One of my cherished holiday rituals is the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar. As a person who adores a nostalgic journey and harbours a deep affection for the festive season, this interactive advent calendar is a highlight of my Christmas celebrations. Each year, Jacquie Lawson curates their interactive Advent calendars with unique themes that transport us to Christmas in various historical settings. For 2023, the theme is centred on celebrating the holiday season in the Edwardian era.
The Edwardian Era was a time of elegance, grandeur, and some of the most charming Christmas traditions. Homes adorned with holly and ivy, families gathering around a splendidly decorated Christmas tree, and tables groaning under the weight of succulent roast goose. Steaming plum puddings and mince pies await those with a sweet tooth. So, for today’s deep dive into Christmas traditions, we explore Edwardian Christmas’s sumptuous feasts, heartwarming traditions, and opulence that defined the era. Whether you’re a history buff, a culinary enthusiast, or just searching for some old-world Christmas charm, join us on this nostalgic journey.
The Edwardian Era
The Edwardian era, named after King Edward VII, began in 1901, spanning the next ten years. It was a brief but influential time in British history characterized by extravagance, social transformation, and technical progress. This period, which followed the Victorian era, was marked by contrasts. The aristocracy’s opulent lives, complete with garden parties and elaborate balls, and the notable social movements, such as the suffragettes, who fought for women’s rights.
Decorating the Edwardian Home
Walking into an Edwardian home at Christmas, you’ll be greeted with holly, ivy, and mistletoe. These natural greens were used to make garlands to adorn door frames, stair banisters, and mantelpieces. These festive plants offered a sense of nature indoors during the cold winter. Red berries provide colour to the decorations and are preserved throughout Christmas with salt or mountain ash.
Handmade decorations were all the rage. Families would come together to make paper chains and other do-it-yourself cloth or paper decorations. These personal touches mirror the Edwardian value placed on handmade skills. A big part of the festive ambiance was created by candles. Candles were utilized not only on the Christmas tree but also as table centrepieces, on windowsills, and throughout the elegant house, all the more comforting by the relaxing glow.
Compared to the Victorian era, Edwardian Christmas decorations tended to have a more subdued colour palette that emphasized natural greens, holly berry reds, and warm light. More subdued accents of gold and silver were also utilized with the wider availability of gold and silver paint.
The Arts and Crafts Movement, which placed an emphasis on handcrafted items brought the tradition of wreath-making back into the spotlight. While the Victorians may have opted to have these made for them, the Edwardians took it on as an activity using materials from around their homes to createstunning doorway decorations.
The Edwardian Christmas Tree
An essential component of Edwardian Christmas households was the Christmas tree. Beginning in the Victorian era, the Edwardians continued this German tradition. These trees were frequently positioned in the middle of the house,, but when decorating their tree, the Edwardians were exceedingly particular. A tree that was decked before Christmas Eve was considered very gauche.
Edwardian Christmas Lights
Candles were the main source of Christmas tree lighting prior to the widespread use of electric lights. These were fastened to the branches using clips or holders. The tree had a magical aura from the flickering candlelight, but it needed to be constantly watched to prevent any dangerous fires.
The new technology of electric Christmas lights was a luxury enjoyed by a few wealthy Edwardians. Thomas Edison’s assistant Edward H. Johnson installed the first known electrically lit Christmas tree in 1882. However, because of the expense, power was not yet widely available in Edwardian households. These early electric tree lights came in a variety of designs, some of which were meant to preserve traditional aesthetics by seeming like candles. Others adopted the new technology in various forms and hues.
Edwardian Christmas Decorations
The tree was decked out with handcrafted garlands, tinsel, and glass ornaments. Compared to contemporary tinsel, Edwardian tinsel appeared heavier and more draped because it was constructed from thin strips of lead or silver. During the Edwardian era, glass ornaments were highly detailed and frequently imported from Germany. They reflected the era’s preoccupation with innovation and workmanship, coming in a variety of shapes such as fruits, animals, and other whimsical motifs.
Dresdens were a popular Edwardian decoration, originating from Dresden, Germany. These ornaments are traditionally made from embossed and pressed cardboard, often referred to as “Dresden cardboard.” What sets them apart is their elaborate detail and the variety of shapes they come in, including animals, stars, fish, and even intricate objects like carriages or ships.
Edwardian Christmas trees were frequently strung with beaded garlands made from glass beads, dried fruit or gold paper. Fairy figurines were a characteristic Edwardian touch, frequently with delicate features and translucent wings. These were occasionally positioned atop the tree in place of the more customary angel or star.
The Edwardian love of nature was reflected in the occasional addition of natural elements to the tree, such as pine cones, nuts, and berries. Colour and texture were added using ribbons and bows. Particularly silk and satin ribbons were well-liked options since they frequently complemented the tree’s general color palette.
Traditional Edwardian Christmas Feasts
The festive feast that awaited Edwardians at home after Christmas Church services was an elaborate event. A variety of delicacies would be arranged on the table, showcasing the period’s luxury and grandeur. Edwardians LOVED to eat. Thus, one of the main features of their Christmas dinners was an abundance of courses—up to nine at times—that served as a display of their wealth.
Edwardian Starters
Rich, filling soups, such as creamy vegetable soup, consommé, and turtle soup, were popular. Turtle soup—yes, you read that correctly. Traditionally, the soup was made with the meat of the green sea turtle, which was a prized delicacy owing to the expensive and scarcity of the ingredients. Therefore, having turtle soup on your table symbolizes prestige and wealth. When real turtle became too expensive or unavailable, imitation turtle soup—made from veal or calf’s head—was offered as a more affordable substitute. If you want to add this curious mock-turtle soup to your Christmas table, a modern interpretation of the original recipe can be found here.
Edwardian Goose of Turkey for Christmas?
The Christmas goose, inherited from Victorian tradition, was central to the Edwardian Christmas dinner, prized for its juicy, flavourful meat and often the highlight of festive meals. However, Edwardian middle and upper classes began to prefer turkey, a newer choice for British Christmas feasts. The larger turkey gained popularity in wealthier households, symbolizing the era’s penchant for luxury, becoming a symbol of status and the times’ growing affluence.
While food distribution throughout Europe was increasing, most households could only afford local produce. Therefore, the ingredients features on the table frequently consisted of seasonal vegetables that were readily available around the county. Winter produce included carrots, potatoes, brussels sprouts, apples, and potatoes.
Traditionally, the goose or turkey, was stuffed with onion and sage and slow-roasted to perfection, creating a scent that filled homes with the spirit of the holidays. Often times chestnuts were added to the stuffing for a very rich and earthy flavour. Almost everything was prepared in a way that highlighted butter and cream, emphasizing the decadence of the era.
Exquisite feasts also feature a fish course, usually with oysters, smoked salmon, or other seafood. The new invention of canned fish, such as salmon, was used by families that could not afford freshly caught fish. They tried to hide the canned fish’s taste by adding it to recipes like salmon moose. But one can imagine there wasn’t much anyone could do to camouflage that taste…
Edwardian Desserts
A classic Christmas plum pudding was a must-have for any Edwardian celebration. Cooked with suet, almonds, dried fruits, and spices, this deep, rich pudding was typically cooked well in advance and matured over December. The inclusion of brandy and rum in the mix helped its preservation during that time. Traditionally, the mixture would include a silver coin, and whoever received the cake slice with the coin was destined for good luck in the coming year. When the pudding was ready to be served, it was steamed for several hours, which allowed the flavours to meld and deepen. This preparation method resulted in a moist, flavourful pudding despite it being made a month earlier. It was typically served with a sprig of holly on top and doused in brandy before being flamboyantly set alight at the table, creating a dramatic and festive presentation.
Fruit cake was a variation of the traditional Christmas pudding. Frosted and embellished with intricate motifs made of almond paste, it was often a centrepiece of the dessert table. Mince pies were another essential of the Edwardian Christmas dessert spread. Back then, the pastries were made with mincemeat, beef or venison, a concoction of chopped dried fruit, distilled spirits and spices.
Edwardian Christmas Drinks
The Edwardian era was a time of relative prosperity and peace before World War I, and the opulence of the Christmas celebrations, including the drinks, reflected this. A perennial favourite, mulled wine was made by warming red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, often sweetened with sugar and fortified with brandy. This drink was a winter staple, offering warmth and cheer during the festive season. Punches, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were famous at Christmas gatherings. They were often made with a base of fruit juices and spices and could include spirits like rum or brandy. The communal nature of punch made it popular at parties. Punch was often served from a large bowl, which, in wealthier households, was an opulent silver design that became a feature of the dining room.
A traditional holiday drink, eggnog was made with eggs, sugar, milk or cream and spiked with brandy, rum, or whisky. It was particularly popular in England and America and symbolized festivity and celebration. Port and sherry were fortified wines that the Edwardians found fashionable, but spirits like whiskey and brandy were mainstays in the Edwardian homes.
Gift Giving in the Edwardian Times
Christmas in the Edwardian era was a season of giving. Presents were less elaborate than those of today but exchanged with just as much love and affection. These could be modest personal trinkets, books, and handcrafted goods. Giving was more about the intention behind the gift than its actual worth. Because they added a personal touch, handcrafted presents were greatly valued. These could be hand-sewn garments, knit scarves, or embroidered handkerchiefs. Additionally, well-liked items were baked foods and jams created at home.
The love of literature of the time was reflected in the widespread gifting of books. Children’s literature, poetry collections, and classic novels were some of the most popular gifts. Toys like wooden soldiers, dolls, tea, or train sets would also be found under the Christmas tree. Still, compared to contemporary toys, these were typically simpler in design and often also handmade.
Edwardian Adult Gifts
Adults liked to receive jewellery such as lockets, cufflinks, and brooches. Frequently, these objects featured a customized element, like initials or a memorable date inscribed on them. Gifts that were useful, like hats, handkerchiefs, or gloves, were a favourite item to be exchanged.
Particularly for individuals who enjoyed music, music boxes or tiny instruments like flutes or harmonicas were treasured possessions. For the women of the household, gifts like stationery sets, fountain pens, and inkwells were popular in the days of handwritten letters. Fragrances, scented soaps, and grooming sets, particularly as grooming and personal cleanliness grew in importance within societal conventions, were some of the more “trendy” gifts unwrapped in the Edwardian household.
Edwardian Christmas Cards
Edwardian Christmas cards were both mailed and exchanged as gifts on Christmas day. They were frequently exquisitely designed and acted almost like a work of art to be admired. Art Nouveau was the most popular movement then, and its focus on organic shapes and flowing lines found its way into the designs of many Edwardian Christmas cards. Flower and nature motifs were often the centre point of the card, with colour schemes of rich reds, greens and golds. In contrast to Victorian cards, the use of colour was more muted and leaned toward a more sophisticated look.
Illustrations frequently included placid wintertime vistas, settings covered in snow, holly trees, mistletoe, and birds such as robins. Heartwarming images of families and kids having fun in the snow brought forth themes of coziness and family.
Edwardian Christmas Entertainment
Christmas celebrations in the Edwardian era became to involved more and more music in the home, rather than just in the church. Around the piano, friends and family would congregate to sing holiday tunes and carols. Carolers frequently made house calls and public appearances, spreading the holiday cheer via song, a tradition I long for today!
Edwardian Pantos and Playing Cards
One of the most popular Christmas activities was going to a play or pantomime, especially for people who lived in or close to cities.
At Christmas parties, Edwardians gathered indoors to play a variety of parlour games. Popular games included word and guessing games, snapdragon (a game using burning brandy and raisins), charades, and blind man’s bluff.
During the Edwardian Christmas, storytelling was still a popular tradition. Families would get together to hear stories, most of which had morality, Christmas, or winter themes. Read alouds of traditional Christmas tales, such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” also took place around this time.
Edwardian Christmas Fashion
Edwardian Christmas fashion reflected the elegance and sophistication of the era, often with a unique festive touch. Given the winter season, outerwear was essential. Women wore long coats or fur-lined capes, while men donned heavy overcoats. Ladies wore floor-length gowns from luxurious fabrics like silk, satin, or velvet. These gowns often had a fitted bodice and a full skirt, sometimes with a train for more formal occasions. Consistent with the fashion of the time, dresses had high necklines and long sleeves. Lace or beadwork often adorned the neck and cuffs for added elegance. A defining feature of Edwardian women’s fashion was the S-shaped corset, which created an hourglass figure with a pronounced bust and hips.
Christmas attire often featured rich colours such as deep reds, greens, gold, and creams. Gowns might be embellished with lace, embroidery, or ribbons and include festive motifs such as holly embroidery or accessories in Christmas colours. Accessories included elegant gloves, ornate hats or hairpieces adorned with feathers or jewels, and fine jewelry like brooches, necklaces, and earrings.
Edwardian Men’s and Children’s Fashion
Men often wore formal suits, typically a tailcoat for evening events or a more relaxed lounge suit for less formal gatherings. A waistcoat (vest) was commonly worn under the coat, along with a cravat or tie, often in silk or another fine material. Top hats were worn for formal occasions, while bowler or fedora hats were more common for casual settings. Young girls wore dresses similar in style to their mothers’, though less elaborate. These often featured lace, bows, and sashes. Boys wore miniature versions of men’s suits with vests and ties.
The Edwardians were truly masters of celebration, infusing every aspect of the holiday season with artistry and sophistication. From the sumptuous Christmas feasts to the handcrafted charm of festive cards and decorations, each tradition we’ve delved into reveals their penchant for detail and a love for the grandeur of the season. The majesty of their Christmas trees, the intimacy of family gatherings, and the communal joy found in wreath-making sessions all underscore the importance they placed on togetherness and the spirit of the holidays. Incorporating these timeless traditions into our modern celebrations, we’re not only paying homage to the past but also keep the essence of an Edwardian Christmas alive!
Happy Christmas, Adventurers!
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