Whether you are celebrating at home in Barnstaple and Bideford, enjoying the lights in Taunton and Minehead, or soaking up the atmosphere across Cornwall, the festive season is full of stories.
Here are 15 facts to share at the dinner table, with a gentle nod to the West Country.
- The first commercial Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843, illustrated by John Callcott Horsley. The tradition quickly took hold across Britain.
- Christmas crackers were popularised by Tom Smith, a London confectioner in the 1840s. The paper snap, added in 1860 and small gifts turned them into a staple of British Christmas tables.
- Christmas trees became fashionable in Britain during the Victorian era, strongly associated with Prince Albert and widely adopted after royal illustrations appeared in the press.
- Boxing Day is broadly linked to giving boxes of gifts or alms to servants and tradespeople, traditionally the day after Christmas, also St Stephen’s Day.
- Nine Lessons and Carols was first held at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918 and is now broadcast globally, marking the start of Christmas for many households.
- The Royal Christmas broadcast began in 1932 with King George V on BBC radio, becoming a long‑standing tradition continued on television and online.
- Mince pies once contained minced meat alongside dried fruit and spices. Over time they became the sweet pastries we enjoy today.
- Pantomime which links back to Italian commedia dell’arte developed into a festive favourite during the Victorian period, blending comedy, music and audience participation.
- Oranges or satsumas in stockings are said to symbolise St Nicholas’ gifts of gold, and they remain a simple festive treat in many homes.
- The Twelve Days of Christmas run from 25 December to early January, culminating in Twelfth Night, which is marked by different customs across regions.
- Tinsel and glass baubles have origins in nineteenth‑century Europe. Britain embraced them, and many families pass decorations down through generations.
- Sprouts at Christmas are a modern British staple. Shredding and roasting with chestnuts or bacon has made them popular again.
- Advent calendars began as simple daily marks in nineteenth‑century Germany and evolved into the chocolate and keepsake versions enjoyed in the UK.
- Yule logs predate modern desserts. The wooden log burned to celebrate midwinter inspired the chocolate roll served in many homes today.
- West Country wassailing celebrates orchards and cider traditions, with songs and ceremonies to bless trees for a good harvest in the year ahead.
A West Country Christmas At Home
From coastal cottages in Ilfracombe and Braunton to townhouses in Taunton and Wellington, and period homes in Minehead, Exmoor, Bodmin and Launceston, the South West’s architecture and communities make Christmas feel special. If you are preparing for viewings, keep décor warm and simple, maximise light, and highlight the features that make your home unique.
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