For those who don’t celebrate Christmas, here’s wishing you a happy holiday, a sensational solstice, or simply, a pleasant break. To finish my posting for 2023 (as I will now be away until January 8th), I’ve put together a few notes on the kind of Christmas some of the Clearwater characters would have enjoyed. Many of the traditions we still use in Britain today began in the Victorian era, so there’s a little information about them too.

If you’ve read three Clearwater books, ‘Fallen Splendour’, ‘The Larkspur Legacy’, and/or ‘1892’, you will have already read a little about how Earl Clearwater celebrates Christmas at Larkspur Hall. Because Clearwater is a benevolent and philanthropic fellow, he invites everyone from his estate, from his top man, Tom Payne the estate steward, to the children of his tenant farmers, and he gives each of them a special gift. These are usually bought on his behalf by his housekeeper, as Archer is actually pretty bad at buying gifts for people. Larkspur has seen three housekeepers during the time we’ve spent there in the novels; Mrs Baker, Mrs Kevern, and now, as Sally Kevern went to housekeep for her best friend, Lucy, Jasper Blackwood, making Jasper the country’s youngest, male, piano-playing-genius housekeeper. I like to keep things eccentric at Larkspur.

However, not everyone would have enjoyed the huge tree, the feast, gifts and warmth offered by Larkspur Hall. Let’s not forget the poor and homeless of London and other cities, who had very little, if anything, to celebrate. We know that Archer and Silas’ mission in Greychurch would have taken care of its boys, and Archer’s other charities would have looked after their charges, but for the general poor public, times were hard. Not only because of the weather and lack of money and food, but because they would have seen and heard about the lavish celebrations organised by the better off, and yet, there would have been nothing they could have done about it. According to Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’, the poor got on with it, suffered, were grateful for what they had, and made the best of a bad job. That’s something of a sugary coating if you ask me, but a lot of how we now feel about Christmas and the generosity some show to the poor at this time was inspired by Dickens and his novel.

Back to the details. Here’s what I cobbled together from various places on the net. A short breakdown of the traditions of a Victorian Christmas.

Christmas in Victorian London was a time of both traditions and transformations. The Victorian era, which lasted from the early 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, saw significant changes in society, industry, and culture. During this period, many of the Christmas customs we know today were popularized and became integral to the holiday season.

Christmas Decorations

The Christmas tree was introduced to England by Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, and became a popular Victorian Christmas tradition. Families adorned their trees with candles, ornaments, and small gifts.

Holly, ivy, and mistletoe were commonly used for decorations. These evergreen plants symbolized renewal and were believed to ward off evil spirits. (Inspired by pre-Christian solstice celebrations.)

Christmas Feasting

Christmas feasts were elaborate affairs with a variety of dishes. Roast turkey or goose was a popular choice, accompanied by side dishes like plum pudding, mince pies, and Christmas cake.

The Christmas pudding, a dense and rich dessert, became a staple of Victorian Christmas celebrations.

Gift-Giving

The Victorians embraced the tradition of gift-giving during Christmas. Handmade gifts and small trinkets were exchanged among family and friends.

Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ published in 1843, contributed to the popularization of Christmas as a time for generosity and goodwill, emphasizing the importance of charity and compassion.

Christmas Carolling

Carolling gained popularity during the Victorian era. Groups of singers would visit homes and entertain with Christmas carols. (Again, based on a much earlier tradition of mummers and wassailing, I believe.)

Familiar carols such as ‘Silent Night’ and ‘O Holy Night’ were sung, and new carols were composed during this time.

[By the way, my favourite carol/hymn of the season is ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ with words by Christina Rossetti (1872). The poem became a hymn when published in the English Hymnal in 1906, with a tune by Gustave Holst, and that’s my favourite of the various tunes composed to accompany the words.]

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve was often a time for family gatherings and festive meals, as happens at Larkspur Hall. The opening of presents and the exchange of gifts also occurred on Christmas Eve in some households.

Christmas Day was marked by attending church services in the morning, followed by a festive meal and various forms of entertainment.

Street Celebrations

Public celebrations in the streets were common, with markets selling seasonal goods and treats. Streets and shops were decorated with festive lights and greenery. They still are.

Victorian Christmas Cards

The tradition of sending Christmas cards became popular during the Victorian era. The first commercial Christmas card was produced in 1843, the same year Dickens published “A Christmas Carol.”

There’s a reference to Christmas Cards and the post in one of the early Clearwater books, but I can’t remember which one. James Wright, when a messenger, complained about the amount of post now being sent… It might have been another character, but at least it got a mention.

Despite the emphasis on festive celebrations, not everyone in Victorian London experienced a joyous Christmas. The disparity between the wealthy and the impoverished was stark, and charitable efforts during the Christmas season aimed to address the needs of the less fortunate. The Victorian influence on Christmas traditions has left a lasting legacy, shaping many aspects of how we celebrate the holiday today.

However you celebrate, or even if you don’t, I wish you a peaceful Christmas and New Year period during which, if you’ve nothing else to do, you can explore the Clearwater back catalogue and any of my other novels you’ve not yet read. [Click for the full list]

A heartfelt thank you to all my readers, particularly you, if you have left a review or joined in on my Facebook pages, shared links and done your bit, or even if you’re a silent reader… Everyone! Happy Christmas and I will see you next year. Remember, as I always say, if you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.

All the best!

Jackson Marsh – James Collins
Professor Fleet – Husband Neil
Mrs Norwood – Jenine the PA
And the whole team.