Online Talk: Celebrating a Victorian Christmas – Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, the Brontës

Step into the festive season to discover how some of your favourite Victorian writers celebrated Christmas, from Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘jollification for the servants’ to that original master of yuletide writing, Charles Dickens.

We take a look at Boxing Day magic tricks with Dickens as he turns ‘ladies’ handkerchiefs into candies’ and find that even Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson enjoyed a live author’s reading of the classic A Christmas Carol. How did the Brontë sisters mark the season in isolated Haworth? What was the spiced cake that Charlotte Brontë took to her husband’s congregation? And can you guess which classic author most enjoyed a trip to the panto?

Sit back with a mince pie as we bring some festive cheer to you from Elizabeth Gaskell’s House.

‘‘Absolutely beautiful reading which really held my attention. I really enjoy these talks.’ Visitor to previous online event.

3 December 2025, 7-8pm

£6

Book now https://elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/events/celebrate-victorian-christmas/

You may also like the following events from Elizabeth Gaskell's House:

• This Wednesday, 3rd December, 11:00 am, M13 Residents go free in Manchester
• This Wednesday, 3rd December, 11:00 am, A Victorian Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell's House in Manchester
• Happening on, 21st January, 07:00 pm, Online Talk: Elizabeth Gaskell’s Short Stories – An Introduction in Manchester

Also check out other Arts events in Manchester, Literary Art events in Manchester.