New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09
QUEEN VICTORIA's HOLIDAYS
From The Queen,

| But during the reigns of orr Queens immeda,.
predecessors the obseryances OF Christmas dezen.
Grated but for some of the interest it now sssnna
we have to thank the Prince Consor who held II :;
| q most sacred time. Peculiarly happy in his domes
| tic te such anniversaries were to him the means
of drawing still closer the ties OF family affections
| hesaw his happy boyhood reflected in the merrv
faces of his children. Writing to his grandmother
| the Dowager Duchess OF Coburg. with whom hs
"These pleasant festivities always bring me doubv
| i'm contact in spirit with your loved ones IN tia
homeland, where you were ever 80 dear to me-" He
| gifts continued now in any OF the royal homes in
| which Her Majesty ordans to spend Christmas II
is still her custom to give presents to all her attend.
| ants both ladies' and gentlemen, and also to thu
dressers and maid servants. There is perbans
throughout Great Britain no other home WHERE
more kindly surprises are planned and more gentls
thought for others evlnced, thai III the hiQbest
household in the land.
The first Christmas of their married life iust alto,
the birth 81 b tae a. %so %as spent BY the
read in " The Life of the Prince Consort" how
Christmas trees were set up In The Queen and
Princes rooms, custom which vas continued in
future years. when they were ase set up another
room for the young princes and princesses and in
the Oak Room for the household The ladies and
gentlemen III waiting were summoned to the CORR
dor on Christmas Eve. and the Queen and Prlnce
accompanied by the royal family pointed out the
presents intended for each, inviting them afterward
to 90 through the different rooms to what they
themselves had mutually given and received. Pres.
ent-giving has always been special delight TO our
royal family. The interchange of gifts on birth.
days. New Years and other anniversaries extends to
very large number Of relatives.
Since her bereavement, Her Majesty has gener.
ly spent Christmas at Osborne. These seasons
exceptionally passed at Windsor have been sig.
nallzed by sorrow and anxiety, as when the Prince
of Wales dangerously Ill in 1871. and the Pm.
cess Alice died in 1873 But the royal borough 10
not forgotten in her absence. On New-Year's Day
some goo is distributed in gifts to 200 poor Of
the parishes of Windsor and Clever, in the form Of
Goals. meat and bread, the amount varying accord
ing to the Of the family OF the recipients, who
are recommended by the Dean and Vicar Of Windsor
and he Rector of Holy Trinity. The distr button
by the Lord High AlmOner. the Dean of Windsor,
in their presence and that OF the Clerk Of the
Kitchen takes place &c o'clock in the morning in
the Riding School of Windsor Castle, the Queens
PurveyOr having been busily employed preparing
the gifts some hours before 1t is pretty sight,
which few privileged visitors are permitted to see
On the tan flooring, all along the centre OF tho
school, are a row OF white covered tables with
joints Of beef varying from pounds to pounds
enllvened by sprigs Of holly. The recipients. young
and old women and men, and some young children,
enter by ticket. carrying neatly folded cloths and
bags and pass ont by the east entrance, underneath
the room whence the Prince records he aud the rest
OF the Royal family were wont to witness the cere-
mouy. In the Queens absence, she is represented
by court officials. Last year S14 Joints were given
away weighing 1921 pounds. Beside this, ,2o3
cwt of GOALS in portions of cwt. and ewt are de-
lIvered at the homes of the poor; and Her Majesty
makes liberal contributions TO the Royal Clothing
Club. She also sends presents OF game TO the
Windsor lnfiriRary, University College. and other
hospitals and great deal of old linen from the PAL
aces, which. however, does not always arrive at
Christmas time.
At Osborne on Christmas Eve, Her Mtesty dis
tributes gifts TO all the children on the Osborne
estates for whom Christmas tree is prepared IN the
servants hall, with presents oil books. toys etc.
Accompanied by the various members Of her family,
and the ladies and gentlemen Of the household, she
hands these to each child, and. after the dstrIbu
ton, they have all plum-pudding. On the evening
of New Years Day she presents gifts to the upper
servants of the household In the stewards rooIn
where is a Christmas tree. The Queen and the
Princes and Processes with her attend Divine
service at Whippingham Church on Christmas
morning Neither pum-pudding nor plum-porridge
il omitted from the royal menu. and the baron Ok
beef is eat from shorhorn OK. bred on the Prince
Consorts farm at Frogmore. The servants indoors
all dine together and the outdoor servants have an
allowan Of few shllings EACH according to their
status.
Christmas Is kept at Sandrngham by the Prince
and Princess of Wales IN thoroughly national style
On Christmas Eve beef is distributed To he labor
ers and workmen on the royal estate-prIme JOINTS
in proportion To the size of the family, kOnlng
two pounds to each adult. pound for each child
II is gwen IN the ROYAL News, in the presence Of the
Prince and Princess, their children. and their
household. On Christmas morning the chcrlsteIs
assemble on the terrace 10 sing carols AMI anthems.
The school children receive new clothing and each
Christmas card There are generally large shooting
parties and plenty of fun prevails.