Victorian Christmas

Author: Lucinda Dickens Hawksley

United Kingdom, Great Britain | c 1800 to c 1900 | Christmas | British & Irish history | Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 | Social & cultural history | Cooking for parties

Published on 22^nd October 2024 by WW Norton & Co (Countryman Press Inc.) in the United States.

Hardback | 208 pages, 30 illustrations
218mm x 147mm | 502g

Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, a descendant of Charles Dickens, reveals the fascinating tale of Christmas traditions during Queen Victoria’s reign. In 1843, while Dickens was inventing the Christmas ghost story, a London civil servant commissioned the first Christmas card and Windsor Castle displayed artificial Christmas trees and served turkeys for Christmas dinner. During the next five years, the first recipe for Christmas pudding appeared, Christmas crackers debuted and a London newspaper showcased Christmas trees to the world. Hawksley explores these customs and more so you can experience the season authentically to period. Feast on Roast Goose with Sage and Onion Stuffing, Brussels Sprouts on Buttered Toast and Christmas Cake whilst sipping a Cratchit Christmas Twist or Smoking Bishop Punch. Craft Golden Walnuts, Kissing Bunches and Pomanders. Play board games such as Balderdash and Pachisi or parlour games including Charades and Snapdragon. Take a Christmas swim or sing “Christmastide” by Christina Rossetti. Meticulously researched, this festive collection will make your yuletide merry.