2pm Wednesday 17 December

A talk by Professor Mark Connelly on the development of the English Christmas, 1820-1930.

During the nineteenth century the nature of the Christmas we know today emerged. Not so much invented by the Victorians, as rediscovered, Christmas became a focal point in the year for a society dealing with the effects of industrialisation, urbanisation and the development of mass consumerism. From Dickens’s seminal A Christmas Carol, the collection and distribution of folk carols, through to the emergence of the shop window display as an art form in its own right, Christmas is legacy the Victorians have handed down to us and it continues to play a crucial role in our lives.

Mark Connelly is Emeritus Professor of Modern British History at the University of Kent who specialises in the way Britain and the Commonwealth commemorate the two world wars and the history of popular culture in Britain. His publications include Christmas: A Social History and Postcards from the Western Front: pilgrims, veterans and tourists after the Great War. In 2024 he founded Connelly Contours leading London history walks and bespoke guided tours of the battlefields in France and Belgium. 

Tickets are £5 (includes a mulled wine) and booking is essential. Email or visit Sevenoaks Library help desk.