The Victorian Era began in 1938, coinciding with the reign of Queen Victoria in England, a time filled with prosperity for the British people. Many of our modern Christmas traditions originated in this era, including Christmas cards, Christmas crackers, the jolly fat Father Christmas (Santa Claus) and the Christmas tree. You can create a classic Victorian Christmas theme in your own home around the holidays by using a little imagination and not a lot of expense.
Tree Trimming
The centerpiece of the Victorian Christmas decor is the tree, which should be tall and slender with space in between the branches, much different from the bushy trees of today. Victorians also used artificial trees made from feathers that had been dyed and tied to metal wiring or sticks formed into a tree shape. To get the most authentic Victorian look, choose tree ornaments in shades of pink, burgundy, ivory, gold and silver.
Start the trimming by adding the lights. Although Victorians used real candles, this isn't practical today, but you can find replica lights that clip to tree branches. Next, add garlands with strings of popcorn and cranberries and paper chains. Now it's time for the ornaments. Victorian favorites included needlepoint; paper stars, hearts and cornucopias; walnuts still in the shell painted with gold or silver and hung with ribbons attached to the top; old Christmas cards or Victorian-style paper dolls glued to cardboard, then highlighted with glitter; and small wrapped gifts for different family members attached to the Christmas tree with ribbon.
Underneath the tree, add a tree skirt in the same color scheme, and a little garden or farm made out of paper and toys at the foot of the tree with mosses, minerals, shells and toy animals to make a landscape, scraps of evergreen for trees, and mirrors or silver paper for bodies of water.
Other Greenery
Victorian homes in England and America used greenery throughout the home during the holidays. They cut fresh evergreens which were then fashioned into wreaths and swags for doors and windows or garlands for doorways, mantels, banisters and chandeliers. You can keep them plain or add gilded pine cones, lace, ribbons and tiny white lights. You can even frame mirrors or pictures with branches of greenery. Other natural garden materials they used included mistletoe, holly, and ivy to create hanging kissing balls (also known as "kissing boughs" or "kissing bells").
Miscellaneous
The Victorians loved gold and gilded things, so use a can of gold spray paint to coat pine cones, nuts and leaves and fill a basket or bowl with them, or wrap packages in brown paper trimmed with gold cutouts. Decoupage was another decorating favorite and is a great way to use up old greeting cards by decoupaging them onto serving trays, picture frames and stacked boxes. For more aromatic decorations, make pomanders using oranges and lemons studded with cloves and placed in bowls or hung from doorways. If you have antique toys or can get your hands on some via flea markets or antique stores, place them around the rooms in your home and the Christmas tree for a whimsical touch.
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