Traditional Regency Christmas

Donna Hatch
There’s nothing quite like the glimmer of a Christmas tree, brightly wrapped packages, and a yule log burning in the fire to invoke wonder and excitement. You may be surprised to know that many Christmas traditions are quite new–at least in both England and the US. Most Christmas customs we think are ancient actually sprang up during the Victorian Era. Regency Christmas traditions varied widely from region to region and even family to family. Generally,…

Christmas Carols Origins, Good King Wenceslas

Donna Hatch
One of my favorite aspects of Christmas are all the beautiful carols, many dating back hundreds of years. But did you know that the term “carol” originally meant a dance performed to music? Often people danced carols done spontaneously, with the lady (usually) of the house making up the steps as she went along. Later, the term carol meant either a song or a dance done in celebration. Today, of course, the term means a…

Historical Christmas Trees

Donna Hatch
When we think of a historical Christmas, most of us picture a historical scene complete with a goose or turkey and a Christmas tree lit with candles and strung with toys and lace. You might be surprised to learn that this charming image is largely Victorian and therefore not as ancient as most of us believe. For one thing, the English haven’t always included Christmas trees in their celebration. Early on, a few people in…

The Magic of a Mistletoe Kiss

Donna Hatch
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is as ancient as it is fun. No one seems to know the true origin of kissing under the mistletoe, but most sources seem to trace it back to old Scandinavia. It probably stems from pagan rituals, as do most Christmas traditions, even Christmas itself. Druids believed mistletoe possessed magical powers of healing—even against poison—and helped improve fertility. Other herbology claims mistletoe is both an aphrodisiac and an…