Green Father Christmas

In this Christmas card, dating from 1870-1895, Father Christmas is illustrated wearing a green felt coat.

Today, Father Christmas is characterised by his thick red suit, trimmed with white fur. However, in the Victorian period, he was commonly shown wearing different colours including green, red, yellow or even blue.

The modern image of Father Christmas is based on the description in Clement Clarke Moore’s famous 1823 poem ‘A Visit from St Nicholas.’ He is pictured as a jolly and plump character who delivers presents on Christmas Eve.

By the 1920s, Father Christmas was mostly associated with wearing red. This was further popularised in the 1930s when Haddon Sundblom was commissioned by Coca-Cola to illustrate Christmas adverts, and Santa is shown in the well-known brand colours, red and white.

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Frog Bauble

Glass baubles were first made in the 16th century in the town of Lauscha in Germany. Their invention is credited to a glassblower called Hans Greiner who made strings of glass beads that could be hung up as decorations. The area developed as cottage industry (home based businesses) where the whole family were involved in making baubles.

Glass Christmas tree decorations became popular in this country in the 1880s. There are an extraordinary number of different styles, which were carefully and skilfully made, using glass blowing techniques. Germany remained the main importer of glass baubles to the UK up until the First World War. It is highly likely this quirky frog bauble was made in Germany.

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Wassail Box

Inside this old chocolate box are two little dolls representing the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary. This object dates from 1870-1900 and is known as a wassail box. 

The box would have been carried from house to house during the Christmas season by women and children asking for charitable donations, a practice known as ‘wassailing’. Those who gave charity were rewarded with a glimpse of this scene as the box lid was raised. The box would most likely have been decorated with greenery or ribbons, and accompanied with songs or carols. 

Wassail boxes were a tradition unique to Yorkshire, Durham, and other northern areas. They appear to have emerged in the 1810s but became outdated by the 20th century. They were an alternative to the familiar wassail practice of providing a drink of spiced ale from a cup or bowl in reward for charity. 

Wassailing, once a common Christmastide tradition going back several hundred years, had mostly died out by the start of the 20th century.  

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Terry’s Chocolate Trio

Nothing says Christmas like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Famous advertising slogans like ‘Tap and Unwrap,’ and ‘It’s not Terry’s, it’s mine’ helped popularise Terry’s chocolate products, especially at Christmas time.

A local York confectionery company, Terry’s was founded in 1767 as Bayldon and Berry. When chemist Joseph Terry married into the family, he took over the company. In 1828, he renamed it Joseph Terry and Company.

The Chocolate Orange was invented in 1932. Modelled on the circular shape of an orange, with orange flavoured chocolate segments and an orange skin patterned foil, its novelty shape was an immediate success. Terry’s also experimented with other fruit shapes and sizes such as the Chocolate Apple, released in 1926 before the orange, and the original chocolate fruit. In 1979, Terry’s also released the Chocolate Lemon, which was sold until 1981.

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Christmas Crackers

Inside this old chocolate box are two little dolls representing the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary. This object dates from 1870-1900 and is known as a wassail box. 

These Christmas crackers date from the 1940s and, amazingly, are still unused. They are wrapped in coloured crepe paper and come with a snap, motto and novelty toy.  The box is simple and basic, reflecting rationing during and after the Second World War. 

The cracker was invented in 1847 by Tom Smith, a London confectioner. During a trip to Paris, he had seen French bon-bon sweets wrapped in twists of pretty paper. When he returned to London, he sold these with romantic mottos enclosed. 

With the ever-increasing popularity of Christmas, Smith specifically developed his product to be a Christmas novelty. He added the cracker ‘pop’ when pulled apart to imitate the noises of an open coal fire. The invention was an immediate success and the name ‘cracker’ soon caught on. Smith also substituted the bon-bon sweet with a small gift. Tom Smith crackers are still sold in shops today. 

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