Holidays Learning Journey
Holidays as we know them today were an invention of the industrial revolution. Before the factory people did not think of leaving their village and home for a week to stay elsewhere, they had chores and animals that could not be left alone.
Holy days were single days of celebrations, and the entertainment would travel to the people in the form of a travelling fair or troupe of players, which would set up on the village green and entertain for a few coppers or some food and drink.
The factories, with their unhealthy atmosphere and long days of work provided no time for enjoyment, the only days of freedom allowed were Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.
So how did holidays as we know them develop? Follow the learning journey to see how our great grandparents celebrated and saved for their leisure time.
Click on the steps below to explore.
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Holidays learning journey Step 4: A Victorian Christmas.
For the factory workers the most important holiday of the year was Christmas, the mill owners could not refuse to allow their workers a day's respite for such an important day in the pious days of Victoria's reign. In "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, published in 1843, even Scrooge gave Bob Cratchitt a day off at Christmas.The tradition of having a Christmas tree brought into the house and decorated was introduced from Germany by Prince Albert, reviving an ancient pagan custom. At the start of Victoria's reign toys and gifts were expensive, but with mass production games and toys were brought into the reach of many, even the poorest child could usually find an orange and some nuts or sugar sweets in their stocking, plus a day off from work to enjoy. During this time Santa Claus became popular, Christmas cards, first printed in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole for sale at one shilling each, were sent by the new penny post, and Christmas carollers visited houses singing the new songs specially written for the celebrations. Traditional Christmas fayre would include a goose or a piece of beef for the newly wealthy middle class and more likely rabbit or beef for the mill workers. By the end of the century turkey had become the popular choice for Christmas dinner. What kind of toys would be found in the Christmas Stocking of a Victorian middle class child? Find out about mid-winter festivals in other countries. |
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