General Chat

I have an ancestor who was killed in a waggon accident in Dec 20 1840 in Henstridge (Somerset) and was buried on Christmas Day. I was told there is a book calledJane Austen's Christmas: The Festive Season in Georgian England.' I was wondering if anyone has read this book? If so would they be able to give me a brief outline of what would have happened on Christmas Day in this time. I imagine my family would have been a 'working class' family as my ancestor was a carter. I know they would not have worked on Christmas Day but after looking on the web found a couple of snippets suggesting that Christmas Day would not have been such a big deal as it is today. It was also a popular time for weddings as this was the only day most people had off and could attend the ceremony and I guess the same would apply to having a funeral. Any comments would be appreciated. I am just trying to get a 'feel' for how my ancestors lived at this time.

Hi Beverley, Just googled the title, lots of different sites for you to have a look at. Seems interesting. Trish xx

Hi Beverley, You will find the book on sale on Amazon...it is by Maria Hubert. From the synopsis it looks an interesting read. Linda

Try a site abe for books - brilliant site

I do know that Christmas Day was not a universal holiday by any means, back in the 1840s. Workingclass people might have made a bit of an effort to have a nice meal, but that would be about it, I think. Whether you got the day off would depend entirely on your employer. OC

Hi Beverley Christmas would indeed have been very different. Its all thanks to our Victorian ancestors that Christmas is so popular these days. The Christmas tree was made popular by Prince Albert when he had one in Windsor Castle in 1840. Traditional Christmas food would have been different depending which part of the country you lived. Beef in the North, Goose for the south & Rabbit for the poor any where lol...Turkey & Chicken were too expensive, however Turkey by the e nd of the century became the fashionable thing for Christams dinner. If the poor could afford one then they would have joined a club to have their turkey cooked by some business in the village with a large enough oven. The first Christmas card came about in 1843 & Christmas Crackers in 1846 Santa wouldn't have existed until 1870, thus no gifts in stockings till this time. I do know that up until 1840 the poor certainly would not of had a day off work on the 25th Dec ...after 1840 they may well have had a half day , certainly by 1843 with the help of Charles Dickens and his Christmas Carol victorian middle & upper classes were celebrating Christmas with 2 days off and the story pricked at the concious of the wealthier thus affording the poor in service to have at least a half day off.

hi Ive been reading the replies, its been interesting, i didnt know it was as late as the 1840`s that we bagan to celebrate christmas. some members of my family ive discovered, baptised all their children on xmas day and that was betwwen 1810 and 1820 so would that be because they got the day off even so earley? Scarlett..

It was a completely different affair then. Christmas as we know it now didn't really take off until mid Victorian times so 1840 is probably just that bit to early. Have a look at http://www.janeausten*co.uk/magazine/index.ihtml?pid=271&step=4

Go to google, select more, scroll down to book search click and then type in the title...there are part texts/pages there could be something there..