As I tour homes each day for my work as a Realtor, I always find myself thinking “Okay, where does the Christmas tree go?”  It is one of those things we unrepentant Christmas-a-holics often have to fight to keep under control!  As I have learned more and more about the Victorian era, I have discovered that most of our Christmas traditions and decorating started to be popular during the Victorian era.

Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, merged many of the English and German traditions with open arms.  The Christmas tree, a German tradition, became popular in both Europe and America (although many were smaller than we use today and displayed on a table, and they sometimes used artificial trees made of  feathers!)  Christmas Cards, Yule Logs, Mistletoe, Santa Clause (as we know him today) were all developed, embraced, and widely used in the celebrations of the day.

Being much more tied to the Church than society is today, the Victorians began the Christmas Season with the beginning of Advent which is the four weeks before Christmas.  Lavish parties and dances filled the social calendar.  This was a time when the Victorians could pull out all of the China, Crystal and Silver and really show their good fortune and standing by entertaining.  Homes were extensively decorated for these special events with fresh greens, although the Christmas Tree was not generally put up until Christmas Eve.  The day after Christmas was known as Boxing Day when gifts were boxed and given to those outside the family, many times to servants or the needy.  New Year’s Day was another big day for Victorians.  They made every effort to call on all of their friends and wish them the best for the new year.  Of course, with everyone out calling, few were home to receive guests, but calling cards were left with messages of best wishes.

Be sure to make time to see several of the wonderfully decorated Victorian homes in our area during the Christmas season.  The Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House here in Eugene is generally decorated beginning in early December.  In Salem, the Bush House and Deepwood Estate are lovely examples of Victorian Architecture.  Albany has a wonder Holiday Tour of many homes usually the second Sunday in December.  And don’t miss the John McLaughlin House in Oregon City or the Pittock Mansion in Portland if you are in the area during the month of December.

A foot note to the last month’s article about architectural style, there is an excellent exhibit at the Lane County Historical Museum called “What Style Is It?”  The exhibit features 22 styles off architecture and shows, through the use of photographs, details and adaptations of these styles.  A special addition showcases Lane County architecture, with pictures of local homes and buildings in various styles.  A great way to enjoy an afternoon and learn about the architectural styles of our homes!  Call 687-4239 for times and costs.
 If you have a Real Estate question, send it to “The Vintage Home,” Lorette Waggoner, C/O The Oregon Vintage Times, Venus Publishing, 5 West 38th Ave., Eugene, Or. 97405.  Lorette is a sales associate with Prudential Preferred Properties at the Oakway Center in Eugene.  She specializes in listing and selling historic homes.  She is the only Realtor in Lane County who has received training from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Real Estate Program for the marketing and sales of historic properties.  You may call her direct at (541) 984-2524.