December 6, 1987
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society
Victorian Christmas put emphasis on gifts
Victorian Christmas gifts tell an interesting story about the celebration of the holiday, children’s role in the society of that era, and family values.
Beginning in 1900, Christmas celebrations were larger and more diversified with greater emphasis on gifts.
When Queen Victoria came to the throne of England in 1837, she set out to establish the values of home, hearth and family. As the royal family decorated a tree, gave gifts and celebrated Christmas at home, the customs rapidly spread in England and in America.
Naturally the many children of the royal family were written about. Readers emulated the celebration in their homes on a smaller scale. In America, Christmas celebrations had been banned as pagan festivals in many of the early colonies. People actually were prosecuted for observing the day in the New England area. In the southern colonies the owners of large estates celebrated the day by giving gifts to the servants. This custom came with them from England.
By the beginning of the 20th century, middle-class homes in the United States had developed their own traditions. Gifts often were given to children. The children gave such handmade items as matchboxes, cloth blotters and carved animals to parents, family friends and relatives.
Children’s gifts were not universal, however. One historical report about the observance in Kentucky emphasizes that poor families did not give gifts. In this group, the families feasted and the men hunted game. Sometimes the feasts depended upon the success of the hunt. Rabbits and game birds were the usual targets. Wild turkey was not unknown, but was not especially prized. These rural families wished each other a Merry Christmas and gave no presents.
Warm and serviceable clothing was always an acceptable gift. Store-bought mittens, coats and caps were more acceptable than home-knitted ones.
In 1902 the letters to Santa in The Terre Haute Gazette all asked for candy, nuts (in the shell) and oranges, often used as stocking stuffers for small children.
In town, the stores offered toys, and the ads in The Gazette promoted new toys especially for Christmas. Toys were sturdy and were made of metal, wood or natural fibers. They also were realistic to a remarkable degree. Doll quilts were pieced and quilted by hand.
A fortunate boy might receive a sled, a ball or a metal reproduction of a wagon. The toys emphasized the values of hard work, thrift and care for material objects. Thrift was emphasized by the most ingenious of banks. When a penny was saved, a batter hit a baseball, William Tell knocked an apple from his son’s head, or a dog jumped through a hoop.
Victorian families stressed thrift from an early age. After all, thrift had helped form the middle class that purchased presents. Of course, if the boy had not conformed to behavioral standards before Christmas, he received fewer gifts and more strokes, not of fortune either.
A lucky girl might receive a bisque or plaster doll, a doll bed, a set of doll dishes or even a small stone. After the age of 7, she would not receive a ball, because balls weren’t considered “ladylike” presents.
Doll clothes made to resemble the adult-like clothes she wore were frequently trimmed with satin, lace or fur. If she wanted a sled, she was dependent on her brother for rides. Hair ribbons and jewelry were given frequently.
Since Victorians believed that one was obliged to share blessings with the poor, children were encouraged to give their old toys and clothing to church groups to distribute.
All the books of the time that might be given stressed the morals of the age. The books usually were beautifully illustrated. Books were given but they did not have the prestige of toys.
If a sled or a pair of skates was in Santa’s bag, the children prayed for cold weather. A warm, sunny day meant that the present was useless on that day. In 1902 the weather before Christmas had been unusually warm and sunny. The newspaper, however, told of an approaching blizzard which was in Huron, S.D., the week before. Probably both parents and children were waiting for its arrival. They were not disappointed.
On Dec. 21, 1987 the Vigo County Historical Society and Merchants National Bank will present a musical and dinner re-creating a Victorian Christmas. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will be the scene of “And Then In A Twinkling,” focusing on the magic, memories, presents, values and fun of people who celebrated Christmas in 1902. For reservations, contact the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St.
The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.