A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS PARLOR...

The Victorians made Christmas

 the time when friends and families

 drew together around the blazing hearth -

 that, above all, 

symbolized their Christmas. 

 If Victorians 

could not be said 

to have invented Christmas itself, 

they certainly invented 

many of its most 

popular aspects.

With that statement,

 I will try to show you 

what the Garland House parlor 

may have looked like at Christmas time 

back in her younger days.

"Happy, happy Christmas,

 that can win us back 

to the delusions of our 

childish days;

 that can recall to 

the old man 

the pleasure of his youth;

 and transport the 

sailor and the traveler,

 thousands of miles away,

 back to his own fire-side

 and his 

quiet home!"

Charles Dickens,

The Pickwick Papers, 1836

The Garlands 

were not rich people.  

Mr. Garland was a mine superintendent,

 a reputable profession to be sure,

 but not one that 

would have lined his pockets with gold. 

 His wife, Jennie, 

kept a neat and tidy home for 

their three children 

but, after expenses,

 I don't imagine there was much 

left over for fancy what-naughts.

These are not members of the Garland family. The larger photo is of 

my aunt and my dad, probably around 1916. The small photo is of the Captain when he was about 5 years old.

  The Victorians were well known

for their love of embellishments

 and I, for one, 

while only being Victorian in spirit, 

can speak with authority

 on the subject of how

 one can accomplish that love

 without the benefit of 

great wealth.

Prince Albert 

brought the Christmas tree to England 

from his native Germany.

  It was due to a picture showing 

the royal family 

gathered around it in wonder,

 that the Christmas tree became 

the centerpiece of the 

English Christmas...

These are not members of the Garland family or the royal family either. Just a collection of well loved stuffed animals that, if asked, could tell a good story with the best of them.

...and when those gatherings took place 

there would be

 singing, dancing, plays,

 charades, poetry readings 

and story telling...

...the Victorians

 adored anything with 

fairies, ghosts, goblins and mysteries.

Long before Prince Albert 

presented the Christmas tree,

the English homes were decorated 

for the festive season. 

 The main decorations were 

woodland greenery, 

holly, ivy and mistletoe.

The townspeople 

would hang the mistletoe 

above their doors and 

each time one was caught under the doorway, 

a kiss was taken and a berry was plucked 

from the mistletoe.

  When there were no more berries, 

there was no more kissing.

Holly was believed to be 

a protection against witchcraft,

 while ivy was a 

symbol of immortality.

Greetings by post

 were quite popular, 

conveying warm and simple wishes 

for the season.

Christmas decorations 

were not put up until Christmas Eve,

 as it was considered bad luck

 to do it

 any earlier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fast forward a 100+ years...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank heavens 

those earlier superstitions

 have been put to rest.

 I can't imagine

 just having one or two days 

to enjoy this 

wonderful time of the year.

Time stands still in this Cottage.

I am still not

 a fan of the 

LED lights...

...I actually think 

the tree looks prettier 

without any lights on..at least in a photo.

 What if those candles were the 

only lights on the tree? (I was tempted!)

That would be a sight to see

on Christmas morning.

For the blue ribbons, 

I cut strips of the light blue velvet fabric

 and tied them each by hand.

 I think they look much softer

 than actual velvet ribbon.

 They have a soft drape 

and just easily lay on the tips

 of the branches.

I imagine tea 

would be a wonderful addition 

to a Victorian celebration...

...and crystal

 would cast a

 soft light over all.

I hope you enjoyed 

my version of a Victorian Christmas.

  Right or wrong,

 I hope I have conveyed the 

spirit of the season.

  In all that we have read and learned,

 that is what has been carried 

down through time 

and has been, and will always remain, consistent.

"As long as we know,

 in our hearts, 

what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."

Eric Sevaried

A little after thought...

I have had in my head 

all that I wanted to do 

for Christmas this year. 

 It started way back 

while I was taking the decorations down 

from last year. 

 I have always loved Christmas 

and all that it entails,

 but this year, however, was a 

little (maybe a lot) different for me.

 Some friends have been ill,

 one close neighbor is going through 

tough times 

and, I suppose,

 age has something to do with it also.

  All of those things combined 

has put me in a different mood than usual.

  The sheer number of boxes

 that we hauled out of storage 

was so overwhelming to me this year.

  I have hauled them out 

for many years 

and never has it affected me this way.

  Everything that I thought

 I would use

 just looked tacky when it was put up

 and I couldn't seem to 

step over and around the boxes, 

I was, literally, 

tripping on each one.

 Long story short,

 I finally got the decorating done

 but I guess my longings

 (in my head, at least)

 for quieter and more manageable times 

is finally catching up.  

I have said it for a few years now

 and it must be time for it to happen.

  I feel actually horrible 

for the way I have felt and conveyed 

to the only person (and his dog), 

that I feel safe in saying such things to -

 and I apologize to them profusely.

 I know, also, 

I have let my feelings spill over 

to some of you and

 for that I apologize.

 To me, 

Christmas has always been magical,

 and magic should be honored.

 I think I am apologizing to myself

 as much as to anyone else.

 In the words of Tasha Tudor,

"Take Joy!", 

and in a personal note from a dear friend,

 "This is the fun part, 

to discover and create."

 I think 

I have learned 

these valuable lessons well

 this year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

...Judy...

Return next week for more of our Christmas Cottage

Our first and most precious present.

  Kai placed himself under the tree.

 He must know that

he is a special gift

to us.

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