At the beginning of the 19th century, Christmas was hardly celebrated. But by the end of the century it had become the biggest annual celebration and took on the form as we know it today. Many historians attribute the change to Queen Victoria, and it was her marriage to the German-born Prince Albert that introduced some of the most prominent aspects of Christmas.
Soon enough almost every home in Britain had a Christmas tree decorated with candles, sweets, fruits, and gifts.
A Victorian Christmas party
A family’s Christmas, 1897
The Night Before Christmas, 1898
A woman returning home with a Christmas tree, 1895
Children around a Christmas tree in Russell County, between 1870s and 1890s
Children on their Christmas morning, 1856
Children on Victorian Christmas
Christmas morning, 1897
Christmas morning, 1898
Christmas, 1860
Little Victorian girl looking at the lighted Christmas tree
Man and his Christmas Tree, 1860
Santa Claus and Christmas Tree, 1897
Santa Claus telephone call, 1897
Two girls under a Christmas tree with their dolls, December 25, 1899
Victorian Christmas shopping
Victorian Christmas tree with flags and paper cones for candies or nuts on it, ca. late 1840s
Victorian Christmas, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Victorian family on their Christmas
Victorian woman sitting next a Christmas tree with candles
Woman with her daughter on Christmas, ca. 1890s
