Product Details
Sleetly Christmas Ornaments, Transparent White Swirl, 2.36 inch, Set of 18
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
Simhomsen Vintage Gold Burgundy Lace Table Runner and Dresser Scarves Embroidered Floral 16 × 72 Inch
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
SIGNALS Set of 3 Glass and Metal Candle Lanterns – Classic European Architectural Houses
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
Greenland Home Antique Rose Quilted Patchwork Throw
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
Enesco Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Victorian Angel Holding Horn
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
Lenox Illuminated Porcelain Victorian House w/ 24K Accents
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Product Details
Ganz Mistletoe Door Kiss Ball (KK16)
Free Shipping+Easy returns
Old Fashioned Christmas
Christmas decorations wreaths
Come take a peek into our old Victorian home decorated and ready for Christmas!
Victorian Christmas
Are you planning to decorate your house on this Christmas with Victorian Christmas Decorations? Here you can go through a collection top Victorian Christmas Decorations, that […]
Victorian Christmas
Have you read any good, romantic novels for the Christmas season? Here’s what’s on The Reading Corner List at Estelle’s! Christmas Eve 1894 Wrapped in a cloud of steam, the engine rolled to a stop, the screech of metal against metal filling the frosty air. Snow blew across the railway platform and around Meg’s calfskin walking boots. The weather definitely was not improving. She ordered tea with milk and sugar, eying the currant buns and sweet mincemeat tarts displayed beneath a bell jar. Later, perhaps, when her appetite returned. At the moment her stomach was twisted into a knot. “Anything else for you?” the cashier asked as she handed over the tea, steaming and fragrant. Meg was surprised to find her fingers trembling when she lifted the cup. “All I want is a safe journey home.” “On a day like this?” the round-faced woman exclaimed. “None but the Almighty can promise you that, lass.” I cannot wait to wrap up in a cozy chenille blanket, sip on a hot cappuccino and lose myself in a good holiday novella! We are also going to take a visit to a more romantic period of time. Every Christmas, my mother would take my sister and I to an old southern mansion located in the Belhaven district of Jackson, This home hosted a Christmas tea for the Ladies Auxiliary, of which my mother was a member. We dressed in red velvet dresses, little white tights and black patent mary janes. Our hair was styled and curled and we wore little white gloves. There is something about Victorian style homes that have fascinated me for years! Don’t you just wonder what families live within those walls and the stories the house holds? The massive foyer and the drawing room were dressed to the nines! Every room, featured a grand fireplace, with the mantels decked in balsam fir. The scent in the air was of orange cloves and cinnamon. There was Christmas music playing throughout the house and beautiful ladies would offer you cups of spiced tea. We would follow mother closely, and tour each room, stopping to chat with familiar faces. Children were to be seen and not heard, during those times. We were in awe of the lavish decorations and delighted in hearing what everyone’s plans were for the Christmas holiday! The kitchen was always warm and fragrant. Cooks were bustling about in their white coats and aprons barely giving notice to all the visitors! This is where I chose to linger a bit, and imagine that this what it was like to actually live here! Yes, the candles were lit and carefully watched. That warm vanilla scent was so welcoming. Pine, balsam and cranberries filled every crystal bowl! Beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts were presented to the hostess and carefully arranged under the numerous Christmas trees. These were gifts for the underprivileged children and the children who were orphaned. We were ushered to the grand formal dining room and were each given a little glass plate for our luncheon. There was a vast array of glorious food on display…. fresh clove-studded hams, turkey, little whippping cream biscuits, spiced pecans, pimento cheese straws, fresh fruits, cranberry chutney…. the list goes on and on! The women had hot coffee poured from silver urns and the children were presented with a tiny crystal cup of Christmas punch! And the grand finale was a steamed plum pudding drenched in a rich custard sauce! I will never forget the divine taste of that pudding! As you were leaving the house, you toured the back grounds. There was magic everywhere you looked. Wreaths adorned the windows with big red velveteen bows, large wicker furniture was placed for seating on the huge brick veranda and wrap around porch, Magnolia trees and camellia bushes were huge and had probably been growing there for many years! It was a time etched in my memory! That’s all gone now. The home owner died and the house fell to a state of disrepair. Many of those old mansions in this area, were sold to attorneys who redesigned them for office space. I was never sure the story behind this favorite home of ours. It was torn down when I was in my early twenties. I remember driving by the home often and taking the time to remember all of the lovely Christmas teas we were a part of. See….you never know what stories reside in these old beauties. Those were joyous days of an Old-fashioned Christmas!
Xmas Ideas 2020
Many people know the feeling of sitting by a warm fire (or furnace) sipping on cocoa while watching “The Christmas Carol” while the parents fight over how many strands of lights to wrap…
tea time
Victorian Christmas decorations are the ideal, maybe a bit nostalgic, Christmas theme for those who appreciate the beauty of the times gone by. After all, it is the Victorians who started the tradition of sending our wishes with Christmas cards, they made …
Victorian tree ornaments
It’s official! There’s a chill in the air, and while many people are planting mums and carving pumpkins, the savvy entertainers are already planning their Christmas festivities. For those looking to charm their guests, a Victorian tea may be just the thing. These classical events are refined, and yet fun. The first thing to decide when planning a Christmas tea is where to have it. You’d be surprised at the transformation your dining room can make with the right touches, but there are other locations that might be a bit easier, like a tearoom or a bistro. Find out what’s offered in your local area – you might give up a bit of control for less work setting the scene. If you decide to transform your home, remember the key words for tea: make it elegant! Lace tablecloths, teacups and saucers, miniature creamers and cloth napkins will make a fine table. Don’t forget the holiday spirit as you set the table – find tea sets with sprigs of holly, silver or gold edging or bells. What will set this event apart is the Victorian part though, so don’t forget the distinguishing aesthetic: ornate. Anything decorated with seed pearls, cameos or grosgrain ribbon in dark colors will work. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – to have an event, you must have guests. So, it’s time to decide whether this is a women-only event. If so, proceed with all the frills. If not, add some masculine touches by providing tobacco (even if it’s just for show) and some lively music. Violin and piano instrumentals would fit the bill. In keeping with the Victorian’s deep respect for tradition, a selection of classical music from 1900 would be appropriate, but feel free to mix in some carols to sing along to after the meal if complete. Just make sure that any selections lean towards a hymn style, rather than a boisterous rendition of Jingle Bells. That’s not to say that the Victorians didn’t celebrate with mirth – they did, but in a way that was true to the traditions of England. On to one of the crucial elements: What will you serve? Make careful decisions here because it’s more important to have a few elegant selections done tastefully than a smorgasbord. Mince pies, delicate tarts or frosted mini-cakes fit with the theme of delicate cuisine. Basically, the smaller the better, and feel free to shrink Christmas classics like fruitcakes, sugar cookies or truffles. As for tea, you can select a basic black loose tea with a tea strainer in the pot, or you can jazz it u
p for the holiday and select a cranberry or mint flavored tea. Whichever you choose, the best touches will be with your accessories: silver sugar tongs, tiny salt and pepper shakers and edible sugared violets. There’s probably no need for centerpieces because the tea set will be the focal point, select a set with matching tea cups or a mix of different patterns in a similar style. Add sugar cubes, porcelain creamers and linen napkins. As far as cutlery, select the smallest pieces: dessert forks, butter knives and of course, tea spoons. While you still have room on the table, make sure you fit in some classic Victorian elements: wrought silver place card holders, and sachets of favors for your guests. For entertainment and education, you may want to refresh your guests on Victorian etiquette. The spout of the teapot should face the hostess or pourer. It’s proper to just lift the teacup and not the saucer when seated at the table. Finger foods mean that guests will need water bowls to cleanse the fingers – garnish them with a sprig of wintergreen or holly and remind guests how to use them. If perchance anyone wears gloves, ask them to remove them for the serving of the meal. Set the tone by enjoying your tea without clinking your spoon against the sides of the cup or the saucer as you set it down. The duration of the event should be around two hours, with a leisurely start and lingering conversations while seated. You may wish to say a few words at the beginning, in the spirit of the holiday. Ask your guests to be seated as the tea and food are served and ensure that everyone takes their time to enjoy themselves – it’s the spirit of elegance, as well as a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Above all, be gracious and embodied the spirit of Christmas! Credits: Christmas Tea at Flynn Victorian Tea Room, Des Moine, IA, To book your reservations, go to https://www.lhf.org/events-and-programs/historic-dinners/flynn-victorian-tea/
