We have the Victorians to thank for our modern day Thanksgivings! These folks had great taste in Thanksgiving decor. Communities across the country had carried out their own Thanksgiving celebrations since the 1600s.  But there wasn't a unified American Thanksgiving until Abraham Lincoln's presidential proclamation in 1863 called for an official Thanksgiving Day in all states.  The traditions established in those Victorian Thanksgivings live on today.

Thanksgiving Decor, Victorian Thanksgiving Decor

The Victorians loved sending cards, so of course they sent Thanksgiving cards too, just like this one. The cards were often illustrated with pumpkins and turkeys - the same images we have today of Thanksgiving! The tradition of serving turkey for the T-Day meal was quickly adopted in honor of the early settlers who found wild turkey to eat. Even the party games on Thanksgiving night after dinner might include Pin the Tail on the Turkey!

Victorian Delights

Turkey was first stuffed with simple fillings like seasoned bread and corn meal, but the Victorian cooks got creative with stuffings, adding oysters, chestnuts, cranberries and other fruits.

Thanksgiving Decor, Victorian Thanksgiving Decor

Photo by A.HICKMAN Design - Thanksgiving Table Setting

The Victorians often used natural elements to decorate their Thanksgiving table, such as autumn leaves, ferns, nuts, fruits and grasses. This table setting evokes the style and it is easy to recreate, with its beautiful natural centerpiece, a candle inside a lamp, and your best decorative stemware, and patterned china. It doesn't matter if the plates or glasses don't match. A mix of patterns or cut glass stemware creates an attractive vintage look.

Although the Victorian Thanksgiving meal was similar to ours, they also served some dishes that haven't survived as traditional today, like boiled onions, clams and mincemeat pies! They did love their turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, though, just like us.

You can wash down your Thanksgiving feast with a traditional Victorian punch, like this one created by Charles Dickens. It combines rum, cognac, black tea, lemons and sugar for a very warming treat!

Thanksgiving Decor, Victorian Thanksgiving Decor

Thanksgiving Decor with Great Food

If you want another dessert in addition to pies, then why not create a festive Charlotte Russe? It was a favorite of the Victorians, and often served at functions in Abraham Lincoln's White House. Here is a Charlotte Russe recipe from the Great British Baking Show's episode about Victorian baking!

The jelly and the bavarois filling in the Charlotte Russe is heavy on the gelatin because gelatin was a new discovery in Victorian times, making life a lot easier for cooks. They experimented with many gelatin dishes. And, just like us, they had to get creative with leftovers, resulting in dishes like Turkey in Savory Jelly! Thanksgiving Decor, Victorian Thanksgiving Decor

Thanksgiving Decor to Serve Guests

This is a charming way to serve your desserts if you don't have an antique server or buffet. Empty out a display cabinet or hutch and make a pretty display of your desserts, fruits and candies!

We know that many of our customers live in Victorian homes and love Victorian decor. I hope that this blog post about Victorian Thanksgiving gives you some inspiration for your own holiday feast. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Decor at EuroLuxHome.com

Thanksgiving is a great time for food and family. It's also a great time for home decor. With so many types of Thanksgiving decorations, this season is a great opportunity to spruce up your living room or dining room! Fall decor gives you tons of options. In terms of table decor, you can't go wrong with decorating your dining table's tabletop with an autumn table runner, complete with some quality candleholders and decorative napkins! Other tableware includes a new tablecloth, or maybe some pine cones or acorns to really fit the vibe! With these decor choices, your dinner table will be perfectly prepared for Thanksgiving dinner.

If you're happy with your tablescape, maybe some decorative gourds by your entryway could achieve the mood you're going for! A fall wreath above your front door could be a festive touch too. For more on fall decor, check out our post here.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]

We have the Victorians to thank for our modern day Thanksgivings! These folks had great taste in Thanksgiving decor. Communities across the country had carried out their own Thanksgiving celebrations since the 1600s.  But there wasn’t a unified American Thanksgiving until Abraham Lincoln’s presidential proclamation in 1863 called for an official Thanksgiving Day in all […]

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