Top Ten Tips for Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree 2009

I've always loved the Victorian theme for decorating, envisioning one, big beautiful Christmas tree filled with clear glass ornaments and beautiful knick knacks plus dusty rose colored ribbons and cream colored lace, along with strings of clear Christmas lights. Until I started to do the research for the article, I had no idea that there was so much more to decorating a Christmas tree in the Victorian style than using plenty of the color pink and plenty of lace.

Once upon a time, Christmas trees were not a common household item at Christmastime. They didn't become popular until after 1840 when Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Germany) and Prince Albert brought German Christmas traditions with him. Then in 1846, a picture of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children standing around a Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News. That was when the Victorian Christmas trees really began to show up in homes, other than in those of German immigrants, in both England and the United States.

We now have a brief bit of Victorian history on the Christmas tree, but how exactly does a person even begin to go about decorating their Christmas tree as a Victorian Christmas tree? I have come up with ten tips for decorating a Victorian Christmas tree to help you to create your very own Victorian Christmas tree this year.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #1: Authentic Victorian Style or Not?

Originally, the Victorian Christmas tree was decorated with candles, homemade ornaments and garlands that were created using different food items, children's toys, paper crafts, and small gifts. The average person didn't buy any of their ornaments but instead spent the weeks leading up to Christmas creating their own Victorian Christmas tree ornaments. Plus the Christmas tree wasn't put up until Christmas Eve as part of the gift of Christmastime.

There are some questions you will need to ask yourself before you decide on what style of Victorian Christmas tree decorating you want to do. How much authenticity do you want with your own Victorian Christmas tree? Do you want to create all your own ornaments and garlands? Do you want to make creating your own ornaments part of a family tradition to help promote family togetherness for your family? Or do you prefer to buy your Victorian ornaments and garland for the effect of a Victorian Christmas tree but not the authenticity? There is no right or wrong answer for any of these questions. Whatever you decide though will impact how you go about decorating your Victorian Christmas tree.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #2: Pick a Tree

For the most authentic type of Victorian Christmas tree, your Christmas tree should be real and tall and slender with space in between the branches. This is in direct contrast to the full, round bushy Christmas trees that are generally sold in the United States on every other street corner at Christmastime.

Your Victorian Christmas tree does not need to be a real tree. You can use an artificial tree. Artificial Christmas trees were first invented in Germany and were made from feathers that had been dyed and then tied to metal wire or sticks to create the look of a live tree. You can read more about the original artificial feather trees at Victoriana.com. There is a decent selection of tall slender artificial Christmas trees that may work for your Victorian Christmas tree at HolidayDecorationsDirect.com.

If you are unable to find the best type of tree for your Victorian Christmas tree, you may have to improvise. Improvising might be easier with an artificial tree than with a real one because all you would need to do is leave out some of the branches on your artificial Christmas tree and bend other branches so they are less bushy. If you were feeling adventurous, you can carefully use hedge clippers to open up your bushy real Christmas tree so it would work better as a Victorian Christmas tree.

To get more ideas (and to see illustrations) for your Victorian Christmas tree, check out Victoriana.com and their articles on Victorian Christmas trees.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #3: Pick Your Colors

The colors that are the most authentic for your Victorian Christmas tree are soft shades of pink to burgundy though you will want to avoid any hot pink colors since they are inappropriate. Other colors to use are shades of cream and ivory along with silver and gold. What we consider traditional Christmas colors, red and green, were not used for Victorian Christmas trees.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #4: Lights

The original Victorian Christmas trees were lit by candles attached to the trees branches. Since this is a fire hazard, I would recommend using reproductions of candles that use either batteries or electricity. I found the tree clip candle set of 6 at Target.com for $30.39 that would give an authentic look to your Victorian Christmas tree.

For a lower priced alternative, I also thought that the set of nine battery operated tea lights in burgundy at Target.com for $12.99 would work too. Each tea light could be attached to a tree branch with clear fishing line for a safe candle lit look.

You can also decorate your Victorian Christmas tree with strings of clear mini Christmas lights. To get the best well-lit look, use at least three to six strings of 100 light sets each for a six foot Christmas tree. Make sure to avoid the traditional multi-colored Christmas lights as they would destroy the entire mood of your Victorian Christmas tree.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #5: Garland

Garlands for your Victorian Christmas tree can be made out of popcorn, raisins, cranberries, paper chains, candy, nuts or any combination of these items. A simple popcorn garland can be created by using plain popcorn (no butter) and a needle and fishing line or heavy thread. You can use just popcorn and make a popcorn garland or you can use popcorn and cranberries together. You can also add dry macaroni to your popcorn, cranberry garland. A garland can be created by using hard candy that either already has holes in it (such as Lifesavers) or is wrapped in plastic so you can tie your fishing line to it.

Paper chains can be created to use as garland on your Victorian Christmas tree by either gluing or taping strips of colored paper (use the colors from your theme, see tip #3) together. I think most of have made these in school when we were growing up.

If you want the look of a popcorn garland without the hassle of having to make it, you can buy an artificial popcorn cranberry garland such as the nine foot version at Christmas-Decorations-Gifts-Store.com for $13.50. They also sell an artificial cranberry garland for $5.18. I think if you were to find a red bead garland or necklace, then it could stand in for a cranberry garland as well. ChristmasMouse.com has a selection of artificial popcorn and candy garlands for sale too.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #6: Ornaments

Generally all the ornaments on the Victorian Christmas tree were handmade and usually by family members, especially the children. Ornaments were created using bits and pieces of whatever was available such as scraps of fabric, lace and ribbon that were then glued together or to paper. Pictures of people were cut out of magazines and embellished with scraps of fabric and lace. Snowflakes were cut out of paper and added to the Victorian Christmas tree. Walnuts (or other nuts) could be spray painted gold, then have a ribbon added to tie it to the tree as an ornament. Lengths of ribbon or strips of fabric could be tied to the tree in a bow shape as ornaments. Pieces of cotton batting can be laid across branches to look like snow. If your children have small toys that look rather antique in style such as dolls or trucks, they can be attached to the Victorian Christmas tree as ornaments too.

Take small paper doilies and tape them into cone shapes (mini cornucopias) and fill them with candy, nuts or even potpourri and hang it on the tree with ribbon. You can recycle old Christmas cards by cutting out the picture, attaching a ribbon to it and hanging it on the tree. You can even add glitter to it for an extra sparkly touch.

For a great family activity, you could get together with the kids and have an ornament creating party. Each member of the family could create several ornaments for the Victorian Christmas tree, along with some garland for a personal Christmas tree that each member of the family had a part in decorating.

To create your own authentic Victorian Christmas ornaments, visit Victoriana.com for instructions on how to make eight different Victorian ornaments.

If you don't have the time or the inclination to create your own Victorian Christmas ornaments, you can buy them. Dresden Star Ornaments creates and sells one-of-a-kind handmade Victorian ornaments which you can check out here.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #7: Small Gifts

In keeping with the authenticity of the Victorian Christmas tree, small gifts for different family members can be wrapped and then attached to the Christmas tree with ribbon. Obviously this won't work for any large gifts but all the small gifts could be attached to the tree in this way. Then on either Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, the gifts could be taken off the tree and opened.

Another way to give your Christmas a Victorian touch would be to have a long ribbon in a different color for each of your children and have each child take the end of their ribbon and follow it as it weaves through the room (or rooms) to their Christmas present. You can have the ribbons start at the Victorian Christmas tree and then end wherever you've hidden the gift.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #8: Tree Toppers

The tree topper for the Victorian Christmas tree was usually a homemade fabric angel although she could also be a fairy. You can create your own Victorian tree topper by using a doll in a long dress. Or you can purchase one such as the antique reproduction at the VictorianTradingCo.com.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #9: Tree Skirts

A tree skirt is a circular piece of fabric laid out under the Christmas tree to hide the bottom of the tree or the tree stand. You can use any piece of fabric that will go along with your Victorian Christmas tree color theme. Simply fold under the edges neatly and no one will ever know that it is not an expensive store bought tree skirt.

If you prefer to buy a Victorian Christmas tree skirt, AppleseedPrimitives.com has a selection of Victorian heart quilted tree skirts to choose from here.

Once you have your tree skirt down, add a nativity scene/set at the base of your tree. This is part of your Victorian Christmas tree decorating theme.

Decorating a Victorian Christmas Tree, Tip #10: Peppermint Pig and the Pickle

During Victorian times, the pig was a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity. So a candy peppermint pig was created sometime in the 1800's that was broken into pieces after Christmas dinner and each person ate a piece for good luck in the coming year. You can carry on this Victorian tradition and buy your own peppermint pig at the VictorianTradingCo.com for $19.95 which includes the 8 ounce candy pig, a velvet pouch and a small hammer.

Another tradition, although its history is shrouded in mystery, is the lucky pickle. A pickle is hidden somewhere on the Victorian Christmas tree and the lucky child who finds it is given a special gift. If a lucky adult finds it, they will have good luck in the coming year. It's a fun story/legend and you can buy pickle shaped Christmas ornaments such as the selection at Bronners.com that start at $2.99 if you wish to participate in this tradition.

Once you have your Victorian Christmas tree decorated, add a few Victorian touches around the room to complete your Victorian theme.

I hope you've found ideas to get you started on creating your own Victorian Christmas tree this year. As with any decorating theme, you are the ultimate authority in deciding how you want it to be. You can begin your own Victorian Christmas tree traditions in any manner you choose; perhaps you can even have your own lucky family ornament!

Sources:
The Christmas Archives.
Victorian Christmas