Image of Gallery in South Kensington
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Greetings Card

late 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Christmas Day- 25 December - was first declared a feast day by Constantine the Great in 325 AD but was not widely observed until the 19th century. Turkey was not introduced as the main part of the Christmas meal until the 16th century. Up to that time, feasting meats such as boar and game fowl were most common among the classes who could afford them. Christmas pudding, like the Christmas tree, originated in Germany. The day's meal with family and friends remains central to the season's festivities.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Chromolithography on paper card
Brief description
Christmas card with feasting motif
Physical description
Two men stand in a pig sty, contemplating the impending fate of the pigs at Christmas time.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11cm
  • Width: 15.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • The compliments of the season, and all good things in reason. (Inscription; decoration; English; designated heading in upper margin)
  • They're doomed for Christmas, brawn & chine, for pigs must die that men may dine (Inscription; decoration; English; lower margin)
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Christmas Day- 25 December - was first declared a feast day by Constantine the Great in 325 AD but was not widely observed until the 19th century. Turkey was not introduced as the main part of the Christmas meal until the 16th century. Up to that time, feasting meats such as boar and game fowl were most common among the classes who could afford them. Christmas pudding, like the Christmas tree, originated in Germany. The day's meal with family and friends remains central to the season's festivities.
Collection
Accession number
15780:39

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Record createdJanuary 15, 2004
Record URL
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