Victorian Christmas Gift Etiquette 

There are so many rules for Christmas shopping! Aunt Cora has been telling me all about them in time for our shopping trip.  I'm trying to pay attention - good girls listen and listen well, so Aunt keeps telling me. I've written them down in my notebook to help me remember just in case she tests me. 

Handmade Christmas Gifts

It's customary for men to buy gifts for ladies rather than hand making them. Ladies are encouraged to handmade and ensure gifts are not too intimate. It's completely different buying Christmas gifts for those who not blood relatives too! 

I didn't know it was customary to hint either as Aunt Cora does to Uncle Enoch about those gold knitting needles...

It was Christmas Eve. Amelia and Effie were sitting in a window seat in the house in Hampstead, drinking tea as snow fell on Church Row outside. Effie was reading aloud dramatically from Matilda Marchmont’s old journal, which they had found in the chest.

Amelia could make out the branches of the tall Christmas tree quite clearly now, flickering with soft candlelight and hung with gingerbread stars. The room was garlanded with ivy and mistletoe.

“Hmm. I’ve taught you to read well,” mused Amelia.

“Don’t flatter yourself, will you!”

The girls grinned at each other. 

Mr. Haverstock was walking across the room. His hands were flapping oddly.

“Please don’t over-excite yourself, but I have news. Great news. More than news…A visitor. Can you bear a tremendous shock do you think?”

Flickering with soft candlelight and hung with gingerbread stars...

 

 

Extracts from 'Amelia's Inheritance'