THE HEART OF THE HOLIDAY

A regency Christmas was first and foremost a religious observance. The family would rise and attend a special service celebrating the birth of Christ at their usual place of worship. Regular church attendance was "quite the done thing."

The time after the Napoleonic Wars was rife with  social upheaval, many displaced persons and poverty. The exchange of gifts between family and friends was a small part of celebrating Christmas, but giving to the poor was very important. Gifts of food and clothing delivered to needy neighbors and welcoming "mummers" and "wassailers" with hot drinks  and Christmas treats allowed the affluent to share their bounty with the less fortunate.

Dickens wrote A CHRISTMAS CAROL after the Regency period, but he deftly captured regency sentiment on the need for Christmas charity:

"It is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt and Abundance rejoices."