The Master Sweep in 1850 

In Victorian times everyone would want their chimney swept before Christmas. Today we see the chimney sweep displayed on holiday cards as a cherub little boy, broom in hand. But, do we really know what it was like to be a chimney sweep?

The chimney sweep was an essential part of London since 1200 when the customary fire in the middle of the room was replaced with a chimney. The reason for removing the soot and ash was to ensure a free flow of air; any blockage reduced the efficiency of the fire and the chimney itself could catch fire.

The soot was removed by the Master Sweep…… a man who was paid by the parish to teach orphans or paupers the craft, using children as young as four or five, who were boys or girls from the workhouse, or bought from their parents and then trained to climb the treacherous flues.  The children were totally reliant on him since their guardians had signed Papers of Indenture, which bound them to him until they were adults. It was the duty of the Poor Law guardians to apprentice as many children of the workhouses as possible, to reduce costs to the parish. The master sweeps’ duties were to teach the craft of chimney sweeping, provide the apprentice with a second suit of clothes, have him cleaned once a week, allow him to attend church and not send him up chimneys that were on fire. The apprentice agreed to obey the master sweeper and work at least 7 years when he then could become a journeyman sweep, and could work for the master sweep of his choice.  The child apprentice could be sold on to another sweep with prices ranging from 7 shillings (35 cents) to 4 guineas (4 dollars). This was a dangerous job with sweeps having to negotiate hot chimneys with flues 14 inches by 9 inches, the common standard. An apprentice would do four or five chimneys a day. When they first started they scraped their knees and elbows, so the master would harden up their skin by standing them close to a hot fire and rubbing in strong brine using a brush. This was done each evening until the skin hardened. The boys got no wages, but lived with the master who fed them. They slept together on the floor or in the cellar under the sacks and the cloth used during the day to catch the soot. This was known as “sleeping black.”

In the Industrial Age, buildings were higher and the new chimney tops were grouped together and the routes of flues could involve two or more right angles with horizontal and vertical sections. Buckingham Palace had one flue with 15 angles and the flue narrowed to 9 inches by 9 inches.

Soot was sold and used as manure.

Chimney sweeping was one of the most difficult, hazardous and low-paying occupations of the era. The boys could get stuck with their knees jammed against their chins. The harder they struggled the tighter they became wedged. They could remain in this position for many hours until they were pushed out from below or pulled out with a rope. If their struggling caused a fall of soot they would suffocate. Dead or alive the boy had to be removed and this would be done by removing bricks from the side of the chimney. There was also a high rate of testicular cancer and lung cancer among the boys.

It was 1875 before the practice was outlawed and from this time on the tradition of the chimney boys became romanticized. With the making of the hinged brush the profession became associated with good-natured, agile men as played by Dick Van Dyke in the movie Mary Poppins. The chorus from his song, Chim Chim Cher-ee shows the association of sweeps with good luck. “ Good luck will rub off when I shake ‘ands with you, or blow me a kiss…….and that’s lucky too.”

I think not! Nothing could be lucky for the chimney sweep!

See you tomorrow for more Christmas Foods and Traditions!

Kissing Under the Mistletoe

The Victorians loved bringing in the countryside for their seasonal decorations. Fresh greenery, such as berried evergreens, mistletoe, ivy and later holly were made into decorations for many weeks before the holiday.

Holly was used in Roman solstice ceremonies and it was believed that the red berries would ward off evil spirits and stormy weather.

Mistletoe was included in secular decoration only due to association with pagan rituals. Druid priests harvested it from sacred oaks on the fifth day of the new moon after the winter solstice. Norse warriors who met underneath it declared a truce. Victorians kissed under the mistletoe, but only while there were berries on it, because a berry is to be removed after each kiss! From Christmas tree to wreath and advent crowns the evergreen symbolizes strength and hope in winter months.

Winter Wreath

The use of special candles in church services of all denominations and in secular decorating can be traced back to midwinter pagan festivities.

It was believed that light was a way to keep evil spirits away. In Victorian England it was customary to place lighted candles in the windows during the twelve days of Christmas as a sign to weary travelers that food and shelter could be found within. The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January – also known as Twelfth Night. The 12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.

The tradition of the Advent Candle is a Christian symbolic practice that represents the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. It was customary during the Victorian era to incorporate the candles amongst the evergreen wreath and light them on the Sunday’s leading up to Christmas. Each church denomination has their own variations, but following Victoria’s Lutheran heritage, the first Sunday’s candle was purple and was the Bethlehem candle which represents prophesy or hope. The second purple Bethlehem candle is for peace and or preparation. The third candle, the rose Shepherd Candle symbolized love or the pink Angel Candle represented joy. The final candle on the Sunday before Christmas is the pure white Christ Candle representing the birth of the Son of God.

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Foods and Traditions Series! See you tomorrow!

The Fir Tree

The first Christmas tree was a fir tree and is thought to have been planted by St Boniface (675-754) in the center of the German town of Geismar after he had cut down the sacred tree, Thor.  Eight hundred years later, the tradition of putting up and decorating a fir tree in the winter months was extremely popular in Northern Germany. The fir tree was the focus of singing, dancing, and feasting before it was set alight.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Decorating the Christmas Tree

German nobility were largely responsible for the spread of the Christmas tree in Europe and beyond during the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The first Christmas tree was introduced to England by Queen Charlotte from Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III. However, it was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who loved decorating the Christmas tree and a woodcut (cutting an image into a piece of wood and then dipping it in ink, before stamping on paper) of the Royal family doing so, popularized the tradition all over the world!

In 1845, Hans Christian Anderson wrote “The Fir Tree”, a story of a fir tree used as a Christmas tree. The story is very short, but reveals a much deeper meaning for life throughout the years. You can read it HERE. It is the perfect story for Christmas. If you read no other story at Christmas I would suggest taking the time to read this one, it is that special. One of my favorite lines from the story is “it made his bark ache, and this pain is as bad for a slender fir-tree, as headache is for us.”

The arrival and lighting of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square on the first Thursday of December marks the beginning of Christmas for many Londeners. It is a 65 foot Norwegian spruce between 50 to 60 years old and stands in the square until Twelfth Night. (January 5th) It traditionally has five hundred white fairy lights on it. The tree is a gift every year to the people of London from the City of Oslo, Norway, to express thanks for support during World War II.

First Christmas Card Designed by JC Horsley

The first Christmas Card was created by Sir Henry Cole, in London. Cole was a prominent innovator in the 1800’s. He  managed the construction of Albert Hall, arranged for the Great Exhibition in 1851 and was the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In his spare time he ran an art shop on Bond Street, specializing in decorative objects for the home.

Sir Henry Cole

In 1837, British postal rates were high. It was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery, charged by the sheet of paper and the distance traveled. In 1840, Cole was credited in revamping the postal system and creating the first self-adhesive postage stamp: the Penny Black. He also announced a competition to design the new stamps. There were some 2,600 entries, but none were considered suitable; instead a rough design was chosen, featuring an easily recognizable profile of Princess Victoria. Cole believed the picture of Victoria would be hard to forge. The Penny Black stamp allowed letters up to 1/2 ounce to be delivered at a flat rate of one penny regardless of distance. The stamp lasted less than a year, because the red cancellation was hard to see on the black design and the red ink was easy to remove, which made it possible to re-use cancelled stamps. In February, 1841 the post office switched to the Penny Red and began using black ink for cancellations instead, which was more effective and harder to remove.

Penny Black Stamp

During this time people exchanged handwritten holiday greetings, written one by one. Henry Cole decided to design an attractive card so that it was not necessary to compose a Christmas letter to all his friends individually. In 1843, he commissioned John Callcott Horsley to create the first commercial card designed for sale. The design was a wealthy family enjoying a seasonal feast set with a rustic border hung with ivy grapes and leaves and the words, “A Merry Christmas to You.” It caused some controversy with temperance groups, because it depicted a small child drinking wine.  Horsley had previously designed the Horsley envelope, a pre-paid envelope that was the precursor to the postage stamp. Even the early Christmas card manufacturers believed Christmas cards to be a vogue which would soon pass. They operated on a quick turn basis and did not bother to document the cards they produced. However, the Christmas card was destined to become an integral part of the holiday season. By 1880 their manufacture was big business, creating previously unknown opportunities for artists, writers, printers, and engravers. Thanks to these two men we have Christmas cards, envelopes and postage stamps!

During the latter years of the Victorian era many people designed their own cards and became increasingly adventurous in their construction. The “trick card” was the most popular Christmas card of the Victorian era. While infinite in variety, it always featured some element of surprise. While seemingly simple at first glance, the turning of a page, the pulling of a string, or the moving of a lever would reveal the unexpected, showing the card to be more complex than first imagined.  The cards tended not to focus upon religious or wintry scenes. Nature was the inspiration and colorful scenes of spring and summer dominated. Early cards therefore featured colorful birds or butterflies flying amongst stalks of wheat and even insects landing upon ripening fruit; a timely reminder that the harsh winter weather would soon pass. 

More to come in my Christmas Food and Tradition Series!