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Category Archives: Christmas History
To Santa Claus, on the Moon
Christmas History 44. The following article is from the Blackburn Standard, from 31st December 1898: A correspondent has obtained copies of some of the letters addressed to “Santa Claus” which find their way to the Dead Letter Office, and are … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers, USA
Tagged Blackburn Standard, Children, Letters to Santa
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Letters to Santa, 1898
Christmas History 43. In the 19th Century it took a while for news from America to filter through to the British press, especially when it was of an anecdotal nature. The following Christmas article didn’t find its way into the … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers, USA
Tagged Children, Letters to Santa, Whitby Gazette
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Christmas in Russia, 1869
Christmas History 42. The following quote is from the Morning Post, 28th December 1869, and is written by the paper’s correspondent in St Petersburg: Thanks to their persistent preference of the Old Style, the Russians have yet 12 days to … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers
Tagged Morning Post, Russia, St Petersburg
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A Christmas Kidnapping
Christmas History 41. The following alarming tale is taken from an article about Christmas in Canada in the Lincolnshire Chronicle, Christmas Eve 1869. Just a warning: I have removed a racial profanity, but the article is still reflective of the … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers
Tagged Canada, Lincolnshire Chronicle
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Christmas Lost
Some of the history articles that would usually appear here will be gradually transitioning across to our sister site: The View from the Junkyard. It is an add-free blog, which makes for a less intrusive reading experience. This week we … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas History, History, Uncategorized
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A Christmas Message
Christmas History 40. December is upon us once again, so that means we turn our attentions to Christmas past on Windows into History. The following words of wisdom are from the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 9th December 1869: Holidays, games … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Britain, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers
Tagged Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette
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Throwing Cheese from the Belfry
Christmas History 39. There is a longstanding tradition in Britain of giving aid to the poor at Christmas. 200 years ago, the Leicester Chronicle reported a wealthy landowner distributing “a fat beast, four sheep, and two hundred and eight yards of … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Britain, Christmas, Christmas History, History, Newspapers, People
Tagged Charity, Christmas, Paddington Church, Poor
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The Post-War Christmas
Christmas History 38. Christmas 1918 was a time for thanksgiving, relief and perhaps taking stock, because the Great War had come to an end. Kaiser Wilhelm had abdicated on 9th November, and Germany had signed an armistice on 11th November. However, … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century, Britain, Christmas, Christmas History, Faith, History, Inspiration, Newspapers
Tagged Christmas, World War I
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The Danger of a Frost Fair Thaw
Christmas History 37. In the last Christmas History article we looked at the final ever frost fair on the River Thames, in February 1814. But what happened when a frost fair came to an end because the river was starting … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Britain, Christmas, Christmas History, History, London, Newspapers
Tagged Christmas, Frost Fairs, Thames
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The Last Frost Fair
Christmas History 36. Between the 15th and 19th Centuries the River Thames in London froze over more than 20 times, often leading to celebrations on the ice known as “frost fairs”. The last time this ever happened was the year … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Britain, Christmas, Christmas History, History, London, Newspapers
Tagged Christmas, Frost Fairs, Thames
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Windows into History 