Victorian Era Culture and Customs
By: Alex Calcagno and Vanessa Scanio
Culture
Architecture
Literature
Food
Music
During the Victorian Era, vocals and instruments began to mix. The instruments that were used were pianos, strings, brass, and woodwinds. Music was greatly influenced by the German and Italian cultures. One of the most famous musicians and composers of the Victorian Era was Felix Mendelssohn. Felix was most famous for composing the Wedding March in 1842.
Customs
Five O'Clock Tea
Holidays
Christmas began to be celebrated in 1848, 8 years after Queen Victoria married her husband, Prince Albert. Prince Albert was from Germany, and celebrating Christmas was always a tradition of his family. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of him and Queen Victoria celebrating Christmas with the rest of their royal family. The drawing showed them celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree. Shortly after people started noticing the picture, almost every home in Britain had a Christmas tree decorated with candles, small gifts, and homemade ornaments. Houses were often decorated with evergreens. Beef and goose were the traditional meats eaten at Christmas dinner. Near the end of the Victorian Era, turkey also became a popular meat. Christmas caroling was also a common Christmas tradition.