Celebrate the holidays in true Victorian Era fashion with this Dickensian tea time inspired by Charles Dickens!
Spread Joy and Christmas Cheer with These Dickensian Tea Time & Party Ideas
Step into the world of A Dickensian Tea Time, where holly wreaths hang from every door, carolers gather by glowing lanterns, and the spirit of Christmases Past, Present, and Future fills every cobbled street. This guide has been crafted to bring the timeless charm of Charles Dickens’ Victorian England to life—a place where Christmastime is filled with warmth, wonder, and an unwavering spirit of kindness.
Charles Dickens, the beloved English author, painted some of the most memorable Christmas scenes in his novels, shaping traditions that still touch our hearts today. With words that glow like candles in the mist, Dickens enchanted readers with tales of snowy streets, festive feasts, and the call to remember those less fortunate. His stories invited readers into bustling Victorian homes, where roaring fires and tables laden with plum pudding and mince pies awaited joyful gatherings. But beyond the festivities, Dickens captured the true magic of the season: a spirit of generosity, redemption, and hope.
In this guide, we explore the Christmas season as presented by Dickens in his famous holiday stories, filled with lessons of compassion, forgiveness, and renewal, and where his unforgettable characters—some joyful, others downtrodden, yet all touched by hope—navigate a world ready to embrace the Christmas spirit.
As you prepare for A Dickensian Tea Time, remember that Dickens’ Christmas is one where every act of kindness, however small, shines bright. So gather around, warm a pot of tea, and step back into a time when Christmas meant the warmth of friends and family, the joy of giving, and the promise of a new beginning. May this guide transport you to a place where lamplight and laughter fill the air, and may it inspire you to create a Christmas full of Dickensian wonder.
A Dickensian Tea Party Spread
No Christmas party would be complete without a spread of sumptuous treats! Dive into the world of the Victorian Era and set your table with traditional Christmas treats like steaming wassail, warm fruity goods, and sugar-dusted cakes. Try some of these delicacies such as:
- Christmas Fruit Cake
- Plum Pudding
- Figgy Pudding
- Yule Log Cake
- Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Orange Cranberry Bread
- Mince Pies
- Twelfth Night Cake
- Candied Oranges
- Cranberry Popcorn
To make the party extra festive, try one or all of these scrumptious Christmas “puddings” and cakes!
Add a Christmas Poem to Dickensian Tea Time
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
I care not for Spring; on his fickle wing
Let the blossoms and buds be borne:
He woos them amain with his treacherous rain,
And he scatters them ere the morn.
An inconstant elf, he knows not himself,
Or his own changing mind an hour,
He’ll smile in your face, and, with wry grimace,
He’ll wither your youngest flower.
Let the summer sun to his bright home run,
He shall never be sought by me;
When he’s dimmed by a cloud I can laugh aloud,
And care not how sulky he be;
For his darling child is the madness wild
That sports in fierce fever’s train;
And when love is too strong, it don’t last long,
As many have found to their pain.
A mild harvest night, by the tranquil light
Of the modest and gentle moon,
Has a far sweeter sheen for me, I ween,
Than the broad and unblushing noon,
But every leaf awakens my grief,
As it lieth beneath the tree;
So let Autumn air be never so fair,
It by no means agrees with me.
But my song I troll out, for Christmas stout,
The hearty, the true, and the bold;
A bumper I drain, and with might and main
Give three cheers for this Christmas old.
We’ll usher him in with a merry din
That shall gladden his joyous heart,
And we’ll keep him up while there’s bite or sup,
And in fellowship good, we’ll part.
In his fine honest pride, he scorns to hide
One jot of his hard-weather scars;
They’re no disgrace, for there’s much the same trace
On the cheeks of our bravest tars.
Then again I sing ’till the roof doth ring,
And it echoes from wall to wall—
To the stout old wight, fair welcome to-night,
As the King of the Seasons all!
The Ultimate Dickensian Tea Time & Party Guide
Add even more fun to your tea time or go all out and create a Victorian Era-inspired party, book club, or even winter camp with our Dickensian Tea Time & Party Guide!
Step Into the Victorian Era with Our 40+ Page “Dickensian Tea Party Guide”!
Get ready for a holiday adventure with our beautifully crafted “Dickensian Tea Time & Party Guide!” This 40+ page guide has everything you need to create a tea party filled with laughter, fun, and a little bit of madness.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Meet the Charles Dickens: Learn all about the Man Who Invented Christmas and paved the way for Christmases Past, Present, and Future
- Christmas Poems: Add a literary touch with these holiday-themed poems.
- Victorian Tea Party Menu: Serve old-fashioned holiday recipes, including the show-stopping Christmas Pudding and Yule Log cake.
- Victorian Christmas Decorating & Dress-Up Ideas: Transform your space and your guests into the world of the Victorian Era.
- Festive Music Playlist: Set the mood with Christmas tunes that invoke feelings of comfort and joy.
Plus, keep the fun going with Dickensian Activities & Games:
- Dickensian Name Generator – Charles Dickens was famous for his zany characters, and you too can become part of the Dickensian lore with our fun and easy-to-use name generator. Are you a Pleasant Jellyby or a Watt Pumblechook? Find out now!
- Victorian Era Scavenger Hunt – Embark on a hunt to search for Victorian Era and Christmas-themed treasures around your own home!
- Victorian Era Bingo – Victorian Era and Charles Dickens-themed activities fill this card with all sorts of fun ways to bingo!
Ready for honor Christmas in your heart? Get your guide today and let the fun begin!
Have a Christmas Paint Party!
These beautiful art lessons from the Masterpiece Society will add so much more fun and creativity to your Dickensian tea time or party!
Books to Enhance Your Dickensian Tea Time
Do you have these books in your library? Add some holiday comfort and joy with these titles!
A Christmas Carol
The Cricket on the HearthThe ChimesThe Battle of LifeThe Haunted Man and the Ghost’s BargainThe Tailor of GloucesterThe Best Christmas Pageant EverChristina’s CarolA Cup of Christmas TeaThe Candle in the WindowThe Night Before ChristmasThe Christmas DollLetters From Father ChristmasLouisa May Alcott’s Christmas TreasuryTruceThe Best of Christmas in My Heart
Dickensian-Themed Gifts for the Whole Family
Byers’ Choice Scrooge Caroler Figurine 201 from The A Christmas Carol CollectionByers’ Choice Spirit of Christmas Past Caroler Figurine #2116A from A Christmas CarolByers’ Choice Spirit Present Caroler Figurine 207 from The A Christmas Carol CollectionByers’ Choice Spirit Future Caroler Figurine 208 from The A Christmas Carol CollectionDepartment 56 Dickens A Christmas Carol Village Three Spirits Visit Accessory Figurine, SmallDepartment 56 Dickens A Christmas Carol Bob Cratchit And Tiny Tim Accessory Figurine, 2.75 Inch, MulticolorFunko Pop! Movies: Christmas Carol – Ebenezer ScroogeFunko Pop! & Buddy: Disney Holiday – The Muppet Christmas Carol, Gonzo as Charles Dickens with RizzoFunko Pop! Movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol – Miss Piggy as Mrs. CratchitFunko Pop! & Buddy: Disney Holiday – The Muppet Christmas Carol, Kermit and Robin as Bob Scratchit with Tiny TimFunko Pop! Movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol – Fozzie Bear as FozziwigLEGO Holiday Charles Dickens Tribute a Christmas Carol Exclusive 40410Tree Buddees A Christmas Carol Scrooge & Marley Counting House Sign OrnamentZMKDLL Metal Tin Sign Scrooge Christmas Carol Vintage Style Metal Sign Christmas Decor Wall Decoration Art 4×16 InchChristmas Decorations – Vintage Merry Christmas Banner – Retro Nostalgic Traditional Old Fashioned Victorian Xmas Holiday Decor for Indoor Home Office Fireplace Mantle FarmhouseI Will Honor Christmas In My Heart – Festive Inspirational Holiday Wall Art 8×10 Unframed, Christmas Carol Quote Print for Home, Farmhouse, Office, and Kitchen DecorCharles Dickens’ Christmas Carol Art – Set of Four Gallery Wall Photos (8×10) Unframed Print Poster – Makes a Great Vintage Christmas Decor and Gift Under $20Ghosts of Christmas – Board Game – 3-4 Players – 40 Minutes Play TimeChristmas Trivia | Over 3 Million Copies Sold | The Classic and Original Christmas Trivia Game | (Updated!) with 300 Cards, 1800 Questions Across 6 CategoriesUniversal Zone A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Scarf/ShawlChristmas Carol Scrooge and Marley Counting House Gift T-ShirtChristmas Carol, Scrooge Quote, Holiday festive graphic T-ShirtDisney The Muppets Christmas Muppet Group Wreath T-ShirtTOECWEGR Christmas Flowercrown Floral Wreath Red Berry Pine Cone Crown Forest Woodland Wedding Headpiece Headband (HHS1703T)MEMOVAN Floral Headpiece Hairband – Christmas Red Berry Stems Spray with Pine Cone Holly Stem – Wreath Headband for Women Girl – Holiday DecorationWinlyn 80 Pcs Rusty Metal Christmas Sleigh Bells Jingle Bells Rustic Craft Bell 1-1/2
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Olivia and I had so much fun dressing up as Dickensian characters! But it’s time to say goodbye. And always remember:
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”
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