Victorian Cottage Christmas Tour
Front Parlor
front and back parlors decorated for christmas at the Bembridge house in long beach, california; Photo credit: Christopher Launi
Decorations
The Victorian’s taste for excess carried over in their approach to holiday decoration. An abundance of fresh-cut greenery, garlands, wreaths, bows and mistletoe were used to decorate Victorian houses, indoors and out.
the stairs and bannister in the bembridge house, long beach, california; Photo by Christopher Launi. Courtesy Long Beach Heritage.
The effect of all that greenery, mingled with the aroma of home-baked sweets and a Christmas punch, would have captured the senses, and combined with the sounds of Christmas carols played on instruments such as a violin, an upright piano, flute or melodeon, would have created a very happy Christmas reception indeed.
Open Houses
First Christmas postcard; photo credit: smithsonian magazine
In the 1870s, it was the custom to make house calls and to hold an Open House. Invitations were sent and newspapers would print lists of homes that would be open and the hours they would be receiving visitors.
modern “victorian era” tea; photo uncredited
Refreshments
The houses would be arranged and decorated as attractively as possible and the hostesses would offer refreshments that might include tea, cookies, gingerbread and cakes and jam.
blind man’s bluff was a popular victorian parlor game; photo uncredited
Parlor Games
…so-called since they were played indoors, specifically in the middle and upper-class parlor, were very popular during the Victorian Era.
Most popular of all was the game of Charades - featured in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens - where the meaning of a phrase or title must be acted out, or mimed, using physical gestures; no speaking allowed. Other popular games include Blindman’s Bluff and Pass the Slipper.
