagan rituals.  Through it all, Christmas in Britain retained the festive tradition of celebrating with joy, feasting, and merry making.  Once celebrated for 12 days, each day had its own special name, significance, and activities.

Please enjoy this on-line retrospective of the Victorian Christmas: The Holly and The Ivy featuring excepts from the exhibit materials, crafted by our Curation Director Ann Larson. Photographs provided are by Hearthstone staff.

The Parlor - Holly, Ivy, and Yule Logs

Holly and ivy have long been an intermingling of pagan and Christian symbols.  Traditionally the cut plants were brought into the house on Christmas Eve and removed either on Epiphany (January 6th) or Candlemas (February 2nd).

The sharp prickles on holly leaves are said to represent Christ’s crown of thorns, and the red berries, Christ’s blood.  The clinging character of the ivy is said to demonstrate the need for the believer to cling to God.  Other symbolic meanings are also attached to the plants, symbolizing man and woman, and dating back to pagan times.

The burning of the Yule Log is thought to derive from the ancient Vikings who built huge bonfires to celebrate their festival of light at the winter solstice.  The word, “Yule,” has existed in the English language for centuries as an alternative to “Christmas.” Traditionally, a large log would be selected on Christmas Eve, dragged home, and decorated with ribbons upon the hearth.  After lighting, it was kept burning throughout the 12 days of Christmas.  It was considered good luck to keep some of the charred remains of the log to re-kindle with a new log the following year.

The Library - Kissing Boughs and Mistletoe

Kissing boughs represent the traditional English custom of creating globe-shaped boughs of evergreens, often incorporating apples in the interior and mistletoe at the very bottom.  Dating to the Middle Ages, it was a symbol of goodwill and welcome to all who passed under the boughs.  It was popularized again during the Victorian era when it took on more romantic symbolism.  All ladies who stood underneath were to receive a kiss and a dance.

Mistletoe has long been considered as a magical plant.  It is a plant that has no roots of its own and lives off of the tree that it attaches itself to.  It was used in various potions as a universal remedy and fertility drug by ancient peoples. During the Middle Ages, it was hung from the rafters to ward off evil spirits. Later, it was added to the kissing boughs of England as a symbol of welcome.  During the Victorian era, it was romanticized to signify a kiss for each young lady to stand beneath it.

The Grand Hall - Candy Canes

The origin of candy canes is thought to have originated in Germany in 1670 by a choir master who sought to quiet children in church.  He shaped candy sticks into hook shapes to give it religious symbolism.  These represented shepherds’ hooks of the nativity, thus legitimizing the sweets as appropriate for use in church!  White symbolized the purity of Christ, and red stood for the blood of Christ. 

Candy cane popularity spread, and they were given at events celebrating the nativity throughout Germany.  By the early 19th century, the confections appeared in America, and by 1882, they were hung on Christmas trees.

The Dining Room - The Upside-down Tree and Party Crakers

The origin of candy canes is thought to have originated in Germany in 1670 by a choir master who sought to quiet children in church.  He shaped candy sticks into hook shapes to give it religious symbolism.  These represented shepherds’ hooks of the nativity, thus legitimizing the sweets as appropriate for use in church!  White symbolized the purity of Christ, and red stood for the blood of Christ. 

Candy cane popularity spread, and they were given at events celebrating the nativity throughout Germany.  By the early 19th century, the confections appeared in America, and by 1882, they were hung on Christmas trees.

Paper party crackers grace each place setting on Christmas Eve in many traditional English homes.  The crackers are popped open to reveal riddles, party hats, or tiny gifts.  Sometimes the crackers were elaborately decorated.  The custom travelled to America where it was more often seen on New Year’s Eve.

The Kitchen - Boxing Day

On December 26th, the English traditionally boxed up food or money for the poor.  Masters gave gifts to their servants and gave them the day off.  Servants then went home with their boxes to celebrate with their families.  Remaining boxes were then distributed to those in need as giving alms to the poor.  In modern Britain, boxes are still given on December 26th, often to working people important in the lives of others such as mail carriers, paper boys, bus drivers, and neighborhood merchants or police officers.

The day after Christmas is the feast of St. Stephens, the patron saint of horses.  Thus, a traditional English fox hunt was often held on Boxing Day to celebrate “St. Stephen’s Day.”  Fox hunts and equestrian events are still held on December 26th in England.  Other major athletic events also occur on this day.

The Master Bedroom - Spinning Wheel

Spinning wheels were a part of every household for centuries.  Used to spin yarn and thread from which to create fabric, they were an essential part of life and symbolic of constant work. 

The English began to decorate their spinning wheels at Christmastime so they could not be used.  Traditionally, work was not to be done during the 12 days of Christmas.

The North Bedroom… “Beth and Amy’s Room”

Hearthstone depicts younger sisters, Beth and Amy sharing a room. Thirteen-year-old Beth is painfully shy but kind, sweet, and loves to play piano. Her dolls adorn her room. In the novel, Beth tended to each doll and tenderly fixed them up if in dis-repair. Along with her mother, Beth served the needy and sick in the community. Beth’s kitty, “Mrs. Snowball,” lies sleeping on the bed, and her pet bird, “Pip,” sings from a cage on the fireplace mantle.

Amy, the youngest of the March sisters, was described as a “snow maiden” with bright blue eyes and blonde curls. A proper young lady, her motto was “be elegant or die.” Amy could be selfish and vain. An artist, Amy loved to paint and eventually travels to Europe with Great Aunt March where she seriously pursues her artistic talent.

Amy and her older sister, Jo, are opposites in personality and often butt heads. A jealous Amy burns Jo’s manuscript leading to a terrible fight. It is Amy who falls through the ice on a skating outing with Jo and friend “Laurie” Laurence. Jo saves Amy’s life, and their relationship is restored.

Hearthstone has depicted Beth and Amy’s letters to their papa on the fireplace ledge. A Victorian “snow tree” adorns the room. Snow trees were very popular throughout the 19th century and represent a home craft.

The Southwest Bedroom… “Jo’s Room”

Jo, or Josephine March is the lead character Little Women. A tomboy, Jo is stubborn, spirited, determined, fiery-tempered and creative. She did things considered un-ladylike by the society in which she lived including romping around, whistling, and using slang. But deep down, Jo was an intellectual and delighted in literature and drama. She was a writer, and in the novel, was paid for her work. Literary critics believe that author, Louisa May Alcott, modeled Jo after herself.

Hearthstone has represented Jo at her writing table, showing a bit of frustration with crumpled, discarded pieces of manuscript. On the table lies a bible, given to Jo as a gift from her Great Aunt March, whom Jo regarded as very tedious.

A pair of ice skates and locks of hair on “Jo’s” bed represent two heroic episodes in her life: saving her younger sister, Amy, from drowning on a frozen pond, and Jo’s act of cutting her luxurious hair “her one true beauty” to sell. The money from Jo’s hair was presented to Marmee to fund a journey to tend to the girls’ sick and ailing father serving in the Civil War.

Jo’s love of nature pervades the room and Christmas tree. Her letter to Papa is near the hearth, as are the author’s widely acclaimed novels.

The Northwest Bedroom… “Meg’s Room”

Meg, at 16, was the eldest and a society debutant. She was said to possess beauty and charm, yet maintained traditional roles of mid-Victorian women by tutoring children and delighting in household work. But Meg longed for a life of wealth and luxury. When Meg borrows lavish clothing from a well-placed friend and attends a “Vanity Fair,” she discovers that this is not truly her character. When younger sister, Beth, dies from complications of scarlet fever, Meg learns that health, home, and hearth are more important than material goods.

“Meg’s” room depicts her love of fine things, dances, balls, and society, but also her penchant for domesticity and helping others in need. Her letter to Papa is represented next to the porcelain tea set.

The Family Sitting Hall

Hearthstone’s family sitting hall was a place to gather, read, create scrapbooks and photo albums, tell stories and work on needlecraft. The tree represents a Victorian “paper tree” popular from about 1860 to the late 19th and early 20th century.  Handcrafted ornaments were made by the women and children of the house. Directions were published in various magazines. Paper was plied into cone-shaped candy containers, or was cut out from magazines, greeting, cards, post cards, or scrapbooking supplies. Commercially available, elaborate paper ornaments were also common, and took on a three-dimensional quality when embossed by machines.

The Attic Room… “The Garrett”

This year, Hearthstone is adding a special bonus to Victorian Christmas—making one room in the usually closed attic available for tours. Hearthstone’s attic tank-room originally held a cistern to provide running water to the second-floor bathroom. It is now depicted as the attic or garret of the March family home, “Orchard House.”

In the novel, the garrett was the center of creativity for the four March daughters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. They wrote and choreographed mini theatrical productions, read, played games, and told stories. The main character, Jo, especially loved the attic. It was a quiet spot where she did most of her writing, wearing her “scribbling suit,” a black pinafore and beret with a gray feather. She always ate apples as she wrote, and invariably, the apples and manuscripts were chewed by rats! Literary critics feel that Louisa May Alcott modeled Jo and the lives of her three sisters after herself and the real Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts.

Hearthstone’s attic room contains Jo’s writing table, costumes and play props for the theatrical productions the March girls created, apples, and even a friendly (plush) rat!