A Happy New Year to You
Christmas Card
c.1870s (made)
c.1870s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert in 1840 and from 1841, the Royal Family observed the German tradition of having a decorated evergreen tree in their home at Christmas. The Queen's popularity led many in the British Empire to adopt the custom. The origins of the practice lay with St Boniface who converted the Germans to Christianity. According to legend, St Boniface used the conical shape of a fir tree as an example of the Holy Trinity. Some believe that a miraculous fir grew on the spot where the Saint chopped down an oak tree worshipped by pagans.
Charles Dickens published 'A Christmas Carol' in 1843. Its enormous popularity led to an increase in the celebration of Christmas in private homes, both rich and poor, and the tree became a central feature of the festivities.
Charles Dickens published 'A Christmas Carol' in 1843. Its enormous popularity led to an increase in the celebration of Christmas in private homes, both rich and poor, and the tree became a central feature of the festivities.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | A Happy New Year to You (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | Chromolithography with cut paper work and embossed borders |
| Brief description | Anonymous. One of a large collection of Christmas and New Year's cards, British, c.1870s |
| Physical description | Seven children ranging in age are gathered beneath the boughs of the Christmas tree, the branches of which are filled with candles, flags and toys. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert in 1840 and from 1841, the Royal Family observed the German tradition of having a decorated evergreen tree in their home at Christmas. The Queen's popularity led many in the British Empire to adopt the custom. The origins of the practice lay with St Boniface who converted the Germans to Christianity. According to legend, St Boniface used the conical shape of a fir tree as an example of the Holy Trinity. Some believe that a miraculous fir grew on the spot where the Saint chopped down an oak tree worshipped by pagans. Charles Dickens published 'A Christmas Carol' in 1843. Its enormous popularity led to an increase in the celebration of Christmas in private homes, both rich and poor, and the tree became a central feature of the festivities. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1953 London: HMSO, 1963 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2029-1953 |
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| Record created | January 15, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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