Primary 7 pupils visited Castleward today, where they learnt about Victorian Christmas traditions.
Here Ethan, Sarah, Mia, Sophie and Aisling share their memories
Although I already knew, that Queen Victoria had a husband called Albert and Prince Albert brought the Christmas tree tradition. I have learnt some new facts from our trip to Castle-ward.
I learnt that Henry Cole created Christmas cards. I also learnt that St Nicholas came from Turkey and if he had a few coins to spare he would have chosen to give it to the poor.
Another fact I learnt, was that back then they would have used candles instead of ferry lights to put and decorate round the tree.
However, the most interesting thing I learnt was a man would have to stand for 8 hours straight and make sure the candles would not set the Christmas tree alight and make sure it did not start to spread.
By Ethan McPolin
I already know that Queen Victoria’s husband was Prince Albert, that she was born on May 24th 1819 and she died on January 22nd 1901
I learnt some new facts on our trip to Castle Ward
I have learnt that a man called Ralph Morris made fairylights when he was working at a switchboard. As the switchboard’s lights turned on it fascinated Ralph and gave him the Idea to put lights on a Christmas tree, and that’s how he made fairy lights
I also learnt that Tom Smith invented Christmas crackers
It started when Tom was a sweet shop owner, most of the time he didn’t have many customers.
But one day when he was in France and he saw French bon bons wrapped in coloured paper, as they were very popular Tom decided to put coloured wrapper on his sweets but it still didn’t work. One night Tom was sitting at his fire then it banged a few times, Tom thought ‘What if I could make a sweet that banged when you open it
And that’s how Christmas crackers were made
Another fact I learnt was that children must have been on their best behaviour, they had to sit and stand straight NO SLOUCHING ALLOWED. They had to answer questions very politely, and must have walked in a certain way.
I also learnt that left handed would have had their hand tied behind their back and were forced to use their right hand.
I enjoyed learning how to write with a dip pen, I really enjoyed trying to write really fancy and nice
It was challenging and fun.
By Mia Boyd
I already knew that: Queen Victoria’s husband was Prince Albert. I also knew that Queen Victoria is the longest reigning out of all kings or Queens.
I have learnt some new facts to our trip to Castleward I learnt that: Lady Bangor would have sent word to the nursery and the children would have stood at a glass circle and Lady Bangor would had to stand under it on her way to dinner and say goodnight to the children, that’s where the saying “Children should be seen and not heard” comes from.
I also learnt that: I Footmen had to stand around the Christmas tree with a bucket of water and a sponge because people used to use candles to light up their Christmas trees if the candle burned out the burning hot wax would drip onto the tree and it would catch on fire. Terrible accidents have happened because the footmen hadn’t been paying attention.
Another fact I learnt: Was that servants NEVER EVER went through the main door but went through a secret door because the masters didn’t want to know the servants were there.
However the most interesting thing I learnt: That if you were left handed your left hand was tied behind your back because they wrote with ink and ink would have got onto their hands and probably onto their cloths if they wrote left handed.
By Aisling Gilchrist
Although I already knew that Queen Victoria’s husband brought the Christmas tree into Ireland because he seen the Germans putting up Christmas trees and he felt sad when he was at home, so he asked Victoria if he could bring in it and she said yes and then people just started copying.
I have learnt some new facts from our trip to Castle Ward. I learnt that in those days Victorian children used a dip pen to write because the pencils or pens weren’t invented yet.
I also learnt that Henry Coal was the first to make the Christmas card, he made it instead of writing long letters to his family.
Another fact I learnt at Christmas in the mansion all of the family came into the parlour to play Christmas games.
However the most interesting thing I learnt was that in the Victorian times the teachers were very strict. The girls had to put there left hand on top of their other hand and the boys had to put their hands behind their back.
By Sarah Gilchrist
Although I already knew that the Victorians had to write in pen and ink, I have learnt some new facts from our trip to Castleward. I learnt that Prince Albert was born in Germany and I also learnt that Prince Albert brought Christmas trees from Germany and another fact I learnt was that the children had to walk and sit a certain way. However the most interesting thing I learnt that Thomas Smith invented Christmas crackers.
By Sophie Savage
