Category Archives: Victoriana

Victorian Christmas Decorating

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The Victorians decorated their homes in bold wallpaper, ornate furnishings, lace, and richly-colored draperies, and this love for decorating carried right over into the way they decorated for the holidays, as well. Although many of the Victorians had very little money to spend on extravagant decorations, they were enthusiastic in their celebration of the Christmas season. They turned to nature for inspiration and found fresh, rich greenery, flowers, pinecones, berries, and fruit which were all used to create colorful displays. Early in December the Victorian household began to decorate, covering every available inch of the house with greenery. Spruce, balsam, laurel, cedar, ivy, mistletoe, and holly graced tables, banniesters, chandeliers, archways, columns, and woodwork. Mistletoe dangled from the ceiling of the entry hall. Even picture frames and mirrors were wrapped with evergreen rope. Wreaths could be found hung on doors or behind windowpanes.

The Victorian parlor played an important role for the holiday season. The parlor was transformed into an enchanted winter wonderland filled with decorations such as garlands of cranberries and popcorn, tinsel and paper chains, paper and lace ornaments, tissue-paper snowflakes, glittering glass balls, angels, fairies and Santas. The candles on a glittering tree adorned with an angel or star on the treetop became the centerpiece of the room. Under the Christmas tree sat the tempting gifts, wrapped in colorful paper and tied with taffeta ribbons. Some were lavishly garnished with the addition of fine flowers and greenery. Colored glass lamps and candles throughout the room cast a festive glow. The fire blazed merrily, and stockings dangled from the fireplace filled to bulging with gifts and treats. An army of toy soldiers marched on the mantel above. The fragrance of cedar boughs drifted throughout the house, and arrangements of holly and ivy brought the peace of the winter woods indoors.

A Victorian Christmas Tree History

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Behind the double doors of the Victorian parlor stood the Christmas tree, an old German custom the Victorians enlarged upon both in style and decoration. This tradition had come to England by way of Queen Victoria’s great-great-grandfather King George I.

When she was Queen, Victoria had a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. In 1848, an etching of Victoria, Albert, and their children gathered acround their decorated tree was published in The Illustrated London News. At about the same time, Charles Minnegerode, a German professor at the College of William and Mary, trimmed a small evergreen to delight the children at the St. George Tucker House. Martha Vandergrift, aged 95, recalled the grand occasion, and her story appeared in the Richmond News Leader on December 25, 1928. Presumably Mrs. Vandergrift remembered the tree and who decorated it more clearly than she did the date. The newspaper gave 1845 as the time, three years after Minnegerode’s arrival in Williamsburg. Perhaps the first Christmas tree cheered the Tucker household as early as 1842.

As a result, Christmas trees became the popular fashion in England and the central feature of the Victorian family Christmas. German settlers had brought the custom to America, but when the same illustration of Victoria and her family appeared in Goody’s Lady’s Book in 1850, Christmas trees became even more popular in American then in England.

What made the Victorian Christmas tree so special was its elaborate decoration. Decorations included gingerbread men, marzipan candies, hard candies, cookies, fruit, cotton-batting Santas, paper fans, tin soldiers, whistles, wind-up toys, pine cones, dried fruits, nuts, berries, and trinkets of all kinds. Paper cornucopias filled with nuts, candies, and other treats were the Victorian favorite. It was not uncommon to find some small homemade gifts, such as tiny hand-stitched dolls or children’s mittens, and freshly baked treats like sugar cookies. Hand-dipped candles were placed carefully on each of the branches. A Christmas doll or angel could usually be found adorning the top of the tree.

Children often helped to make the tree decorations. They would string garlands of popcorn or cranberries, or make chains of paper flowers. Some families set up a Nativity or outdoor scene under the tree, using moss for grass and mirrors for ponds.

Later in the century imported ornaments from Germany began to replace the homemade ones. First came glass icicles and hand-blown glass globes called kugels. Dresdens, which were embossed silver and gold cardboard ornaments, took exotic shapes–moons, butterflies, fish, birds, ships, animals, flowers, trolley cars, and even automobiles.

A Victorian family’s most prized ornament was the Nuremberg angel atop the tree. It had wings of spun glass, a crinkled gold skirt, and a wax or bisque face. Angles or cherubs represented the Victorian ideal of childlike or womanly innocence.

Victorian Poetry

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The word Victorian or Victoriana has connotations of repression and social conformity, however in the realm of poetry these labels are somewhat misplaced. The Victorian age, which is defined as the events in the age of Queen Victoria’s reign of 1837-1901, provided a significant development of poetic ideals such as the increased use of the Sonnet as a poetic form, which was to influence later modern poets.  Poets in the Victorian period were to some extent influenced by the Romantic Poets such as Keats, William Blake, Shelley and W.Wordsworth. Wordsworth was Poet Laureate until 1850 so can be viewed as a bridge between the Romantic period and the Victorian period. Wordsworth was succeeded by Lord Tennyson, Queen Victoria’s favourite poet.

Victorian Poetry was an important period in the history of poetry, providing the link between the Romantic movement and the modernist movement of the 20th Century. It is not always possible to neatly categorise poets in these broad movements. For example Gerard Manley Hopkins is often cited as an example of a poet who maintained much of the Romantics sensibility in his writings.

Before the Victorian era there were very few famous female poets. In the early nineteenth century writing was still seen as a predominently male preserve. However despite views such as this the Victorian period saw the emergence of many important female poets.

The Bronte sisters were perhaps better known for their romantic novels but their poetry, especially that of Emily Bronte, has received more critical acclaim in recent years. Many have suggested that her works were a reflection of the difficulties women of that period faced. Other significant female poets include Elizabeth Browning and Christina Rossetti. Christina Rossetti in some ways could be viewed as a more typical Victorian poet. Her poetry reflected her deep Anglican faith and frequently pursued themes such as love and faith.

Victorian Names

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It is a simple fact that names change in use and popularity, over time, and the names we give our kids today are probably not what our great-grandmothers used. The Ambers and Wendys and Brandons of today were the Netties and Elizas and Philips of yore. It is my humble opinion that using period-correct names can add a certain “ring” to a story. During the Victorian era, Biblical names probably saw the most prevalent and common use, both for boys and girls, to include the familiar names from the New Testaments, and also the tongue-tanglers from the Old. However, their child-naming practices also borrowed heavily from prominent sources including national and political leaders, notable religious leaders, and celebrated military heroes. It was common find children named for famous figures in contemporary and ancient history, great literature, (authors and characters,) or sometimes even ancient mythology, such as Achilles or Hector. Likewise with names of royalty, such as William, George, Victoria, etc.

Nor was it unusual for parents to look closer to home, borrowing from close friends or people they admired. (I have a Captain Henley and a Doctor Harvey in my family tree – those were their names, not their occupations!) Not uncommonly they recycled family surnames, for instance inserting the mother’s maiden name as a child’s middle name. This applied to both boys and girls, which meant you might be named along the lines of John Butterfield Smith or Louisa Jefferson Jones. Sometimes those family surnames were used as given names, as well, so a boy might be named something like Fitzhugh Smith. Girls were also given virtuous names, such as Hope or Charity. Names were often handed down, too, so you might see an extended family tree with a Christopher Columbus Jones found in each of three or four consecutive generations. Likewise you might see a middle name reoccurring time and again, which was often an ancestor’s name or surname.

In a few places on this list, I have enumerated certain first and middle names together, (such as Sarah Ann,) because I find them joined thus so many times on old public records, that it is apparent those name-pairings enjoyed great popularity. Where common nicknames were often used, those are indicated, as well. Plus, I have included a few appellations which are so odd and obscure that I can only guess as to their origins, but they were popular in their day. All of these have been found countless times on census, marriage, and other public records during my own genealogical travels, dating back to the early 1800’s. These were certainly not the only names used, but they are among the most commonly-seen. Thus it is with some confidence that I can present this list as a fair example of child-naming practices of the Victorian era. Names have changed in popularity, over time, and while many old standbys are still used and loved today, others of this epoch are certainly antiquated in their sound, and all but forgotten in application. I present this compilation in the hopes that fiction writers will be able to make use of it, and so perhaps add a little extra color and atmosphere to their work.

Female Names:
* Abigale / Abby
* Ada
* Adella
* Agnes
* Allie
* Almira / Almyra
* Alva
* America
* Amelia
* Ann ~ (also nickname for Nancy) / Annie
* Arrah
* Beatrice
* Becky ~ (see Rebecca)
* Bernice
* Bess, Bessie, Beth, Betsy ~ (for Elizabeth)
* Charity
* Charlotte
* Chastity
* Claire
* Constance
* Cynthia
* Dorothy ~ (also Dot)
* Edith
* Edna
* Edwina
* Ella
* Eleanor
* Ellie
* Elizabeth ~(also Eliza, Liza, Lizzy; see Bess.)
* Elvira
* Emma
* Esther
* Ethel
* Ettie ~ (see Henrietta)
* Eudora
* Eva
* Fidelia
* Frances
* Fanny ~ (usually nickname for Frances)
* Flora
* Florence
* Geneve
* Genevieve
* Georgia
* Gertrude / Gertie
* Gladys
* Grace
* Hannah
* Hattie
* Helen
* Helene
* Henrietta / Hettie ~ (also Ettie)
* Hester
* Hope
* Hortence
* Isabell / Isabella
* Jane
* Jennie
* Jessamine
* Josephine
* Judith
* Julia
* Juliet
* Katherine / Kate
* Laura
* Leah
* Lenora
* Letitia
* Lila
* Lilly
* Lorena
* Lorraine
* Lottie
* Louise / Louisa
* Lucy
* Lulu
* Lydia
* Mahulda
* Margaret ~ (see Peggy)
* Mary
* Mary Elizabeth
* Mary Frances
* Martha
* Matilda / Mattie
* Maude
* Maxine /Maxie
* Mercy
* Mildred
* Minerva
* Missouri
* Molly ~ (nickname for Mary)
* Myrtle
* Nancy ~ (see Ann)
* Natalie
* Nellie / Nelly
* Nettie
* Nora
* Orpha
* Patsy
* Parthena
* Peggy ~ (nickname for Margaret)
* Permelia
* Phoebe
* Philomena
* Polly ~ (nickname for Mary)
* Preshea
* Rachel
* Rebecca ~ (see Becky)
* Rhoda / Rhody
* Rowena
* Rufina
* Ruth
* Samantha
* Sally
* Sarah
* Sarah Ann
* Sarah Elizabeth
* Savannah
* Selina
* Sophronia
* Stella
* Theodosia
* Vertiline ~ (also Verd)
* Victoria
* Virginia / Ginny
* Vivian
* Winnifred / Winnie
* Zona
* Zylphia

Male Names:
* Aaron
* Abraham / Abe
* Alan / Allen
* Albert
* Alexander
* Alonzo
* Ambrose
* Amon
* Amos
* Andrew / Drew / Andy
* Aquilla
* Archibald / Archie
* Arnold
* Asa
* August / Augustus
* Barnabas / Barney
* Bartholomew / Bart
* Benjamin
* Bennet
* Benedict
* Bernard
* Bertram / Bert
* Buford
* Byron
* Calvin
* Charles / Charley / Charlie
* Christopher
* Christopher Columbus
* Clarence
* Clement / Clem
* Clinton / Clint
* Cole
* Columbus (also Lom or Lum)
* Commodore Perry
* Daniel / Dan
* David
* Dick ~ (see Richard)
* Edmund
* Edward
* Edwin
* Eldon
* Eli
* Elijah
* ElishaEmmett
* Enoch
* Ezekiel ~ (also Zeke)
* Ezra
* Francis
* Frank ~ (also nickname for Francis)
* Franklin
* Frederick / Fred
* Gabriel / Gabe
* Garrett
* George
* George Washington
* Gideon
* Gilbert / Gil
* Granville
* Gus ~ (see August)
* Hank ~ (nickname for Henry)
* Harland
* Harrison
* Harold / Harry
* Harvey
* Henry ~ (see Hank)
* Hiram
* Horace
* Horatio
* Hugh
* Isaiah
* Israel
* Isaac ~ (also Ike)
* Isaac Newton
* Jacob / Jake
* James ~ (also Jim)
* Jasper
* Jack ~ (for John)
* Jefferson / Jeff
* Jedediah / Jed
* Jeptha
* Jesse
* Joel
* John ~ (see Jack)
* John Paul
* John Wesley
* Jonathan
* Joseph
* Josephus ~ (also “Cephas”)
* Josiah
* Joshua
* Julian
* Julius
* Lafayette ~ (also Lafe)
* Lawrence / Larry
* Leander
* Les / Lester / Leslie
* Lewis / Lew / Louis
* Levi
* Lucas
* Lucian
* Lucius
* Luke
* Luther
* Louis
* Levi
* Lucas
* Lucian
* Lucius
* Luke
* Luther
* Matthew
* Marcellus
* Mark
* Martin
* Martin Luther
* Masheck
* Maurice
* Maxwell
* Merrill
* Meriwether
* Meriwether Lewis
* Michael/ Mike
* Micajah ~ (have seen nickname “Cage”)
* Mordecai
* Morgan
* Morris
* Nathaniel / Nathan / Nate / Nat
* Ned ~ (short for Edward)
* Newton / Newt
* Nicholas / Nick
* Nimrod
* Ninian
* Obediah
* Octavius
* Ora / Oral
* Orville
* Oscar
* Owen
* Paul
* Patrick / Pat
* Patrick Henry
* Paul
* Perry
* Peter
* Pleasant
* Ralph
* Raymond
* Reuben
* Robert ~ (also Bob)
* Robert Lee
* Richard / Rich ~ (see Dick)
* Roderick
* Rudolph
* Rufus
* Samuel
* Sam Houston
* Seth
* Silas
* Simon
* Simeon
* Stanley / Stan
* Stephen
* Thaddeus
* Thomas / Tom
* Thomas Jefferson
* Theodore / Ted
* Timothy / Tim
* Ulysses
* Uriah
* Victor
* Walter
* Warren
* Washington
* Wilfred
* William / Will ~ (also Bill, Billy)
* Willie ~ (Not always for William)
* Zachariah
* Zebulon
* Zedock

Victorian Fashion

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Elaborate dresses, lavish balls, a beautiful countryside and images straight from the canvas of the great artists come to my mind when I think about the Victorian era. The Victorian period or the Victorian era can be termed as the period under the reign of Queen Victoria. This period was between the year-1837 to 1901. I am sure many women would love to slip back into time and fulfill their dream of wearing bustle skirts with some fancy feathered hats at some point in their lives! Rich fabrics and genteel women attending fancy dos with cultured men are some of the glimpses of the life back then! Here’s a look at the kind of fashion followed in the Victorian Era. Victorian fashion has many interesting things to note and you can delve into the depths of Victorian fashion, right here!

Victorian Fashion:
The term Victorian fashion is generally used only with regard to the United Kingdom. There were certain clothing styles and mannerisms that were observed during this period. In the early period of the Victorian Era, the silhouette for the woman was more of the demure kind. Women wore pointed bodice, which were long and had fitting waists. The bodice was designed to enhance the waist. In the early period, Victorian clothing for women was about restriction of arm movements. Another interesting feature were the detachable collars! The colors used in the early period of the Victorian fashion were soft, pastel shades. Patterns were delicate and fashionable, all designed to maintain the femininity of the woman.

Beehive shaped skirts was another characteristic feature of Victorian fashion. Here, garments were stiffened to give a particular appearance. Crin also known as horsehair, was used for a particular portion of a garment so that it stiffens in that particular area. Crin was used for hem linings and sleeve heads of the dresses.

Although cloth was manufactured in the mills, Victorian clothing in 1837 was generally designed and assembled by tailors and other such specialized people who were into designing clothes and hats. These people catered to only a specific few of the society who could afford this service; others stitched their clothes at home.

Bell shaped skirts also became a rage and these became wider in the 1830s. The bell shape soon became dome shaped. As these skirts became bigger and flared out, they also needed support from the inside. Victorian dresses therefore needed to be worn with a lot of petticoats. The lower portion was also supported by horsehair, which were woven into the pattern for the stiffened look.

The cashmere shawl was also a prominent feature of Victorian fashion. It was particularly noticed in 1840. By then, the shawl was used as wrap over the dresses. Women also wore heavy fabrics such as satins and silks and there was also a time when fabric dictated the status of the person in the society as well.

Slowly these huge ballooned Victorian skirts gave way to the hobble skirts. Hobble skirts brought into fashion narrow skirts, where in knee length corsets were combined with the entire ensemble. Hobble skirts often restricted movement, which is probably why they have been given this name. These slim skirts created a problem for women in the comfort factor yet they gained popularity with time. Today, the slim pencil skirt can still be witnessed in the fashion scenario in many modified ways.

Apart from horsehair, bustles were also used to increase the fullness of the skirts. Bustles were used to make the waist look smaller. Many times, the fullness of the fashion was spread out towards the back and this often fanned out in the shape of a train. Bustles were also seen in different shapes. Sometimes, these also created a hump below the waist area on the backside, which was considered to be a fashion statement in the Victorian era. The bustle therefore, can be considered to be yet another typical feature of Victorian fashion.

Victorian fashion for men was about Norfolk jackets and the sack suits. Men preferred to don themselves in casual attire.

Victorian fashion was thus quite elaborate as far as women’s clothing was concerned. Victorian clothing is still very much popular and the basics have been woven into new modern designs to create contemporary attire!