Christmas is a time of year when many people send cards and letters to loved ones and here at Dorset History Centre we have some lovely examples of these.
In 1896 17 year old Francis Arthur Marten was serving on HMS Nelson. On the 12th of December he wrote a letter home to his father informing him that he would definitely be home for Christmas, unless anything goes wrong with the ship, which he describes as ‘a little groggy’. (D-CRI/H/2/2/1)
It sounds like the voyage home would have been interesting as on-board with them were three horses, including a pony called Flea. Francis tells his father:
‘When it is fine he is allowed to roam about the deck and we trot him round in the evenings. He charges about every now and then and lets out with his hoofs and scatters everybody right and left’.
Another person looking forward to Christmas with anticipation was Colin Wills, who sent a Christmas card to John Bankes in 1955. He writes ‘I am working in Harrods cooked meat dept. until Christmas and it is nearly killing me!!’ (D-BKL/H/S/1/211)
Whilst Francis and Colin were looking forward to a Christmas break, back in 1854 Anna Wansey wrote a letter to her future mother-in-law Mrs Colfox, reminiscing about the Christmases of her childhood:
‘Many a merry Christmas have we spent in this dear old house, assembling large numbers of children & grandchildren & old servants. We were fond of the old customs & dressed it up with holly and generally had dancing and acting.’ (D-COL/C/41)
For those unable to be together at Christmas the importance of choosing the right present to send is clear from a series of letters sent from Mrs Bliss and her son Cecil to Captain Bliss, who was away from home.
Mrs Bliss worries that the gloves and slippers that she sent will be too big and begs her husband on a number of occasions to send them back if they do not fit. Meanwhile Cecil writes, ‘I am sending you some pipes and tobacco, which I hope you will find useful. In choosing the former, mother and I took care that the pipe stem was long and the weight as light as possible.’ (D-1070/4/1)
However, not all presents reach their intended recipient. Mrs Bliss tells her husband, ‘The house looks so lovely – full of flowers and ferns which I bought for xmas presents, but which I love so I am sure I can’t part with them, but must buy others.’
We’re sure everyone can relate to buying presents that are just too nice to give away!