A 1800's Victorian Christmas on Vancouver Island

The Christmas tree was said to be popularized by the appearance of an illustration of a table Christmas tree which appeared in a Christmas supplement of the London Illustrated News of 1848. Certainly the adoption of this German Christmas tradition was helped by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The illustration shows the royal couple and their five children gathered around the decorated tree.

The first commercial Christmas card appeared in 1843 depicting a family scene at their Christmas dinner. The custom of sending Christmas cards was helped by the introduction of the penny post in 1840. Britons also saw Christmas crackers for the first time – a simple package containing sweets invented by confectioner Tom Smith – in 1847.

Singing Christmas carols, although not a new tradition was popularized by the publication of a collection of carols (Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern) in 1833 by William Sandys. His second book appeared in 1855 which was aimed much more at a popular market. Finally, when Charles Dickens published his novella on December 17, 1843, he created the quintessential Christmas Story. Christmas time became a secular holiday that embodied family, charity, mirth, and warmth.

How did the citizens of Victoria celebrate Christmas 150 years ago? It’s a puzzling question since there are so few resources available to answer the question. Apart from a collection of reminiscences of Old Victoria written by Edgar Fawcett in 1912, there are few descriptions of a Victorian Christmas on Vancouver Island. One tale describes the holidays as being colder and snowier, with streets filled with the sound of sleigh bells. City shops and homes were decorated with fir trees tied to the verandah posts. Nearly all Victorians went to church, hymns were sung, and everyone greeted each other merrily.

To fill out the Christmas picture a bit more, I turned to that invaluable source of Victoria and Vancouver Island History, namely, The British Colonist of 1861.

After the Gold Rush of 1858, Victoria was transformed into a gateway to the Fraser, then to the Cariboo gold fields, and quickly becoming the biggest port north of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast. Although Victoria was the capital of a British Crown Colony, many thought of her as a smaller version of San Francisco. Ships brought their cargoes from London, England, Honolulu in the Kingdom of Hawaii, USA, and the rest of the world to Victoria via San Francisco. Victorians received and sent their news via San Francisco. Many of the merchants in Victoria had moved up from San Francisco. Many of the miners were Americans who had passed through San Francisco on their way to Victoria and on to the mines. The City of Victoria prospered by providing lodging, food, and entertainment to the hundreds of miners who spent their winter there. Cariboo gold often ended up in Victoria!

The advertisements found in the pages of the daily British Colonist give us some insight into what residents ate and drank during the Christmas season, but also hint at how they enjoyed themselves during the holidays.
For example, if you were alive in Victoria at Christmas time in 1861, you would have been able to join in on a raffle. The lucky winner became the owner of the celebrated Running Horse “Gray John”. So if you needed a cheap horse, the tickets were $5.

So there you are, strolling down the boardwalk on Fort street [sic], looking for gifts to give to your children. You notice an auction at P.M. Backus described as, “Toys for the Million by Auction”. (The prices are as good as in San Francisco!) The sale is on the 28th, 29th and 31st and perfect for those looking for New Year’s toys. You might seek out H. Cohen’s in Yates Street as he has just received a beautiful assortment of children’s toys of all descriptions, amongst which is an invoice of magnificent “Toy China Sets”, shipped by the bark “Scotland”. T. Wilson’s is advertising “English Dry Goods” from the Prince of the Seas (in harbour right now) there are blankets, quilts, hosiery, Cashmere shawls, “drab melton paletots”, and much more. The shop is in Government street [sic] opposite the theatre. [Victoria Theatre on Government street [sic] near View]. It’s getting a bit chilly these days, so If you’re seeking boots or shoes go and have a look at what A. Nolteman’s in Waddington Alley next to Frank’s Restaurant has to offer. Hibben & Carswell’s shop has an extensive selection of elegant ornamental books, books for juveniles of all ages and also popular novels of the day, 1862 diaries, gold pens, stationery, and pocket cutlery too.

Now for something special for the dear wife! Why not visit K. Gambitz in Yates street [sic], where there are lots of holiday goods for sale: elegant dress patterns, plain silks, flounced dresses, kid gloves, and ostrich feathers.

The morning Colonist also has an advertisement from the Star and Garter Hotel. It had a huge stock of English Ale, spiced wines, and rusks. They say that families can purchase one dozen cases of Jules Robin’s Brandy, Port Wine, Sherry, Campbell’s Scotch Whisky, and English Porter.

For children with a sweet tooth, head to Mme Sandrie’s shop at the corner of Trounce Alley and Government street [sic] She has French confectionery, toys and fruit “direct from Paris by Express”.

Now as for the Christmas dinner, you might go to Morris & Monet Fruiterers located opposite Mr. Harris’ Brick Building. The store is offering 50 Island turkeys, 25 dozen chickens, ducks and geese as well as Vancouver Island and Oregon eggs. You could also buy fresh butter, citron, currants, raisins and lemon peel.

Looking around the streets you would have noticed the majority of the buildings were built of wood. Fronting the shops was a wooden boardwalk allowing you to move from one shop to the next without having to descend to the muddy, unpaved streets. In the streets were men on horseback, horse-drawn wagons, carts, and carriages. Horse-drawn sleighs would have been used only when the snow was deep enough.

A variety of amusements were available for prominent members of Victoria’s society (a society headed by the governor and his family, the officers of the Royal Navy at Esquimalt, the civil service, professionals, and the more established merchants). Victorians were invited to attend the second annual Masonic Ball to be held at the Court House in James Bay, Victoria, V.I. “by permission of His Excellency the Governor, on St. John’s Day, the 27th of December. Tickets to admit one gentleman and two ladies cost $10.”

On Christmas Eve there was a performance of London Assurance or The Steeple Chase at the Victoria Theatre. Mrs. W.C. Forbes played the role of Lady Gay Spanker and Mr. W.C. Forbes occupied the role of Sir Harcourt Courtley. The comedy was followed by a laughable farce the Spectre Bridegroom.

For the less well-healed, there were saloons and “dance houses” and the “Free and Easy” on the corner of Johnson and Store Streets. Every night you could see performances of comic songs, duets, burlesques, and dances. The so-called “dance houses” were causing quite the uproar judging from the very frank letters to the

Victoria even had its own bowling alley at the appropriately named Bowling Saloon in Waddington Alley. Incidentally the proprietor is holding a potluck on Christmas and New Year’s Day for his friends. Lastly, the Colonist noted on the December 24 that several of the ponds, lakes, and swamps were frozen over allowing numbers of the male population to indulge in the “health-giving amusement of skating.”

I think that most Victorians in 1861 would have considered the holidays well celebrated. Merry Christmas to one and all!

Many thanks to the University of Victoria for its British Colonist Collection 1858-1910, without which, I would not have been able to write this article.

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