Victorian Christmas | Traditional Christmas | Old Fashioned Christmas The traditional Christmas came about with Charles Dickens; an old-fashioned Christmas is just as much alive as Tiny Tim and the patient Bob Cratchit, as Scrooge's cheery nephew and poor old Scrooge himself. The Christmas punch-bowl smells and tastes every bit as good as it did when Mr. Pickwick brewed it; if your heart is in the right place, the Christmas bells ring out just as merrily as they did for young Queen Victorian and her children. For the contents of your Christmas hamper, begin with some of the best holiday recipes. The goose feather tree became the first artificial Victorian Christmas tree. See Christmas toys from long ago. Create the magic of an old fashioned Victorian Christmas tree. Nothing evokes Christmas cheer like the annual unveiling of holiday window displays. Christmas party ideas for Traditional Christmas entertaining – featuring a Victorian Christmas menu, Christmas party recipes, old-fashioned eggnog, table decorations, plus kids' party fun.
Pressed Penny Charm Bracelet Pressed penny machines are everywhere. We see them at the zoo, aquarium, science center, children’s museum, and even sometimes the grocery store in little touristy towns. My kids have collected them for years. I came across my daughter collection about 6 months ago and as I looked through them memories flooded back to me. The day we went to the Trees of Mystery on our CA trip last Spring… the day we went to the Space Needle… the day she first saw the octopus move at the Pt Defiance Zoo… those memories were there in pressed copper glory. I just had to find something to make with these things that would be as beautiful as those memories. I made this pressed penny charm bracelet along with my friend Jessica (who makes beautiful jewelry) on our mamas weekend away. What we used: 10 pressed pennies 1 copper chain bracelet with clasp 10 copper jewelry rings metal awl hammer large piece of flat wood jewelry file two pair jewelry plyers How to do it:
A Victorian Christmas - Christmas Music Makers Not all carol-singers were welcome ! On the first night of the Christmas holidays the voices of carol singers floated in on the night air, and if they were lucky, welcomed indoors for a glass of punch and a mince pie. “There is another aspect of the streets of London at Christmas, which requires notice, the more especially as this year it is painfully prominent - the carol singers ! Who seem to look upon themselves as privileged for the sake of the old familiar chant which they musically or unmusically pour into our ears, and who, of all ages and of both sexes, swarm in every street in numbers of which an accurate estimate would convey a somewhat alarming idea of the poverty of London - troops of unmusical beggars have made their appearance in the streets this year in numbers surpassing all precedent of experience.”Illustrated London News December 1848 TopHildesheimer & Faulkner No 967102 x 140mm (4 x 5½in)
D.I.Y. PIÑATA!! - giddygiddy Holy Piñatas! These are the piñata variety that you do NOT dare pummel! They were made with so much love and care that it's simply sacrilege to even think about taking a stick to it. This monster piñata is the creation of my 7 year old: This "birthday party girl" piñata is the pride and joy of my girl who just turned 6: Oh... and this bird has ME written all over it. 1. Recycled corrugated cardboard boxes and cereal boxes, colored tissue paper, glue, masking tape and scissors. 2. The basic construction is comprised of 3 parts. 2 identical sides and a long band that connects both sides together to transform the shape into a 3-dimensional structure. 3. I cut colored tissue paper into 2" wide strips. 4. Start at the bottom and always work your way up!! 5. Once the fringes have been glued down, you can embellish with colored paper to make elements such as eyes, mouth, ears, bowtie, belt, etc... Here are some good kiddie action shots:
Victorian Parlour Games Contrary to popular belief, Victorians loved games, indoors and outside. Here are some Victorian Parlor Games, as well as some modern parlor games, that can be played indoors or out. Look-a-bout The host shows everyone a little knick knack in the room. You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile One person is selected to be "it." Blind Man's Bluff One person is blindfolded, and all other guests scatter around the room. Change Seats! This is a variation on a Victorian game, but a warning to those attempting this one, clear the room of precious little decorations, it can get a little wild! Charades This is a classic Victorian game with which most people are quite familiar. Pass the Slipper We used to play this at church when I was little. Forfeits We played a version of this when I was little as well. The Name Game Provide each guest with 10 small pieces of paper, and a pen or pencil. Example: Name - Abraham Lincoln Clues: He lived in a log cabin. I'm Thinking of Something... Alphabet Minute Similes
Paper weaving By Kate on June 29, 2011 I really liked the woven gift-topper I made a few weeks ago and thought it looked really pixely! Just perfect for space invaders… I think it would make a cool little project for big kids and grown-ups! You could use them as gift-toppers, or make a card from them or stick them in a frame. If you want a ‘how-to’ then click on the ‘more’ link below. If you fancy a change from rainbow then neon works well too! Have you worked on a project lately that you are pleased with…if so, tell me about it (leave a comment below)! Off topic: Thanks for all your comments/emails regarding Macrame. How-to I used multicoloured strips for the horizontal weaves and white for the vertical ones*. 1) Cut out lots of paper strips. 2) I lay all my white strips on a table top and put a length of sticky tape at the top of the strips to keep them secure. 3) Weave away If you need a hand, leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you asap
History-Of-Antebellum-Christmas Home Learn And Do Indiana History America 1800 1860 Aspects of the Antebellum Christmas Author: Tim Crumrin, Conner Prairie Historian By 1860 many of the elements of our modern "traditional" Christmas were easily discernible. Perhaps the most important of the changing elements was the country's attitude toward Christmas. The continuing popularity of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and its "carol" philosophy added yet another element by synthesizing "certain religious and secular attitudes... into a humanitarian pattern." It was within such an atmosphere that Christmas as we know it began to manifest itself. The Christmas Tree The Godey's Magazine publication, in 1850, of an article and illustrations depicting the British royal family's celebrating around the christmas tree is generally seen as a seminal event in the ultimate American adoption of this German (Prince Albert, of course, was German) custom. With this background it is not surprising that the tree had become established by 1860. Music
Story Scroll" Do the Story Scroll theatre activity and your kids will really be on a roll! This indoor activity makes kids test their narrative skills while putting their show on a TV-like screen. What You'll Need: White butcher paper2 long gift wrap tubesCardboard boxScissorsMarkers or paints How to Make Story Scroll: Step 1: Have your child choose a folktale or a play you've seen, or make up his own story. Step 2: Find a TV-size box, and cut out a screen-size hole in the front. Step 3: Instruct your child to pick 10 key scenes in the story. Step 4: Thread the gift wrap tubes through the holes above and below the screen. Step 5: Choose a narrator to tell the story while someone rolls the panels forward. In the next theatre activity, create scenery for a fun, dramatic balcony scene. For more drama and indoor fun, see:
David Perdue's Charles Dickens Page - Dickens and Christmas Dickens pared down A Christmas Carol for his public readings. Read an annotated version of Dickens' own reading text that can be read in a single sitting! The Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit's elbow stood the family display of glass. Two tumblers, and a custard-cup without a handle. These held the hot stuff from the jug, however, as well as golden goblets would have done; and Bob served it out with beaming looks, while the chestnuts on the fire sputtered and cracked noisily. From Stave 3 of Read Dickens' first Christmas sketch describing a family Christmas at the home of Uncle and Aunt George where many of the themes of A Christmas Carol are foreshadowed. Read Dickens' short sketch describing a New Year's Eve party. At the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge proposes that he and Bob Cratchit will discuss all that Scrooge will do for Bob's family later that afternoon "over a bowl of Smoking Bishop." Dr. Oh!
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