When you think of a Victorian Christmas some common images come to mind. It is impossible not to think about Dicken's A Christmas Carol on the one hand, with it's morality tale of greed and redemption. On the other hand, it is also easy to picture the origins of many traditions that are still with us, such as the hot Christmas dinner, the games, the carols, the decorations and Christmas cards.

It is the latter that took my interest, since this year I wanted to find some good quality, older-style Christmas cards, perhaps to send. Soon enough in my search, up popped a lot of Victoriana, much of which had surprising themes. In fact quite a lot of what I saw was bizarre and would likely never be sent these days, except as a joke. I began wondering who these Victorians really were, if not the stodgy moralists that many claimed them to be.

Here are a few examples.



Dead or drunken robins appear as somewhat maudlin subject matter. "May yours be a joyful Christmas" beneath the image of a expired bird strikes me as the kind of card you might send an enemy or a mother-in-law, at the very least. 'Oh yes,do have a jolly Christmas,' it whispers in menacing tones, 'Perhaps it will be your last!' Of course the dead robin might be a reference to Cock Robin, in which case a nefarious sparrow should be lurking, having done the deed with a bow and arrow.

And speaking of lurkers, the cat in the second card awaits the the moment when all three birds are pie-eyed. Talk about spiking the punch with a view to a kill! What a cheery scene!

Birds also feature in this apparent pointer to torch-bearing Brownshirts parading in formation. It is hard to see how 'jollity' might ensue after removing this card from its envelope - more likely, a lingering apprehension.



The 'hearty welcome' in the following seems like a prelude to the unspoken 'but really I hate you'. Who might have sent this one? Perhaps a psychopath.



The intentions of the sender are fairly clear for all to see in the next card, never mind the 'Merry Christmas' beneath the ghastly image of murder and theft. Best to send this one anonymously!



Unfortunately, reprints of these excellent seasonal cards do not appear to be in the offing. I will have to look elsewhere if I want to surprise my friends and family!