Christmas, as it is celebrated today, hasn't always been like this. The Christmas that we celebrate today, is largely a Victorian creation. Perhaps this is why so many Christmas dramas are centred around the Victorian era. Without the Victorians, our Christmas would be very different. Much of the things that are associated with Christmas today are Victorian inventions.
Before the Victorian era, Christmas time was very different. Christmas decorations were limited, and often non-existent. For example, the Christmas tree didn't become a focal feature of Christmas in the UK until the Victorian era. It was through Queen Victoria's husband, Albert, that Christmas trees were introduced in the UK. The Queen herself helped to popularize the Christmas tree in the United Kingdom. Before then, there are some references to those in the middle ages decorating outside trees, but nothing like the indoor tree that we know today. That indoor tree was popularised by Queen Victoria herself. Beforehand, in the Tudor era, it was common for the Tudors to decorate at Christmas time with evergreens. In effect, the Tudor Christmas wasn't as engaging with Christmas decorations as the Victorian Christmas.
The Victorians ignited Christmas.
They also set the trend for how we dine for Christmas dinner. Turkey as the Christmas main course, was also introduced by the Victorians. Beforehand, people would eat a variety of things at Christmas, such as - goose, beef, pheasant and mutton. What you ate at Christmas, depended upon your social standing. The wealthy would eat quite differently from the poor. What poorer Victorians and richer Victorians ate, would also vary significantly. Change in what people ate at Christmas during the Victorian era, wasn't the only change that was seen at the Christmas dining table. The Victorians also introduced the Christmas cracker. Christmas crackers were created in 1848 by a toy and sweet maker called Tom Smith. Before his invention, there were no Christmas crackers at the dining table. Finally, with the differences in dining, the Victorians revolutionized one of the most iconic Christmas foods - the mince pie. The Victorians did not create mince pies. However, they did revolutionaries what mince pies became to be. Before this Victorian revolution, mince pies were literally full of meat. They created mince pies that were not full of meat, basically the mince pies we know if today. Another key feature of the Christmas that we know today, that was invented in the Victorian era, is decorating. Christmas trees weren't the only introduction to the home during this era, they also introduced decorating the home with colourful decorations. Homemade decorations were popular during this time, as was decorating the whole house. Gift giving also became popular. The Victorians were the ones who introduced gift giving during Christmas time. Before then, gifts were traditionally given at New Year. Boxing Day, on the other hand, was a day when wealthy Victorians would give their employees a gift. This can be seen as a changing point in history - where Christmas was not just to be celebrated by those who were wealthy, but a time that everyone should be able to enjoy, regardless of their wealth in life.
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