Each year, as a culminating celebration of our in-depth research on Victorian era London and author study of Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol, the seventh grade dresses up and throws a Victorian gala. This year, even more emphasis will be placed on authentic reenactment and our afternoon will center on, not just sipping tea and dancing, but the actual recreation of a busy mid 1800’s market. This year the festivities will be held on Friday, December 19, 2008. The merriment will begin in the dining room at 1:45 P.M. and continue until 3:15 P.M. Seventh grade parent volunteers will help us set-up and clean up but the majority of the work will be done by students. There will be musical entertainment, parlor games
and dancing as well as market day activities.

As in previous years, all students are strongly encouraged to dress in period costumes for the entire day. We will spend many weeks in class researching and discussing numerous aspects of the Victorian era and this Victorian Day is an opportunity for everyone to show off what they’ve learned.  This year, however, extra credit points and prizes will be awarded to the most historically correct, home-made costumes. Parents and students should keep in mind that wonderful costumes can be put together from things at home or from items purchased from second-hand stores for just a few dollars.

Many students may find it very appealing to be in “fancy dress”, but almost a third of London lived well below the poverty line during the Victorian era. Another 16.2% were considered “moderately poor” by sociologists of the time and would never have owned a lavish ball gown or silk cravat. According to a study done by Danny Dorling from the University of Leeds, “Dickens's A Christmas Carol also helped open the eyes of non-fictitious Londoners to the extent of poverty in their city...” Thus it seems incorrect to finish a unit that focuses closely on the problems of the poor and an author who rallied against poverty by spending large sums of money to rent extremely extravagant costumes.  And the costume of a chimney sweep or scullery maid or pauper may be more realistic, historically correct and easier to create from ordinary household items. Finally, student involvement is paramount, and therefore, I am discouraging anyone from simply going to a costume shop and renting an expensive outfit.

Some of the best costumes each year are those taken right from A Christmas Carol, including:

• Scrooge in a vest, coat and hat or in his night clothes (long underwear or a long nightshirt)
• Marley with his bandage around his head and chains around his waist
• Bob Cratchit in threadbare clothes and a thick white wool scarf
• The Ghost of Christmas Past with his white robe lined in flowers
• The Ghost of Christmas Present in his green robe and holly wreath on his head
• The grim "reaper-esque" Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
• Tiny Tim in knickers and a cap perhaps with his crutch

 Mid 1800’s Men’s Clothing could be recreated by finding any of the following items:
·  a frock coat (knee length dark wool coat) or sack coat or any wool coat or jacket
·  dark trousers or knee-length pants or knickers
·  a waistcoat or vest
·   square toed leather shoes or any leather shoes with dark socks
·  a necktie or cravat and perhaps a wool scarf
·  a top hat or derby hat or wool newsboy type hat
Hair: always a side part for boys

Mid 1800’s Women’s Clothing could be recreated by finding any of the following items:
·   a blouse with a high neck-line and puffy sleeves  (the puffier the better)
·  a skirt that fits snuggly at the waist but is very full at the bottom and reaches practically to the floor
·  any floor-length dress with a fitted waist perhaps with an apron or pinafore over the top
·  lots of layers of undergarments (chemises or camisoles, stockings,  petticoat(s), perhaps with hoop skirts or crinolines)
·  square toed leather shoes or any leather shoes
·  some form of headgear – bonnet or hat, etc.
·  some sort of outerwear such as a cape, shawl, woolen scarf, etc. Cashmere wraps and shawls were first popular in the 1800’s
Hair: Always a center part for girls – popular styles included:  French braids, curly ponytails, ringlet curls pinned back with ribbons or barrettes