The Victorians Invented Christmas

The earliest observance of Christmas in the New World was in 1607 at the Virginia colony of John Smith – complete with Yule logs, carols, evergreen decorated churches and a sumptuous feast on Christmas day to which the Indians were invited. Throughout the next few decades in the rest of the colonies, however, it was very different. In Puritan New England, Christmas celebrations were viewed as wanton excesses brought on by the suggestions of Satan. It would be well into the nineteenth century before New Englanders could feel comfortable enough to begin observance of Christmas openly.

In stark contrast to their New England neighbors were New York’s Dutch settlers who not only celebrated Christmas but made it a gala finale to an entire month of merrymaking. During December, normal business would grind to a halt except for the confectioners, bakers and toyshops. Dutch homemakers cleaned, roasted fowl and baked for weeks in anticipation of large house parties.

By the mid 1800s, Christmas was being celebrated as a holiday throughout most of America, largely because immigrant settlers brought their favorite holiday customs with them to enjoy in their new homes with their American neighbors. The Dutch brought their beloved gift bearer, St. Nicholas, who visited good children on December 6th; the English, their love of Christmas carols and decorating homes and churches with evergreens, mistletoe and holly; and the Germans brought their Christmas tree.

In the late 1830s, German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania, introduced the custom of bringing a freshly cut evergreen tree indoors to help with the celebration of Christmas. They would decorate the tree with brightly colored paper cornucopias filled with nuts, crystallized fruit, candy, gilded and colored eggshells and wax candles.

During the 1840s, England’s Queen Victoria and her German born husband, Prince Albert, introduced the Christmas tree as the centerpiece of the royal family’s holiday celebration. The scene was immortalized in both the Illustrated London News and Godey’s Lady’s Book in America, capturing the fancy of Victorian women. Very rapidly the “pretty German toy”, as the Christmas tree was frequently called, passed from interesting folk custom to tradition.

Stay tuned for another episode next time.

Excerpts from Mrs. Sharp's Traditions by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I've been very neglectful for the past month in posting for you and I apologize. I've been a bit "under the weather", but feeling much better and will be with you more often. Please check back for two more readings on this subject. You won't be sorry.

My PRH Friends....

I belong to a wonderful group of the most charming, loving, supportive ladies anywhere on earth! Just over a year ago, I was looking at the eBay groups for one with some common interests. Let's see...Decorating, Victorian Lifestyles, Sewing, Painting, Antiquing, Gardening, Home Improvements, Cooking and Old Houses. Lots to choose from, so I picked the three that sounded most promising. Over the next few months, I discovered that one didn't talk at all, one was overcrowded and had too much drama for me and one seemed to be a family that didn't care for anyone else in their group (I never did know what they were talking about).

Then, out of the blue, Connie invited me to join a group that she had just started called "Pretty Romantic Homes". Sounded right up my alley, so I said "Yes!". Little did I know that this decision was one of the best on-line ones I've ever made. I quit all the other groups and now belong exclusively to this one. Among other things, we are a close knit group that support each other, but more importantly, we all truly love one another! I don't know that most people have real friends as treasured as these "cyber" sisters are to me.

AND, these ladies are the most remarkably talented on the earth! I wanted to show you just how talented they are by showcasing each one and some of the items that they make. But, I'm going to do one better....Just go down this list and you can see for yourself.

Now, don't skip anyone because they have the most wonderful and beautiful gifts you could find for the holidays! Reasonable prices, too! It's worth the time to visit each one and if you need an update, I'll be putting them on my side bar for easy reference later. Happy Shopping and be prepared to drool a bit.

Ele - A Bit of Heaven

Amy - Bunny Rose Cottage

Rhea - Sweet 'n Shabby Roses

Katie - Roses Breeze Boutique

Lorena - 2 Chic Friends

Connie - Rose Porch Designs

Karen - Second Hand Rose

Celeste - La Rea Rose

Stephanie - Angelic Accents

Sharon - Sweet Victorian Rose

Then, there is me....

Bertie - Aunt May's Cottage

So Many Posts....So Little Time

A FRIDAY POST!! I don't know that I've ever had a Friday post, but there is so much to tell you that I just have to get a few extra in for you. This one is about my PRH Secret Sister!

Look what she sent me.....for no reason. It's not my birthday nor an anniversary. I've not been ill or lost a loved one recently. This is just for me, because she thinks I'm special. How Gracious!!

The box was very big but didn't weigh much and I was puzzled when it arrived. What I had forgotten that I ordered? (I do this often lately) Inside the box, among the packing peanuts, was another box. Inside that box was the most beautiful shade of pink tissue. Inside the tissue was a bag with bubble wrap in it and inside the bubble wrap was this little shoe. I love its worn leather look, the beautiful bronze bow and the dried floral arrangement. I ponder for a moment about the child that struggled to take his first steps wearing this little shoe.



AND....

Now, I don't know if my secret sister painted this beautiful hankie or if she purchased it like this but it will be a forever cherished treasure. The painted detail is just incredible. Even the gold edging is painted. I don't think I'm going to blow my nose on this cutie!

I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful secret sister! Thank you, my dear, dear friend, whoever you are!

Another PRH friend, Dolly, has so graciously given me the "You Make Me Smile" Award. This is a real honor from Dolly as she is the one that makes me (and everyone that knows her) smile.

Her blog is always a ray of sunshine and a delightful escape from any negativity. She also takes the best photos! Dolly has a very unique way of viewing the everyday, ordinary things that most of us take for granted and making them special with her photographs and her thoughts. Thank you Dolly for considering me your freind!

I think I'm supposed to pass this along. So if you've already been awarded, consider yourself twice blessed. Stephanie, Sharon, Connie, Vickie, Ele and Rhea .

More about my talented, fabulous PRH Sisters in the next post!

Victorian Dining

More from my favorite era... Victorian Dining

Dressing for the Occasion
Imitating the wealth and adopting the social patterns of the English were fashionable among the comfortably off middle class in the closing years of the 19th century. Formal dress was expected for any occasion after 6 p.m. Ladies wore low-necked, short sleeved gowns (and gloves - until they were seated at the table). At larger dinners, matrons appeared in satin, silk or velvet with spangles or embroidered laces. Young ladies chose daintier sheer muslins or chiffon. Etiquette books advised gentlemen to wear dark broadcloth and "fine linen."

Dinner Escorts
As soon as he arrived, the male guest was told by his hostess, or by a card on the hall table, whom he would escort into the dining room. After stilted preliminary conversation, the host led his guests into the dining room with his companion "on his left arm." According to custom, the honor of first seating went to the oldest or most distinguished lady, a stranger in the community, a recent bride, or the wife of the most prominent guest in the house. The hostess entered the dining room last on the arm of her husband or her husband's partner.

The Lavish Dining Room
The Victorian dining room was a large and heavily decorated room. The Social Mirror, stated that it "should be furnished with a view to convenience, richness and comfort." It suggested walls of bronze, maroon, or black. Pompeian red or deep olive, with designs, dado and frieze in old gold, olive or moss-green, and wainscoting on the walls and ceiling. Pompeian red and soft olive were recommended for draperies. Dark woods should be used. A buffet may stand in a corner for the display of ceramics, or decorated china. The sideboard should be of high, massive style with shelves and racks for glassware and china. A cage of stuffed birds, a few large pots of tropical plants and a fernery are in keeping. A folding screen should not be forgotten. But it was the lavishly appointed table that riveted attention.

More about the food and table settings in the next post. Stay tuned......

For today's version of the oppulent linens and tableware used by our Victorian ancestors, visit Aunt May's Cottage.

This week's treasures!

While antiquing with my daughter last week, I stumbled upon a couple of things that I could not live without! This $40.00 find....

It still has the original horsehair stuffing in the seat! Not very comfortable, but lovely to look at. The fabric is in excellent shape for its age and is made of a very light peach colored wool with a wool crewel embroidery in cream. Even though it is in great shape, I think I will need to reupholster it to a color more my liking. I just love the shape of the back, don't you?

We also found this beauty at the same shop.....

I was unsure what it really was, but my friend, Rhea, says it is a candle holder or vase. That sounds good to me.....so, that's what it is. See how the glass bulges out around the metal bands? It must have been blown that way. It is very large, standing about three feet tall with the opening of the "vase" about 11 inches in diameter. It weighs about a ton and cost me ten bucks.

I was going to paint it white, but Rhea pointed out that the inside of the metal bands are black and would show through the glass. It was a real "duhhh" moment for me. I didn't even think of that! Looks like it will remain its present color and that will fit in my home perfectly anyway.

New listings on my web store today are....pew bows, satin pumpkins, goblet covers and a new catagory....EMBELLISHMENTS. I'll be adding to the new catagory every day this week. Go check it out at http://auntmayscottage.com/ and see if you can find something you can't live without.