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Victorian Christmas Cards
Printed Christmas cards became popular in the Victorian period (1837-1901) thanks to a combination of cheaper printing techniques and even cheaper post, with the arrival of the Penny Black postage stamp. Coming in all shapes, sizes, and materials...
Article
Christmas Through the Ages
The Christmas holiday has gathered around it customs and traditions for over two millennia, some of which even pre-date the Christian festival itself. From gift-giving to the sumptuous spread of a Christmas dinner table, this article traces...
Article
How Christmas Was Shaped by 19th-Century Literature
How we celebrate Christmas today is largely shaped by a small group of authors who recorded festive traditions in the 19th century. These authors include Washington Irving (1783-1859), Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), and Charles Dickens...
Definition
The Christmas Truce
The Christmas Truce of 1914 occurred on the Western Front during the First World War (1914-18). On Christmas Eve soldiers in the trenches spontaneously agreed to a ceasefire. Beginning with the singing of Christmas carols, the unofficial...
Article
The History of Christmas Carols
Christmas carols are a much-loved part of the Christmas season and while many have a long history, others are surprisingly recent. From medieval dancing songs to the 19th-century revival, the words and music of carols have evolved over time...
Article
A Medieval Christmas
Christmas was one of the highlights of the medieval calendar, not only for the rich but also for the peasantry. For the longest holiday of the year, typically the full twelve days of Christmas, people stopped work, homes were decorated and...
Image
Edgley Christmas Card
An 1848 Christmas card printed by William Maw Edgley (1826-19116) showing scenes of general merriment and, for the first time on such a card, holly. The sender wrote the name of the recipient at the very top and signed their name at the bottom...
Image
Victorian Christmas Card
A 19th century Christmas card. c. 1880.
Video
The History of Christmas Through the Ages
Did you know that holiday festivities on and around December 25th date back over 2,000 years ago? This video is all about the history of Christmas, and how it has grown and developed as a holiday from its earliest history in the Roman Empire...
Image
The First Printed Christmas Card
The first printed Christmas card, commissioned by Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882) and drawn by John Callcott Horsley (1817-1903) in 1843. One thousand copies of the card were printed. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Original...