A Very Victorian Christmas

 

Christmas was hardly celebrated at the beginning of the 19th Century, businesses didn’t even consider it a holiday. However, by the end of the century it had become the biggest annual celebration. Today, almost 10 million Christmas trees are sold and 800 million mince pies eaten during Christmas in the UK.

It is believed that Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert first popularised Christmas Trees in homes when he insisted on bringing trees indoors and decorating them within Windsor Castle. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany.

Giving gifts at Christmas wasn't a tradition the Victorians established, but they certainly made it a part of their family festivities along with the importance of sharing and gratitude. Presents were shared in the evening of Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day as is most commonly done today.

Christmas puddings feature regularly on the royal menus and is mentioned by Dickens as a treat enjoyed by Victorians. It was often served with a kind of sauce, perhaps an English custard or crème anglaise, much similar to what we do today. But while a staple on the Victorian Christmas table, the pudding began as a pottage in the Medieval period.  

Like Christmas puddings, mince pies were originally filled with actual meat, such as partridge, pheasant, rabbit, pigeon or hare. Over time, they became a sweet treat by replacing the filling with dried fruit mix.

Mince pies were initially eaten only by the wealthy. To flaunt their money, the rich would offer pies in various shapes, such as crescents and hearts, to show off their wealth. They became a highly sought-after treat around the festive period thanks to a tradition from the Middle Ages, which saw people eat a mince pie for 12 days from Christmas day to Twelfth Night. Doing this was suspected to bring you happiness for the next 12 months.