Victorian Christmas
Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 12:00pm to 01:00pm
The Mark Twain House and Museum
Online
Author Lucinda Dickens Hawksley in Conversation with Gareth Russell
Celebrate the holiday like a Victorian with authentic dishes and customs beloved by all, from the working classes to the royal family. Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, a descendant of Charles Dickens, reveals the fascinating tale of Christmas traditions during Queen Victoria’s reign. In 1843, while Dickens was inventing the Christmas ghost story, a London civil servant commissioned the first Christmas card and Windsor Castle displayed artificial Christmas trees and served turkeys for Christmas dinner. During the next five years, the first recipe for Christmas pudding appeared, Christmas crackers debuted, and a London newspaper showcased Christmas trees to the world. Hawksley explores these customs and more so you can experience the season authentically to period. Meticulously researched, this festive collection will make your yuletide merry.