December 1, 1885: The soft drink Dr. Pepper first introduced.
December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (abolishing slavery) is ratified. It had already passed the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed the House on January 31, 1865, and been approved by President Lincoln on February 1, 1865. More information and a scan of the document can be seen here: <https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40>
Image courtesy http://www.historyextra.com/article/sex-and-love/prince-albert-death-rocked-monarchy
December 14, 1861: Death of Prince Albert. Sir Charles Lyell wrote of the event: "It was many days before I could fully realise it. I went down the day of the evening he died, and at four o'clock, just as the illness took its fatal turn, I found a bulletin at the Palace which led us to hope that the danger was nearly over. I hardly think I ever saw a family where there was more domestic hapiness and good understanding between husband adn wife, and father and children. As to the reserve with which he was charged, I can only say that to me, and I am sure to a multitude of others, he was remarkably open, and talked of all subjects, even the most serious, without the fear of committing himself. The last time I had a full hour's talk tête-à-tête, he went into Educational, Exhibitional, British Museum, and other subjects, and did not mind speaking of his disapointment when he had been overruled, and listened when I did not quite agree with him as to the British Museum with patience, and like one who wished to look at the matter on all sides. I know of no public man in England who was so serious on religious matters, and so unfettered by that formalism and political churchism and conventionalism which rules in our upper classes." --The Leisure Hour, 1882, p. 87.
December 14th—21st, 1887: Madison Square Garden in New York holds a show for poultry and household pets. An article about the show from a magazine of the time: <https://tinyurl.com/y8cjkorp>
December 18, 1892: The original "Nutcracker" ballet premiers in Russia. More about it: http://www.nutcracker.com/about-us/history-of-nutcracker
Image courtesy https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden
December 21st: Happy birthday, Benjamin Disraeli! Born 1804. An Encyclopedia Britannica article about one of Victorian Britain's most important prime ministers: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Disraeli>.
Image courtesy http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txcbduv/clara.html
December 25th: Happy birthday, Clara Barton! The nurse who would found the American Red Cross and earn international praise for her tireless efforts to help the suffering was born on Christmas day, 1821.
December 28, 1846: Iowa becomes a state.
December 29, 1845: Texas becomes a state.
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Special Days in December:
December 12—20th, 2017: Hannukah
http://www.thisvictorianlife.com/blog/happy-hanukkah
http://www.thisvictorianlife.com/miss-ray-frank-1897.html
December 21st, 2017: Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice—"Christmas and Ancestor Worship" Origins of ancient rituals (1881, external link)
Some reflections on light as we near the solstice:
www.thisvictorianlife.com/blog/some-reflections-on-winter-light-as-we-near-solstice
December 25th: Christmas
"Among all the days we celebrate Christmas stands first and foremost in our thoughts, the holiday of holidays. Coming in the season of frost and snow it brings a cheering warmth to our hearts that defies the icy atmosphere, and the feeling of kindliness and good will toward everyone, which it awakens, seems in response to the words the angels sang on our first Christmas, "On earth peace, good will toward man."... Though we are Americans, our ancestors came from many lands, and we therefore have a right and claim to any custom we may admire in other countries. We may take our Christmas celebrations from any people who observe the day and combining many, evolve a celebration which in its variety will be truly American." —Lina Beard and Adelia Beard. "The American Girls' Handy Book" 1895. pp. 317-318.
Some Christmas trees at our house: http://www.thisvictorianlife.com/blog/our-christmas-tree
Christmas stories:
A Pine-Cone Christmas (1890)
A Midwinter-Night's Dream (1883)
Santa Claus in Our Village (1889)
December 26: Wren Day, St. Stephen's Day, and Boxing day
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PROVISIONS IN SEASON IN DECEMBER
Vegetables. - Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, leeks, onions, potatoes, parsnips, Scotch kale, turnips, winter spinach, forced sea-kale
Fruit. - Apples, chestnuts, filberts, grapes, medlars, oranges, pears, walnuts, dried fruits as raisins, figs, dates, &c., crystallized preserves, almonds, and all kinds of nuts. —From Isabella Beeton's The Book of Household Management, pages 123-126, 1891 edition.
A Christmas Wish
Victorian Winter Poetry for Christmas and New Year's
Remember: When you buy one of my books for someone, you're not just giving them a gift, you're also giving me the best gift you possibly can —the ability to make a living doing what I've always wanted to do.
In a seaport town in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, a group of friends find themselves drawn together —by chance, by love, and by the marvelous changes their world is undergoing. In the process, they learn that the family we choose can be just as important as the ones we're born into. Join their adventures in
The Tales of Chetzemoka
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