- This event has passed.
Event Navigation
December 19 • 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
Author Lucinda Dickens Hawksley in Conversation with Gareth Russell
Virtual on December 19 at 11:00am ET
Celebrate the holiday like a Victorian with authentic dishes and customs beloved by all, from the working classes to the royal family. Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, a descendant of Charles Dickens, reveals the fascinating tale of Christmas traditions during Queen Victoria’s reign. In 1843, while Dickens was inventing the Christmas ghost story, a London civil servant commissioned the first Christmas card and Windsor Castle displayed artificial Christmas trees and served turkeys for Christmas dinner. During the next five years, the first recipe for Christmas pudding appeared, Christmas crackers debuted, and a London newspaper showcased Christmas trees to the world. Hawksley explores these customs and more so you can experience the season authentically to period. Meticulously researched, this festive collection will make your yuletide merry.