It's hard to imagine now, but at the beginning of the 19th century Christmas was hardly celebrated. Many businesses did not even consider it a holiday. However by the end of the century it had become the biggest annual celebration and took on the form that we recognize today.
The transformation happened quickly, and came from all sectors of society.
Many attribute the change to Queen Victoria, and it was her marriage to the German-born Prince Albert that introduced some of the most prominent aspects of Christmas.
In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany. Soon every home in Britain had a tree bedecked with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts.
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| A Victorian Christmas party |
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| A family’s Christmas, 1897 |
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| The Night Before Christmas, 1898 |
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| A woman returning home with a Christmas tree, 1895 |
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| Children around a Christmas tree in Russell County, between 1870s and 1890s |
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| Children on their Christmas morning, 1856 |
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| Children on Victorian Christmas |
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| Christmas morning, 1897 |
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| Christmas morning, 1898 |
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| Christmas, 1860 |
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| Little Victorian girl looking at the lighted Christmas tree |
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| Man and his Christmas Tree, 1860 |
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| Santa Claus and Christmas Tree, 1897 |
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| Santa Claus telephone call, 1897 |
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| Two girls under a Christmas tree with their dolls, December 25, 1899 |
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| Victorian Christmas shopping |
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| Victorian Christmas tree with flags and paper cones for candies or nuts on it, ca. late 1840s |
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| Victorian Christmas, Scranton, Pennsylvania |
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| Victorian family on their Christmas |
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| Victorian woman sitting next a Christmas tree with candles |
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| Woman with her daughter on Christmas, ca. 1890s |