How many hours a day would a Victorian child work?
Due to a lack of proper ventilation, coal dust was very thick in the air. Considering that Victorian Children would work from 12 to 18 hours a day it is easy to see how respiratory problems could arise.
What was school like for a Victorian child?
At the start of the Victorian era, very few children actually attended school. Children from rich families would be educated at home by a governess (a female teacher). At the age of ten, boys would go to public schools, such as Eton or Harrow, and girls would continue their education at home.
What did a rich Victorian child play with?
Children from rich families played with rocking horses, train sets, doll’s houses and toy soldiers, whereas children from poor families tended to play with home-made toys such as peg dolls, spinning tops and skipping ropes. A popular toy during Victorian times was the thaumatrope.
What did a poor Victorian child play with?
Poor families made their own, such as cloth-peg dolls and paper windmills. Children would save their pocket money to buy marbles, a spinning top, skipping ropes, kites or cheap wooden toys. Girls played with dolls and tea sets whilst boys played with toy soldiers and marbles.
What did middle class Victorians eat?
Many Victorian meals were served at home as a family. Middle and upper class breakfasts typically consisted of porridge, eggs, fish and bacon. They were eaten together as a family. Sunday lunches included meat, potatoes, vegetables and gravy.
What did poor Victorians eat on Christmas Day?
For poorer Victorians, it was customary for them to eat things such as rabbit or beef. Whereas, for richer Victorians, they ate things such as swan, pheasant and turkey. It was the Victorians who made turkey a popular dish at Christmas.
What did rich Victorians eat for Christmas dinner?
In northern England roast beef was the traditional fayre for Christmas dinner while in London and the south, goose was favourite. Many poor people made do with rabbit. On the other hand, the Christmas Day menu for Queen Victoria and family in 1840 included both beef and of course a royal roast swan or two.
What 2 Christmas traditions did the Victorians introduce?
Victorian Christmas Traditions
- CHRISTMAS TREES. Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert was responsible for popularising the tradition of Christmas trees in England.
- COFFIN MINCE PIES.
- CHRISTMAS CRACKERS.
- ICE SKATING ON THE THAMES.
- CHRISTMAS CARDS.
- A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
How did rich Victorians celebrate Christmas?
Christmas Traditions in the Victorian era The “rich folk” would give gifts of money to the servants and working people, otherwise known as middle class people. This tradition started the holiday known as Boxing Day. In the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign, kid’s toys were hand crafted and expensive.
Did Victorians celebrate Christmas?
At the dawn of the 19th century, Christmas was hardly celebrated – at least, not in a way we would recognise today. Many businesses didn’t consider it to be a holiday. Gift-giving had traditionally been a New Year activity, but moved as Christmas became more important to the Victorians.
What did Victorians do for fun?
Victorian life could be busy but Victorians liked to make good use of their leisure time by playing games and sports and going on day trips and holidays. The ways in which people could entertain themselves varied depending on whether they were rich or poor, male or female.
What did Victorians drink at Christmas?
Mulled Wine Warm and spicy alcoholic drinks have always been a popular festive drink in winter. Mulled wine was a Victorian favourite and a non-alcoholic version, Negus, was even served to children.
What was Christmas like in the 1700s?
The Christmas season evolved from the mid-winter Germanic festival of Yule and the Roman Saturnalia, in which drinking, gaming and general revelry took place, homes were decorated with greens, presents were exchanged and people dressed up in costumes.