If for argument’s sake, we leave aside the religious aspects of Christmas along with the past festivals that were celebrated in the same season, we will look at how we arrived at three more modern elements of how we celebrate Christmas today. The aspects we will discuss are the Christmas tree, the Christmas card and the introduction of a real sense of goodwill and sentiment to all, even if it doesn’t quite work out that well.
All of these elements came about in the nineteenth century and the Victorian period. For example, the Christmas card was invented by a man by the name of Sir Henry Cole. He was a successful businessman and one year, he ordered over 2,000 cards to celebrate Christmas with his family, friends and no doubt, business associates. There was one design and it showed a family drinking wine and indulging themselves accompanied by the line, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.”
Sir Henry was well placed in society and counted Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, as an acquaintance. Albert came from Germany and he introduced some thing which was common in Germany; the Christmas tree. A large one was put up in Buckingham Palace and was apparently decorated by the Royal Family. But maybe they just helped? The idea caught on with the masses and still remains one of the markers that Christmas is upon us.
The third aspect of a sense pf goodwill to all came from the pen of one of Britain’s greatest writers, Charles Dickens. During his life, he produced three Christmas stories but it would be his book, “A Christmas Carol” that would have the greatest effect. As most know, it shows that a tight-fisted businessman who treated his workers badly, has a visit of the ghostly kind which makes him repent and spread goodwill and some of his money around starting with his workers and family. It had such an effect that it is often said that when Dickens died in 1870, a young girl asked that since he was dead, would Father Christmas also die? Apparently, for all you doubters out there, Father Christmas is very much alive and getting all my presents ready!
A Happy and Peaceful Christmas to you all.
John Pullen
John Pullen 