Card Games, c.1855

Another from the draft folder. I started compiling period card game instructions for the 2018 CLT, as the evening entertainment was to be a card party.

Card table attributed to Duncan Phyfe,
c.1815-1825. In The Met.

At any rate, I ended up teaching a few friends basic whist, and really enjoying Pope Joan/Matrimony. There are a few more games I'd like to try if and when events can ever happen again. A particularly useful reference for the event was Hoye's Games (1857 American edition, original London), which includes the following card games:

• Boaston (a four-player trick-taking game)
• Blink Hookey (4-10+ players, game of chance)
• Whist (four-player, partnered trick-taking game--basically bridge without bidding)
• Quadrille (four player, with a reduced deck)
• Snip, Snap, Snore 'Em (any number of players, card matching)
• Piquet (2 players, deck of 7-Ace)
• Quinze (2 player, game of chance similar to vingt-un)
• Vingt-un (2+ players, more commonly called 21 or blackjack in the present day)
• Lansquenet (any number of players)
• Pharo/Faro (any number of players, special deck)
• Earl of Coventry (any number, card matching)
• Rouge et Noir (any number of players, 6 decks and a special table cloth are needed)
• Cribbage (2 or 4 players, like the modern game)
• Commit (any number of players, card matching with 'stops')
• Matrimony (5-14 players, special board needed)
• Cassino (2-4 players, 1 deck)
• Reversis (4 players, specific number of markers/fish)
• Put (2-4 players)
• Connexions (3-4 players, trick-taking game with diamonds trump and special rules for black aces and the king of hearts)
• All Fours (2 players, 1 pack cards)
• Speculation (many players, 1 pack, whist as a free-for-all)
• Lottery (many players, 2 packs of cards, game of chance)
• Pope or Pope Joan (any number of players, similar to matrimony, need special board)
• Commerce (3-12 players new way, any number the old way; a card-trading game)
• Pam-loo (4-7 players, best with 5 or 6; sort of like poker with only flushes scoring, but then becomes a 5-round trick-taking game if no one has a flush. Also the jack/knave of clubs is wild.)
• Brag (4-8 players; three card poker with jacks and 9s wild)

If the fiction of Mrs. Gaskell, Miss Austen, and Mr. Dickens is anything to go by, card parties are a respectable pastime. Even women gambled at them:

The Bingleys and Hursts play loo after dinner in Pride and Prejudice (1813). The Middletons play cards after dinner, with a party of young ladies specifically playing cassino on one occasion in Sense and Sensibility (1811). Both whist and speculation are played by the Grants in Mansfield Park (1814). Whist and Pope Joan are played by mixed company in The Pickwick Papers (1847). Cranford (1853) sees an almost-exclusively female card party playing Preference. Young teens attend a mixed-company evening card party in Wives and Daughter (1865), with the schedule including twenty-one and some sort of round game (both played for low monetary stakes).  Lady Ludlow (1859) even plays cards on Sundays. In The Old Curiousity Shop (1841), Nell's grandfather loses the last of their small savings in an unspecified card game against professional gamblers at an inn; later in the story, cribbage is played by a mixed party of men and women in a private home. A mixed party plays piquet in Domby and Son (1848). Miss Price flirts with Nicholas Nickleby (1839) when they are partnered in an unspecified card game; in the same book, Mr. and Mrs. Kenwigs celebrate their anniversary by hosting a dinner and card party.

In the non-fiction world, 16-year-old diarist Clara Solomon plays Cassino and Quadrille at evening parties with friends and family (New Orleans 1861-1862). Jane Swisshelm refers to a "frontier belle" playing poker with men, not exactly with approbation, in Half a Century (1880, retrospective to 1830). She also associated card-playing with idleness in Letters to Country Girls (1853), in the context of young women presuming to elegance beyond their means. In Richmond, Mary Chestnut mentions friends over to play cards on February 24, 1864.

Additional resources

The Game of Cribbage (1835)

The Handbook of Games (1850) and Bohn's New Handbook of Games (1865)

Whist, Its Theory and Practice, With Chapters on Loo and Cribbage (1863, 7th ed.)

The Card Player (1864)

Beeton's Handy Book of Games (1865)

The American Card-Player (1881)

Wool Hand Balls, 1860

Wool or leather hand ball from The Girl's Own Toy-Maker (1860).

I meant to make these for Fort Steilacoom Christmas last year (not to mention playing "The Elements" at Nisqually). I'm finishing them now in honor of Candlelight Tours, which should have been this weekend, and always have a group of talented volunteers reenacting "children at play" in the nursery.

These should work fairly well for "The Elements".

The construction was quite simple and went quickly:

1. Cut out ~6 eye-shaped pieces of fabric.
2. Stich right-sides together, leaving a small gap in the last seam.
3. Stuff with bran (I used bits of wool roving and scrap yarn for some).
4. Stitch the gap closed from the right side.

The instructions don't actually say how many pieces to use per ball: the illustration shows 14-16 narrow sections, while the pattern given makes a roughly spherical ball in six pieces. I cut pieces about 4" tall and just over 1.5" wide (including seam allowances of ~1/4"), which gave a finished ball 2.5" across.

The resulting balls are a little squat, and I think they might be improved by cutting each wedge slightly narrower and using 8 of them instead of 6. The bran filled ball has a slight weight to it; it's easy to toss, but packs a slight punch if you try to throw it really hard. The wool-stuffed balls are very light, and even my hardest attempt to pitch them doesn't produce much of an effect.

Christmas Roses

As mentioned in last year's Christmas Crafts post, I found some 1859 instructions in The What-Not for making paper roses. They are said to look well in a vase or basket in the parlor, and to be likewise appropriate for decorating a ballroom or schoolroom at Christmas-time (especially when arranged in evergreen branches), or for decorating the tree. White, pinks, red, and yellows are the recommended colors. I tried white, since that was the tissue paper I had to hand.

They got a little crushed in transit.

As promised, these are a relatively simple craft: cut out the paper, twist a square of paper over some cotton for a base, arrange each row of petals and twist the wire stem around, cover the edges of the last set with some green paper. I found positioning the green paper the most challenging bit, but by the third one, they were noticeably improving. There is a certain need to fuss with each petal in order to achieve a full and graceful rose.

Victorian Christmas Trees

We've already discussed making decorations for them, so here's my collection of mid-19th century images and descriptions of Christmas trees

Its branches spread wide over the table on Christmas Eve, and its lights shine and twinkle right merrily; and among its green leaves hang toys and presents for every one of the family.

--The Christmas Tree (1856)

The Christmas Tree, Godey's, December 1855

 

In the early 1830s-1840s, American and British magazines describe the Christmas tree as a German invention, which requires explanation.  By the mid-1850s, the practice has apparently become familiar with the reading audience.

DRESSING THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN GERMANY   

This is performed with great ceremony and mystery, on Christmas Eve, by the elders of the family without the knowledge of the younger members. They deck a large evergreen with presents of various kinds: to toys, bonbons, and such trifles, are added things of more value and use--working materials for the girls, knives, &c. for the boys, and books of amusement and instruction for both. Little tapers are attached to the branches of the shrub; and at break of day the children are roused from their slumber, and when all are ready (for no one is allowed to enter singly) they are admitted into the room where the illuminated tree greets their eyes. Great is the anxiety of the young party to see who has been provided for, since the idea they are taught to entertain is, that these tempting objects are bestowed by an invisible agent, as a reward for good children, and that the naughty and ill-conducted will find no share allotted to them...

--The Mirror of Literature (1831)

The Christmas Tree. Godey's, 1850.
Very similar to the image of Queen Victoria and her family with a 
Christmas tree, which first appeared in Illustrated London News in 1848.
Godey's repeated it with a short story, "The Christmas Tree", in 1860. 

For the benefit of those of our readers who are not acquainted with the beautiful descriptions of the Chritmas-tree in Mary Howitt's and other modern works and translations, we will just say that the one in question was a young fir-tree, placed in a large tub gaily painted for the occasion. Its branches were hung with tiny tapers, cut paper, oranges, apples, bunches of raisins, figs, bonbons, and other showy and delicate trifles, besides more solid ornaments, in the shape of pretty and suitable presents for the children, young people, and servants.
--"The Christmas Bride" The Illustrated New York Journal (1854)

In 1855, Godey's ran a brief history of the Christmas tree (in the 1850s-pop-history-just-assert-things-are-true genre).

Frontis to A Leaf From A Christmas Tree (1852)

Chymical, Natural and Physical Magic (1858) offers instructions for setting up a Christmas tree:

 First provide a young fir tree capable of being planted in a good sized flower pot. This being done set it upon a box or anything else that will give elevation so as to form a pedestal. The pedestal and pot must be decorated with leaves of the season and the mould covered with moss so as to give everything a neat appearance. At each branch or prong of the tree a small wax taper is to be fixed upright; these tapers should be of as many colours as you can get. Suspended to each branch and at every point that is accessible we are to hang anything and everything that we consider will please our party. Toys for children, sweets for youth, love mottoes and kisses for our third age, and a few crackers for the fun of the thing. When the company comes the tapers are to be lighted and preparations made for the fair distribution of the good things growing on the tree, taking care that there is sufficient fruit for all visitors. A kind of lottery or wheel of fortune is made by numbering a quantity of cards to match your company, they being put into a basket or reticule. Each person is to dip a hand into the lucky bag and withdraw one card. According to the number upon it the rotation of choice from the tree is decided. This plan gives general satisfaction, and few leave your house but will remember in after years your Christmas tree. (p. 121)

A manger scene at the foot of the tree is also possible:

Oh! such a grand and glorious Christmas Tree as never eye of child beheld. Its lower branches spread nearly touching the rose-strewed carpet, just above a wonderful little group of tiny figures which represented the manger, and the wondering large-eyed cattle, the worshipping shepherds, and the holy mother and child. Above these lower branches the glorious tree bore on every bough its harvest of shining Christmas fruit. Tiny toys and trinkets hung glittering from every point; fairy baskets and boxes heaped with sugarplums and dolls, more exquisitely dressed than any Paris beauty, for the girls; trumpets, drums, and swords for the boys; sweet-smelling, sweet-tasting, and deep-coloured oranges, red-cheeked waxen-looking apples; beautiful gold and silver balls lovelier than any fruit but that which grew in Aladdin's orchard; little crystal bells ringing and tinkling with every movement of every branch; gay artificial flowers of every hue, making the great Christmas Tree look as though a blossom from every plant that ever grew had suddenly bloomed in the warm atmosphere upon its dark green boughs. High up above the shining toys and trinkets blazed the cross in green and white and red and yellow tapers. and on the topmost branch of all hovered the heavenly image of the Christ child.
--"The Christmas Tree" in The Christmas Tree and Other Tales (1856)

In a departure from the evergreen, "A Christmas Tree for Christ's Children" has a potted orange tree decorated for Christmas: 

A Christmas Orange-Tree
A Christmas Tree for Christ's Children (1859)

The Tree was a real growing orange-tree, which Mr Oldham had had brought in from the conservatory and had real oranges growing upon it, though only very small ones except one or two which were riper than the rest; and besides there were sweetmeats of all kinds and a great number of beautiful fancy figures all hung round in the branches; and then there were wax lights all burning in the tree, and the light from them was reflected from the figures, and the crystals of sugar on the sweetmeats, just like bright diamonds, so that the children, one and all, declared they had never seen any thing half so pretty.
--A Christmas Tree for Christ's Children (1859)

Christmas--Gathering Evergreens/ The Christmas Tree
Engravings by Homer Winslow, Harper's, December 25, 1858.
Courtesy of The Met.

"For there on the table in the centre of the room was a great Christmas tree, lit up with a number of wax tapers of various colours and hung with toys and Christmas presents--a toy or a sweetmeat for every one of us young and old. The joyous cries and exclamations of the children, and the happy looks of the elders of the party quite pleased dear Aunt Harriett and we were speedily dancing and singing round the table like youths and maidens round the maypole in the olden time. Presently we were all very busy in seeking each one for himself the present or toy which bore his name. There were dolls and embroidery work and tiny looking glasses and bon bon crackers and gilt crochet pins and jewellery for the little ladies; and watches and tops and guns and flags and little steam coaches and painted balloons of glass and sweetmeats in gold papers and I don't know what besides for the merry and eager little boys."

--The Christmas Tree (1856) p. 3

Apples are another possible decoration (with or without gilt paper to cover them); the tree in that story also is adorned with "colored tapers, sugar lambs with red ribbons round their necks, doves with red heads and tails ,storks with red bills, hearts with red darts inflicting crimson wounds, and rosy lyres with golden strings." [Christmas Eve" in Holly and Mistletoe (1860) . p. 71-75.]

The room was brilliantly lighted up with coloured lamps hanging from the ceiling and the walls, and gaily festooned with green leaves and coronets of holly-berries and mistletoe. There was no furniture in the room, but in the centre, on the floor, there was placed a gigantic Christmas Tree, whose topmost branches almost reached the ceiling. It was loaded with toys and presents, and dazzling with light, which proceeded from a multitude of little tapers hung about among the dark fir branches in all directions; and numerous little glass globes, sparkling with various metallic colours, that made them look like balls of gold and silver, added to the beautiful effect...all--men, women, and children--commenced searching about among the branches for the toys and presents that bore their names...for an hour or more the fun continued, till nearly every one in the room had possession of a bon-bon in gilt paper, or a toy watch, or a box of sweetmeats, or a bundle of crackers, or something of that kind. There were sugar-frosted fruits and sweetmeats, with mottoes slily concealed inside, for the ladies and gentlemen; and little dolls, and little tops, and little coloured balls, and all kinds of toys and confectionery for the boys and girls, with numerous other things for which I can find no names.
---"The Christmas Tree and The Toys That Jenny Hung Upon It" in The Christmas Tree by G. F. Parton (3rd Annual, 1858)

 Vorweihnacht by Franz Krüger (before 1857)

I have been looking on, this evening, at a merry company of children assembled round that pretty German toy, a Christmas tree. The tree was planted in the middle of a great round table, and towered high above their heads. It was brilliantly lighted by a multitude of little tapers; and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects. There were rosy-checked dolls, hiding behind the green leaves; there were real watches (with movable hands, at least, and an endless capacity of being wound up) dangling from innumerable twigs; there were French-polished tables, chairs, bedsteads, wardrobes, eight-day clocks, and various other articles of domestic furniture (wonderfully made, in tin, at Wolverhampton), perched among the boughs as in preparation for some fairy housekeeping; there were jolly broad-faced little men, much more agreeable in appearance than many real men--and no wonder for their heads took off, and showed them to be full of sugarplums; there were fiddles and drums; there were tambourines, books, work-boxes, paint-boxes, sweetmeat-boxes, peep-show boxes, all kinds of boxes; there were trinkets for the elder girls, far brighter than any grown-up gold and jewels; there were baskets and pincushions in all devices; there were guns, swords, and banners; there were witches standing in enchanted rings of pasteboard, to tell fortunes; there were teetotums, humming-tops, needle-cases, pen-wipers, smelling-bottles, conversation-cards, bouquet-holders; real fruit, made artificially dazzling with gold leaf; imitation apples, pears, and walnuts crammed with surprises; in short, as a pretty child, before me, delightedly whispered to another pretty child, her bosom friend "There was everything, and more."
--"A Christmas Tree" in Household Words, ed. Charles Dickens (1851)

"The Christmas Tree" from Christmas Poems and Pictures (1864)

Punch's facetious "Crinoline Christmas Tree" must also be mentioned.

Christmas Morning (1844) by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller

1850s Christmas Crafts

Christmas Eve: Bringing Home the Holly
Peterson's Magazine, December 1860

"Aunt Sophie's Visits"--a story in the December 1857 issue of Godey's--describes decorating a tree in home-made ornaments: strings of 'parched-corn', painted egg-shells, wax lemons, nuts covered in gilt paper, lace-bags of sugar plums, and "a variety of funny things...made of wire and different colors of sealing wax."

This "ornamental lamp cap", from Godey's, 1858,
is "extremely suitable" for Christmas trees.

It was a fortnight before Christmas and we were already deeply engaged in preparation for the merry season. Green boughs with which to decorate the rooms were being made into festoons and garlands and in a sly corner the Christmas tree was waiting its hour of triumph. Ellen was hurrying to finish a picture of Santa Claus to hang over the Christmas tree and May was practising incessantly 'Let us love one another' at the piano forte, while little Harry entered with even greater zeal if possible into the preparations for the festivities. Seated in his little chair, which, with show of secresy was turned with its back to the room, he was working with his jack knife on a present for mother which, from occasional glances, I judged would be a little wooden vessel.
--"The Second Wife"  in Peterson's Magazine, 1856

The What-Not (1859) has instructions for making Christmas Paper Roses, useful for decorating the classroom or ballroom, or even the tree. They are said to look very pretty when made up in white, pinks, reds, and yellow and interspersed with evergreens.

Alternatively, real roses can also be preserved in wax for Christmas use (The Little Girl's Own Book,1847).  Mrs. Child also recommends that little girls follow the German custom of "making boxes, baskets, needle-books, &c" as presents for their parents, brothers and sisters.

And the magazines oblige with instructions for Christmas presents. Peterson's, in December 1857, announces that "Our Work-Table department is full, this month, of articles suitable for Christmas-gifts: some economical, some more costly, some adapted for presents from children to parents, others between wife and husband, others between friends and lovers. Thousands of fair fingers will be busy in consequence."  Instructions are offered for a fancy basket, 'mama's work basket', Bible (book) markers, a crochet purse, a beaded bracelet, knit cuffs and muffs, embroidered table cover, a beaded elbow pillow, a lace and ribbon collar, and several embroidery patterns. 

Berlin Work Pattern,
Peterson's, December 1860

The very beautiful Berlin wool work pattern ,which is given printed in colors in the front of the number, may be used for a variety of purposes. In fact, it is on this account that we have selected it for this month, as it comes in just in time for those who wish to make up Christmas and New Year's Gifts. Worked on canvas of a moderate fineness with single Berlin wool, it will serve for a sofa pillow, foot stool, bag, &e. Worked on a coarser canvas in double Berlin wool, which would have a beautiful effect, it would then be admirably adapted for an ottoman, fender-stool, &c. The white and yellow may be worked in filoselle which would very decidedly increase the richness and brightness of the pattern. We may here say that Christmas gifts worked by the giver are always more cherished than those which are purchased and for a very natural reason
--Peterson's December 1860 (p. 480-1)

That is in the December issue, and so, supposedly, available at the beginning of November, which gives a little more time for finishing. presents.

Christmas Purse, Peterson's, Dec. 1859
To be worked in crochet.

Christmas Slipper (embroidery pattern)
Peterson's, December 1860

Don't try this at home: Mackenzie's Five Thousand Receipts (Philadelphia, 1854) has "exploding pastils" for Christmas.  The pastils (balls or cones of dried gums with scent) are typically burned like incense to perfume a room; the holiday twist adds gunpowder to the mix, so that the resulting "unexpected report terrifies some [of the company], whilst it amuses others."

Christmas Games and Activities, 1850s

Christmas is the time for indoor games. --The Christmas Tree (1859)

A Child's Party at Christmas (Cassell's, 1862)

"...January is so severe as entirely to put a stop to all farm operations These long holidays are principally spent in attending shooting matches, dances, and card parties. With the young people a favourite amusement of the season is playing for pins with tee totums on a tea board. Childish as this game may appear, I assure you I have seen a party of grown up people play at it for hours with the greatest enjoyment."
--A Story of a Family Party (1852)

The Christmas Bag or "Christmas Balloon" is a sort of pinata.  For additional 'fun', fill the bag with flour instead of prizes.  Or, do three in a row, with a succession of sugar plums, sewing supplies, and finally the flour. For a truly grand experience, why not add a Christmas Tree lottery, fortune-telling and a theatrical?

In Frederick Lee, Or, The Christmas Present, the children spend Christmas day with music, riddles, conundrums, stories and games (including the card game Pope Joan and Dr. Busby).

Fireside Games (1859) contains parlor games appropriate "at merry Christmas-time, or on a wet day in the country, or in the city too, for that matter, or on a winter's evening, when the fire is burning cheerily, pussy purring on the hearth, and the lamps lighted..." [This was apparently borrowed from The Sociable (1858).]

The What-Not (1859) gives instructions for some Christmas Games:

Find the Ring: Like Hunt the Slipper, but with a ring on a string held by the group. The ring is slid along this string from person to person, while the person in the center of the group tries to guess who has it.

Porco: Like Blindman's Bluff with a Wand (the groups makes a circle around one person, who is blindfolded and holds a stick): the blindfolded person pokes someone in the circle and makes animal, the person being poked has to echo the animal noises, and the blindfolded one tries to guess who it is.

Games Played in A Christmas Carol are :

Blindman's Bluff : This game exists in several variations, all with a blindfolded  person trying to guess which member of the group they have caught/hit with a stick/sat on.

I Love My Love With an A: An alphabetical game, with each person in turn coming up with a name, gift, flower, occupation, adjective, etc., that start with the same letter.

How, When, and Where: Possibly the same game as "Entree" aka "How do you like it, When do you like it, and Where do you like it".  The whole group chooses an item, and one person (who does not know it) attempts to discover the item by asking everyone those three questions about it.

Yes and No: Basically "20 Questions"--one player asks yes/no questions to determine the item selected by the rest of the group.

[See The Sociable/Fireside Games for full rules to the first three; the last appears in Round Games for All Parties (1854).]

In 1850, Charades is supposed to be a new Christmas game, replacing "cards, blind man's bluff, forfeits, and hunting the ring". (Acting Charades)  Godey's repeats this claim, verbatim, in 1854.

The Christmas Tree (1859) and  Christmas, It's Customs (1860) are both working from the same list, with games of:

Plum Pudding: A variation on twirl the trencher, in which players much keep a wood plate spinning while telling a story about kitchen implements

The Game of Real Life/The Author: A storytelling game in which everyone plays a character or object mentioned int he story.

Messengers: Each player must make up a story about a place he/she claims to have just come from (with forfeits for repeating someone else or saying something impossible).

The Bar of Justice: A blindfolded player must face four "judges", each charging him/her with a crime made up by another player; the blindfolded player must guess who made up each charge, and whoever is correctly identified gets blindfolded next.

Composition/How: One player asks the group a series of questions (example: "What goes in a plum pudding?"); players must answer the question, paying a forfeit for failing to do so or for repeating an answer.  The questioner can ask a new question when she/he thinks there are no more answers to give (and pays a forfeit if someone comes up with another answer to the previous question).

Double Meanings: The group picks a pair of words that are homophones.  One person, who does not know the words, tries to determine them by asking questions, which are answered for the two definitions of the words.

Shadow Bluff: (As seen on Victorian Farm!) Players stand behind a sheet, casting shadows with any props they can find.  One players attempts to identify each shape.

The Knight of the Whistle: A blindfolded obstacle course.

The Corner Cupboard (London, 1858) claims that the "variety and number [of Christmas games] is so great that they would fill a moderate volume", but suggests Hunt the Slipper, How do you like it Where do you like it? When do you like it?, The Gig, The Traveller, The Menagerie, Shadow Buff, and The Blind Pointer. It further offers rules for:

The Knight of the Whistle: A different version than before--here, the knight has a whistle attached to his/her back with a string (without knowing it), and the rest of the party tries to blow the whistle without being caught by the knight.

Catch the Ring: See "Find the Ring"

Bindman's Bluff:  The basic version, in which all the players are free to move about the room, while the blindfolded person attempts to catch one and guess who it is.

The Dutch Concert: Each player imitates an instrument, and the group "plays" a simple tune. The game leader can switch to any other player's instrument, and that player must assume the leader's previous instrument, paying a forfeit for each mistake.

The Harmless Duel: The two duelists attempt to blow a soap bubble into the other's face.

Nine Reasons to Sing at Reenactments

[This post has been languishing in my drafts for several years.  I think it was originally inspired by Liz's Top Ten Reasons You Need to Make a Petticoat.]

Musical Instinct (1860-69) by Eastman Johnson.

9. Easy to find.  Particularly if you're doing the mid 19th to early 20th century, mass-printed sheet music and song books mean lots of originals survive--originals that are old enough to be public domain, and widely available on-line thanks to Google Books, Internet Archive, the LOC, and various other archives and repositories.

8. No equipment required.  You can add it if you want: a handwritten page of lyrics, or a pitchpipe and some printed music, all the way up to beautifully-bound reproduction music books and period correct instruments.  There are lots of options.

7. Can be added to your other activities.  Sing while sewing, while cooking, or while washing up.  Start your ladies' meeting with a hymn; cheer the soldiers' parade with a patriotic tune; lullaby the children to their naps.

6. Creates subtle activity: music can add to an event's ambiance, even for people who aren't currently in your area.

5. Attracts attention. Sound carries.  A little singing (on its own or for amusement while working) lets people know where you are, without interrupting their current pursuits.  It doesn't demand an audience, but invites one in.

4. It's easy to start and end.  If you do get some visitors investigating your siren song, you can easily wind it down to engage them in conversation or answer their questions. No dropped stitches, fumbling for book marks, or materials getting ruined because you set them aside.

3. It's free.

2. It's fun.

1. It's authentic.  Puritans aside, whatever period you're doing, people were singing. And so can you!

Victorian Christmas Songs

Christmas Visitors (1860) by William MacDuff

Preparing for some festive seasonal events, I find myself again looking for era-appropriate carols, particularly for the 1850s and early 1860s. This time, I'm going to try making a list, and hopefully won't have to start all over again next year.

In Christmas Time: It's History, Festivites, and Carols (1852), we have:

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
I Saw Three Ships
The First Nowell
Hark The Herald Angels Sing

[The first two also appear in Christmas with the Poets (1851), and are said to be seventeenth century]

Popular Music of the Olden Time (1859) adds:
A Virgin Most Pure

Christmas: Its Customs (1860) actually includes musical notations. Traditional carols include:

Adeste Fideles [note: this English translation varies from the modern O Come All Ye Faithful]
The Virgin and Child
The Golden Carol
The Boar's Head Carol

It also lists "current carols" popular in England:
Christians Awake, 
Good King Wenceslaus
Christmas Comes
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Song of the Angels [While Shepherd Watch Their Flocks By Night]

More scored music in The Sunday-school Service and Tune Book (1863):
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Silent Night! Holy Night!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! What means those Holy Voices
Shout the Glad Tidings
Carol, Carol Christians
Hark! What Celestial Sounds
While Shepherds Watched
We come with loud Acclaim
The Son of God, so High, so Great
Bright and Joyful is the Morn
Carol, Brothers, Carol
To us a Child of Hope is Born
Luther's Christmas Hymn
How Precious is the Story

Obscure religious songs in Christmas carols : or, sacred songs, suited to the festival of our Lord's nativity ; with appropriate music, and an introductory account of the Christmas carol (1833):
Christmas comes, the Time of Gladness
Lo! He comes, an Infant Stranger
How blest with more than Woman's Bliss
How bright was the Glory
Once Again the Festal Morning
From the Hallow'd Belfry Tower
When Christ our Saviour came on Earth
When Bethlehem's Shepherds Home Returned
Praise We our God
Star of the East
How glorious is the Morning Sun
Christ the Lord was Born To-Day
What ear shall be closed
O Thou, who bad'st thy Star display
Man's Redeemer

And some sheet music:
The Holly and The Ivy (c.1812-1830)*
Twelve Articles (c.1812-1830)
Auld Lang Syne (1817) [and an 1858 version]
Star of the East (1831)
A Christmas Carol (1838)
While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night (1831)
O Swift We Go: A Sleighing Song (1840)

A Christmas Hymn (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing) (1843)
A Christmas Anthem [For Unto Us A Child Is Born] (1848)
'Tis Merry When the Stars are Bright (1846)
The Christmas Sleigh Ride (1849)
One Horse Open Sleigh [Jingle Bells] (1854)
The Sleighing Song (1855)
The Merry Sleigh (1855)
Christmas Carol (1856)
Deck the Halls**
The Bells [I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day] (1870s, poem 1862)


**Finally found a copy. I'm still not sure how popular this one was, as there's that 1849 book review.  which makes it sound obscure. For extra fun, The Holly, The Holly! O Twine it with Bay in an 1857 retrospective of Christmas traditions (tune unknown to me).

**There are period references to the Welsh version (Nos Galan) but I haven't seen the original English translation, which Wikipedia dates to 1862. However, I did find this other 1862 translation and an alternative set of lyrics from 1874, complete with ghosts.

Upcoming Fun

Serialized novels, and a Dickens I haven't read yet. Should be fun!