![]() ![]() Garlands and wreaths would be woven with rosemary, bay, and laurel, and then embellished with apples, oranges, ribbons, and holly berries. On Christmas Eve holly and evergreens would be gathered and brought into the house to decorate and bring in the fresh small of nature. This period did carry the feeling of ‘goodwill’ so it was expected that charity would be given to the poor, particularly on December 21 st, Saint Thomas’s Day when the widows of soldiers who had died in the Napoleonic wars would go ‘Thomasing’, calling at the kitchen doors seeking alms or food parcels. But for all who had them it was a time for family and friends. This was marked by exchanging small gifts.Ĭhristmastide ended on January 6 th, otherwise known as ‘Twelfth Night’, marking Epiphany.įor those who could celebrate Saint Nicholas’s Day, it was a period for parties, suppers, and balls to be held. It began on December 6th, Saint Nicholas’ Day. Public holidays did not exist so for the working class it was not a given that the day would be given Christmastide in Regency times was a prolonged period of celebration, compared to our modern holiday, for those who could enjoy it. ![]()
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