Today we're going to have some fun. I am going to have all of you join my staff and I as we finish our holiday decorating. But before we begin, I'd like to talk about Victorian style decorating. (Just in case you don't recognize the song that is playing, it is called the "The Holly and the Ivy".)

The parlor, which is the room that we are in now, is the most formal room in the house (also called a salon or drawing room).  It is used only for Sunday family gatherings and entertaining guests.

Most are decorated in deep, dark colors such as burgundy or dark green.  Windows are covered in layers of heavy drapes to keep the sunlight from fading the furniture and carpet.  During the winter, you will often find a fire blazing in the fireplace.

Holiday decorating actually begins weeks before Christmas but we take down all the decorations before the 12th night as it is considered unlucky to keep them up longer.

When you arrived, I'm sure you all noticed that we have a wreath on the door, garland wrapped railings and doorways and candles in all of our "road visible" windows.  The candles are a sign to weary Christmas travelers that they can find food and shelter here from the cold English winters during their journey to visit family during the holiday season.

As you look about the Manor House, you will notice that our decorations consist primarily of greenery adorned with berries, pods, ornaments, ribbons and dried flowers. The type of greenery used is generally determined by geographic location, though holly and various types of pine and arborvitae are available pretty much anywhere. Actually, the bringing of evergreens into the home derived from an ancient pagan custom.  It was believed that evergreens, in addition to symbolizing the renewal of life, also brought good luck.  The Norsemen believed that evergreen boughs over doorways warded off evil spirits.

We'll be decorating our staircase railing with garland trimmed with French horns, ribbons and candles.  On the wall side of the steps, will go potted poinsettia plants placed on every other step.  Also, all of the picture frames are to be draped in greens which will be adorned with pine cones and red ribbon.  On all the small tables, are small vases in which we have already placed bunches of holly.

The Christmas tree, as mentioned earlier, was introduced into England by German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria in 1841.  It soon became quite fashionable here to set up a large tree and decorate it with lighted candles, candy and cakes.  Before commercial decorations it was common to trim the tree with home-made paper cornucopias filled with sweets, fruit, nuts and popcorn as well as simplistic cookies, paper angels and Dresden's.  Dresden's are ornaments which looked like metal but were actually cardboard painted in silver, gold and copper.  They were usually done in the shapes of animals and trains.

German-made wax ornaments were popular and came in the form of angels, children, animals and fruit. They were decorated with cardboard, plaster, spun glass, cloth and ribbon.  And then came the German blown-glass balls which we use today in addition to the traditional trimmings.

Christmas Present      A Dickens Christmas