On one side was a table occupied by some chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others. —PERSUASION
The holiday season stretches from December 21 through January 6, and families and friends gather to enjoy one another’s company during the darkest days of winter. Here is the schedule your celebration will follow.
• December 21, the winter solstice: If you are the owner of the house, make sure that the Yule log is brought in at this time and that the fire is kept roaring throughout the holiday. Have the servants deck the halls with boughs of holly and other greenery; in more superstitious households, they do not put out the greenery until December 24, as it is considered unlucky to do so earlier. This is the shortest day of the year (in the north of England it is very short indeed) and you will want these reminders of warmth and life around you. No Christmas tree, however; they will not become fashionable until the 1850s.
• December 24, Christmas Eve: Gather at the appointed house; settle in and greet your family and friends. Guests will likely be invited for dinner, and perhaps some dancing or games afterwards. Do not stay up too late; it’s a long holiday season, and you need to pace yourself.
• December 25, Christmas Day: Go to church in the morning, and put a little extra in the poor box for tomorrow. Later in the day, enjoy a turkey dinner (the Christmas goose is a later tradition). Most people will stay at home with their families on Christmas Day, so do not expect a large party after dinner, but you still can have games and other fun activities.
• December 26, Boxing Day: Give out boxes of food and clothing to the tenants. It also is traditional to give the servants a holiday bonus. The contents of the church poor box will be distributed to the needy, including your extra contribution from the day before; it is hoped that you were generous! There might be a fox hunt put on somewhere in the neighborhood; take part if that is your thing.
• December 27–30: There will be parties and gatherings at home or at nearby houses almost every night. Gentlemen will dance all night and then rise early for sport, but ladies can get their beauty rest and then spend the afternoon touring the countryside in a low phaeton. Evening activities can include games, charades, amateur theatricals, or dancing and music.
• December 31: See in the New Year at midnight with drink and song, should auld acquaintance be forgot. If you like, get caught under the mistletoe.
• January 1: Recover from the previous night’s activities and rest up for more partying.
• January 2–5: More social gatherings and family activities. If it is cold enough, there might be sleighing or ice skating during the day, and balls and parties in the evening.
• January 6, Twelfth Night: This is the traditional day for the exchange of gifts, but gifts can be given at any time throughout the holiday season or even over several days. At night there will likely be a large ball somewhere in the neighborhood to which the children of the house might be invited along with the grown-ups.
• January 7: Take down the decorations (it is unlucky to leave them up longer) and say goodbye to your guests.