On the second day of Craft-mas, I made this for my tree… orange pomanders!
The Twelve Days of Craft-mas: Day One
The Twelve Days of Craft-mas: Introduction
Each year, at the end of November, the Dalnavert Volunteers gather in the parlour and decorate the Christmas tree. This year I had the honour of witnessing this event. Music fills the air as the volunteers carefully place the ornaments on the tree. Of these ornaments, some are antique, some have been donated by past volunteers, and some are attempts at recreating the handmade ornaments of the Victorian era. I found this last type to be the most interesting as it led me to wonder, what did people hang on their trees before the commercialization of Christmas decorations?
A Christmas Comparison
When we think of Christmas, where does your mind go? Sitting by the fire, curled up with hot chocolate and a book? Or perhaps, decorating the Christmas tree, maybe even watching Christmas movies with your family; all of these are modern traditions but how did people in the nineteenth century celebrate Christmas? In this post, I will be discussing the differences between American vs British Christmas in the Nineteenth-Century.
Breast Cancer in the mid-19th Century
Before the end of breast cancer awareness month, we’d like to highlight how cancer affected people in the Victorian era and compare our modern understanding of the illness. In our educational programming and lectures, we explore the daily lives and struggles of the average person in Victorian times, often with a focus on how strict patriarchal society affected every aspect of women’s lives. In this case, it led to a severely warped medical understanding of women’s bodies.
Winnipeg through a Stained-Glass Window
Have you ever wondered what our city was like during the time that the Macdonald family lived at Dalnavert? The answer is hidden in plain sight: within the walls of buildings that have stood the test of time. Some have continued to serve their original purpose since day one, while others have just narrowly avoided demolition.
Dashing Dads of Dalnavert: a Victorian/Edwardian Father's Day Gift Guide
Nowadays, shopping for father’s day gifts can be quite a hassle. With hundreds of thousands of options, it’s difficult to narrow things down to a brief list. That’s why we here at Dalnavert recommend shopping at the turn of the century: when options were fewer, prices were lower, and fathers were less picky. Our father’s day gift guide will give you the inspiration you need to get your dad a gift that will make him say “Heaven’s to Betsy!”
Autism Acceptance Day: Accessibility at Dalnavert
As part of ongoing accessibility work at Dalnavert, we have developed a number of resources to make our museum relevant and accessible to everyone. For Autism Acceptance Day, we are excited to highlight some new resources that autistic guests and other neurodivergent visitors may find helpful when visiting our museum.