Day 6 - Researching Christmas Through Time

As an historical fiction writer, one of my favourite things to research is how Christmas celebrations have altered throughout the ages. Not all my books have Christmas in, but most of them do, and that's not an accident!

So here are quotes from six different Christmases in six different books, bringing you from 1074 to today.

1074

Here, the fire in the centre of the room attacked the enormous log, which was succumbing far quicker than she had ever known the gule block to do so in the past. It had to survive the next five days, or it would have failed in its role. She was unsure what misfortunes might ensue if this should happen. Only that the last time it had perished before the end of Christmas had been eight years ago, the year her parents had died.

from The Year We Lived (published April 2021 - eek! exciting!) 

1793

In contrast to the festivities and worries of the family at Chanter’s House, Christmas on the continent was a desperately lonely affair. Despite the lack of appeal that Wanderford Hall held for Fotherby, when Christmas arrived in Flanders, unannounced and unmarked, he felt a pang for the simple celebrations of home. Although Wanderford Hall was never decked for Christmas, the strictly adhered to fast of Advent made the feast of Christmas only more exciting.

from Beneath Black Clouds and White

1806

The Pottingers spent a merry Christmas in the house and company of Mr Jenkyns who excelled in his role as a host. They spent the day together as Christmas should be spent, in fun and frivolities, and pleasure in the company of others.

from Day's Dying Glory

 

1820

“Come, I shall teach you tune. A Christmas tune, for we are so close now. Which should it be?”
They spent the rest of the evening sharing a lesson in the playing of The First Nowell, Arabella playing it a phrase at a time, and Roger echoing it an octave above.

from Blind Folly of the Heart (working title - will be published one day!)

1854

In the enormous window stood a fifteen-foot tree, such as Prince Albert had introduced to the British Christmas. It was decked with red and gold. Piled beneath its heavy branches were a large collection of boxes, each with a wide ribbon tied around it.

from To Reason Why (working title - will be published one day!)

Today!

Alastair walked in and smiled at the room he had just entered. It was perfect. The tree in the corner next to two windows, rising to seven feet and almost brushing the ceiling; the star, which was attached to it, scraping the plaster; a cluster of presents safely nestled beneath the tree’s lowest branches, in an array of different papers, each tied with raffia ribbon; pastel coloured lights which shone from the central trunk, catching the bold, bright colours of the tinsel and the baubles. There were stockings still hanging from the fireplace, but these all hung limp, while the mantle shelf itself was lost behind a garland of real evergreen.

from Baptism of Fire