Merry Christmas!

Andrea/Cara here, wishing a very Merry Christmas to all our friends who celebrate the day. And for those of you who have other traditions, may the day be filled with the spirit  of its meaning: peace, love, friendship and goodwill to all mankind—universal sentiments in which I hope we all believe.

I don’t know about you, but I’m very fond of the Christmas tree tradition! (Here’s mine from this year.) There’s something about the points of light and sparkly ornaments that always brightens my spirit.

As a Regency author, I was delighted to discover that the popularity of Christmas tree in England and America has much to do with the era. It’s said the German- born Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III brought the tradition of trees in ever room from her home country to the royal household. It didn’t catch on outside the highest circles of society, but young Princess Victoria was very fond of the custom. An entry in her journal, written on Christmas Eve of 1832 reads: 



After dinner... we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room... There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees . . .

After her marriage to Prince Albert, the popularity of Christmas trees really started to grow! It’s said that a picture in the London Illustrated News of the royal family around one of their trees led to the tradition becoming widespread in England. American magazines and newspapers reprinted the images . . .and the rest, as they say, is history!
(Thank you, Victoria and Albert!)

Whether you’re sitting around your tree, or enjoying some other setting today, the Word Wenches wish you and yours all the best, and thank you for being part of our wonderful Wench family!

Do you love Christmas trees as much as I do?