Figure 1.--This is a humerous view of a nursery, meaingn the room for young children in a well-to-do English home. The drawing i entitled "At Home" on the Nursery, or the Masters and Misses Twioshoes Christmas Party. It vwas executed in 1826, more than a decade before Princess Vicroria became queen anf Prince Albert began to shape Christmas in England. The illustrator is George Cruikshank, British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised by contemprary experts as the modern Hogarth. He was a friend of Charles Dickens and illustrated his novels of his and other authors. He shows a rather chaotic scene in the nursery for Christmas. There are 14 children shown playing in the confinedspace of the nursery. The boys are sword fighting, blowinbg bugles and beating drums, and playing with toy solduers. The girls are playing with an assemled carriage and dancing. Foirtunarelin rsality no niursery had 14 children. The girls wear long Empire dresses. The boys' outfits are a little more difficult to make out. We see ruffled collars and a variety og long pabnys outfits looking somewhat like skeleton suits.
Christmas has ancient pre-Roman origins dating back to Celtic and German beliefs. The early Chruistian Church as part of the Chritinization process adopted ptr-Chtostian celebrations abnd custopms to ease the process. And England's Celtic, Roman, and German foundation became part of early Christmas celebrations. Decorated homes with greeery (holly, ivy, and mistletoe) is a tradition dating back to ancirnt times. The coming of the Romans meant the arrival of Christisnity (1st century AD). Chriustuanity had not made major enroads whbn the the Roman Legions withdrew from Britain. The Anglo-Saxons which followed were pagans (5th century). The Anglo-Saxons (Germanic people) called the winter celebration Yule. The old Saxon word Yule meant mid-winter. With conversion to Christianity Yule came to mean Christmas -- Jesus's birthday (7th century). The name Christmas did not appear until much later (11th century). For most of English history Christmas was just one of the many festivals celebrated during the year. As with Roman Saturnalia, Christmas celebrations until modern times could be rather raucous affairs. And there was no emphasis on childere. This us why the English Puritans (Pilgrims) who settled Massachusetts actually banned the celebration of Christmas. All of this changed with Queen Victoria. Prince Albert was intebnt in making Chtistmas a sedate family affair focusedon the childrem. . He intriduced mahny popular German customs like the Chridtmas Tree ficused on family celevrations rathor than frinking and raucous public behavior. Until the 19th century Christmas was not an especually important important celevration. And it was not an especially religious one. An importsbt tradition dating back to the Anglo-Saxomn times was to burn a Yule log in the fireplace. By the 19th century, lighting a large Yule candle was popular. Our modern Christmas traditions appeared primnarily (19th century). And cmich of it appearedduring vthe Victorian era (1837-1901). Most of the traditions that make up a 'traditional' English Christmas were imported into England from other countries). And Prince Albert was the orinary, but not vonly agent. We begin to Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Christmas crackers, paper decorations and Father Christmas with his white beard and red costume. Most of all, Albert wanted Christnmas to nbe a sedate famoly affair centered on the family, especially the children.
