Denbighshire Archives is looking back to Christmas past with an exhibition depicting Christmas in the early years of the 20th century, including a letter to Santa, written in 1903, requesting, rather quaintly to modern eyes, a travelling clock, a silver pincushion and a bottle of scent.
There are also a variety of Christmas cards, grocer bills for festive fare and newspaper advertisements for Christmas puddings, luxury items and suggestions for Christmas gifts.
It was the kind of Christmas we so often see depicted on our Christmas cards.
Affluent Edwardian families during the first decade of the last century enjoyed an elegant festive season packed with many of the traditions we enjoy today. John Sainsbury had just opened his first shop, but there was no trip to the supermarket for festive food, instead a multitude of shops were visited, – butchers, grocers, bakers, spice merchants. The well-to-do would not have needed to pick up a shopping basket, but would instead have sent their household staff or had purchases delivered.
Christmas trees were popular, having been introduced to England by Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert. The penny post had also been introduced in Victorian times, and sending and receiving cards was popular.
In an era before the mass commercialisation of Christmas many gifts were hand made, such as embroidered handkerchiefs and samplers; home made peppermints or sugared almonds wrapped in hand decorated paper.
In the absence of televisions or computer games, friends and family gathered in the parlour to play games such as charades and blind man’s buff, or around the piano to sing carols and popular songs.
The Archives opening hours are: Closed Mondays and then open 9.30am – 4.30pm Tuesdays to Friday
Please note, the Archives will be closed for the week of 12 to 16 December for stocktaking.
