The Bizarre Victorian Traditions To Celebrate Christmas | Victorian Christmas Farm | All Out History

Three modern historians try and survive as Victorian farm workers in the run-up to Christmas. Discover how the Victorians created many of the traditions that we now associate with Christmas.
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[@inamorata966]

I don't know exactly what Ruth Goodman has, but I'm absolutely crazy about her. Happiness, good humor, energy, high intelligence -- she's just a delight.

[@marmadukescarlet7791]

As a lover of social history, I’m having a little crush.

[@debbylou5729]

Ruth Goodman has SO MUCH knowledge in her head. I’m pretty sure I could survive a crash in the wilderness if she was with me. Her: ‘OK….we can just weave a bunch of stuff together and coat it with this stuff I can make out of tree sap to build a dam and we will have electricity! If you have some gum we can build a plane!’

[@littlestbroccoli]

She's a treat to watch, always hyper interested and engaged, always in a good mood. The team is really great together.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Ruth is one of my all time favorite people. If I met her I feel like we would be best friends instantly.

[@mandybaybee7749]

I LOVE Ruth!!!!

[@ashupershpie]

I want to be her when I grow up. She is so unapologetically herself.

[@kayscanningacademy]

Does Ruth know how large her loyal fanbase is?? Who can tell her? She deserves to know.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Ruth is SO pissed about her garden being turned into lawn!

[@joytotheworld6804]

Poor Ruth, she was upset about her garden gone and then was given a rock garden that,' needs a bit of work," I mean they really got the pound of flesh from her

[@Selena-gz9ts]

My German-born and raised Great Grandfather was a wooden toy maker and a glass blower. In WWII everything he made was lost. Boy do I wish I had some of what he made in my possession

[@Beachbum471]

Still years later. I keep watching and loving it😮. I wish this team would do more 😊

[@SounderMom31]

Same here. The year went by way too fast. I binge watched the whole year in a day.

[@Beachbum471]

@@SounderMom31 Me too, they are so informative. I have learned so much!

[@gic8849]

@@SounderMom31 they’ve done Tudor, Edwardian and WW2 as well!

[@stgildas1]

Me too.❤ Stack house Acton. What a Man. What a name ! R.I.P.xx🏆

[@carlagoncalves7168]

Indeed!!!!!

[@sunkissed1974]

I am obsessed with these episodes. I am ashamed to say that I could binge watch these every day lol

[@TheSuzberry]

Proud, not ashamed.

[@thunderousapplause]

Farming was so hard as a kid in the 70s, I can’t imagine the work involved in getting through the 1800s. A couple of my uncles lost parts of fingers sticking their hands in the hay rakes without turning off PTO first. You’re always in a hurry, always outrunning the rain or snow. we lost 100s of acres of corn and hay because of rain. there were no days off.

[@pattidrier9593]

And yet there are city people with no background that think they can move to a plot of ground, and homestead and have a peaceful relaxing life with nature.

[@mattiemathis9549]

My dad was a farm hand and worked his way up to the combine driver. Me and him had our differences, but I never forgot how he would put in 12 hours in the fields and come home and get on his knees to box with me. It was a hard life, but it made you strong (or it killed you).

[@clockendfarm]

Much as I love this series there is one genuine mistake I spotted in episode 1. You don't back a horse into cart shafts lying on the ground. ince they are wearing blinkers and can't see, there is too much danger of them treading on a shaft and either breaking it or hurting themselves, or both. What should happen is one person stands the horse still and the other lifts the shafts up, brings the cart forward, and lowers the shafts on each side of the horse. In this instance you might need 3 people with one on ech shaft, but it's much safer that way! I did carriage driving for years and with a vehicle like they're using, this would be the standard practice.

[@susanmercurio1060]

I wondered about that

[@Tsiri09]

I agree. And the sound of the breaking wood could cause a set of problems all their own....

[@trtrvdcv]

Jolley good then

[@ingridakerblom7577]

Can't be an expert in everything

[@pattidrier9593]

I agree. You do not back a horse into the shafts of a cart. Plus the way they put on the bridle, poor horse made me wince.

[@voyager2saturn525]

I m addicted to these series

[@palomaelizabethconstidopol6598]

Me too! I randomly came across it and I enjoy watching the series.

[@jeneckhardt5482]

Tell me about it!

[@kennymonty8206]

​​​@@jeneckhardt5482 Experimental Archeology is putting all of the stuff we've learned from dusty old tomes and digging up the past, and actually trying to put it to work. It's at least as revealing as the "hard" academic archeology. In my opinion a lot more. There's nothing like hard work for blunting the edge of some stuffy ideologues' theories.

[@tracyannjohnson5724]

Me toooooo!!!!

[@Kathleenwasrobinson6]

So am I love it

[@rickwightman2366]

Imagine waving goodbye to your family as you travel back in time to run a Victorian farm, or build a medieval castle.😊

[@teresawilson7531]

I love the way Alex and Peter banter back and forth.

[@jamy8575]

yes

[@TinFoilCat90]

My grandmother (Wv, USA) told me stories of getting oranges for Christmas. They were poor farmers and it was a special treat for them. This would have been in the 1940-50s.

[@AL-fl4jk]

Still do as a tradition for this reason

[@Backdaft94]

My Grandmother still gives all my aunts and uncle oranges in their stockings. All of my grandparents gre up as farmers

[@Frookie11]

We weren’t rich but in our Christmas stockings we had tangerines, walnuts, Brazil nuts, an orange and some hard candy! No pretty stockings but a clean sock from our Dad that we laid across the back of a chair in the living room.

[@cassandraunheeded]

A rock star who had been through the WWII rationing and was on a plane to Germany, said to the airline steward,”It’s because of you lot that I was 12 before I ate a banana!”

[@kimberlyray3014]

Yes oranges and apples in a sock

[@mathdesm9306]

That ram peddler was quite the character, I want a series about sheep rearing. "I was attracted to the first one because of the hind quarters" "I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT" ☠

[@justanotherperson9529]

I absolutely love Ruth,she has very very positive energy, also that victorian middle age look,and vibe ..she is perfect for that role.

[@mollynagel7646]

I refuse to believe that Tom and Peter were not absolutely cutting up with "coke" jokes in between shots.

[@hollyrose1505]

This is wonderful. So glad to see the crew back. I’d love to see them more often. Don’t know how old this is, but I hope there’s more to come. Loved seeing the hay harvested!

[@jaimedavis439]

Wedding tackle! I LOVE that! Nobody does slang quite like the British

[@trevahamby2934]

I have watched all of these series that I could find over and over and I never get tired of them. Wish there were more. Thanks for sharing them.

[@stacyfranceschi585]

One of the greatest series, loved it! Please come back., especially the x- mas ones.

[@cajuncraftysue]

I love all these series!! Ruth is so full of useful knowledge!! I love everything she's in!! I would be surprised if Alex and Peter didn't hurt their backs or require hernia surgery after lifting & moving all that heavy machinery!!!

[@debbylou5729]

I love history and this series. It must’ve driven the people actually doing the work crazy to have that old guy ,who has probably never plowed a field, telling them what to do

[@Tsiri09]

He worked on the farm as a boy. Don't let his "station" fool you- by the time he was born, the family had their hands to it.

[@shieldmaiden8128]

I find Mr. Acton adorable. Sweet old man and you can tell he absolutely loves being involved in these series, he practically glows. Rest in Peace, Mr. Acton.

[@maryearly3259]

When they ask for help from someone in this series they know what the hell they are doing. All of the guys that have helped them in those feilds have done this kind of stuff all their lives. Watch the series numb nut before commenting like that! We love this series and will put your butt to the ground quick as a wink.

[@davidcarr7436]

"Piece of kit." A truly British expression, used to describe anything from a set of sewing needles, to the battleship HMS Hood.

[@pitt2012]

Like Abigail said, these videos are amazing! Can we maybe get a "playlist" with all the videos? I like watching them for an hour but then falling asleep to amazing non-Canadian voices. :)

[@thisbeem2714]

Agreed. A playlist would be nice.

[@kathymullins6358]

@@thisbeem2714 I'm putting one together now will tag you as I love these as well ,

[@Backdaft94]

Yes please!!!!

[@austinmiller1427]

I love all of this. The clay brick making looks fun. The brick "clamp" is very pleasing.

[@victoriavonheals2384]

It amazes me to see how vital horses were back then. I mean I've always known that, but actually seeing it really puts it into perspective. I absolutely love this series. I could watch them all day and never get bored. My only complaints? Not long enough and too few.🤣🤣 PS: with all the innovations Victorians were known for, I'm surprised they didn't come up with some kind of tent protection held a few feet above ground, a design similar to an umbrella that would allow the rain to roll off, safely protecting the hay.

[@debbylou5729]

They didn’t have materials that wouldn’t get soaked. If they had, they would’ve made coats out of it

[@victoriavonheals2384]

@debbylou5729 True. It probably wouldn't have been cheap either.

[@user-yn4xc8kt3i]

​@@debbylou5729nonsense! Oilcloth had been around since at least the 1600s and likely before that. Oilcloth is Canvas or other tight woven fibers impregnated with wax/oil, it worked beautifully well and was waterproof. It was a widely known and used material.

[@shirleymurdoch1574]

But, remember they mentioned that it was 1,200 acres. That is a lot of oil cloth umbrellas!!

[@TheBizzle1984]

The garden still makes me sad; all her hard work!!!

[@carols6525]

These videos are all so wonderful, it makes me sad when I get to the end! Hopefully we'll be able to see them for years to come!

[@larissahostetter2335]

I love watching how people lived way back when and how they did things. Especially now with all our technology, seeing how people did things without it, its interesting. I saw Ruth in a few others i have watched and I love her!! She makes it that much more enjoyable. She seems like such a ray a sunlight!

[@sejabop]

How am I just seeing this now? I'm beyond obsessed! I wish they would make more!!!!

[@kimberlyray3014]

Ikr✌🏽💛

[@PleaseNThankYou]

The Victorian Era looks like it probably invented the ambulance service. That farm equipment probably inspired it.

[@joannb6330]

Peter, your definitely a hard worker! Merry Christmas to all.

[@expertonmyself]

42:20 explains why "8 maids a milking" is in the twelve days of christmas. i always wondered why that line it was in the song.

[@abigaillabar8877]

I've been binging this series and woman! You are such an incredible speaker, so funny and witty!!! Please make a podcast 🙏

[@laurawalker4756]

I watch these series every.... single....day I've seen every series.... multiple times... I really wish they had more ❤️ I've learned so much from them....❤️

[@katiefullmer9180]

I've been looking for a way to find those without using a prime account. I'm so happy!!!! Thank you for posting this!!!!! I'm very grateful!!!

[@jennifersimonsen9765]

I love how Peter just works like an ox, and Ruth is in second. Then you have Alex….He chopped down the tree I guess…😂

[@AL-fl4jk]

That woodworker was so annoyed with him 😂

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

Alex did more than just chop a tree. So why did you say that? I would want to try all the jobs. Maybe Peter wanted to experience those jobs. Someone commented on another one of these videos that it'd be nice if the public could try this experience. Like a theme park or hotel.

[@jennifersimonsen9765]

@@user-gu9yq5sj7c ok tough guy

[@jamy8575]

There has to be an overseer/ Admin../white collar/ task master He wielded that axe like a novice for sure.

[@sanhitadatta9447]

Thia was thoroughly enjoyable. Helped me get through some very boring task. Learned a lot as well.

[@teresawilson7531]

This was a really good episode. Thank you.

[@taiikomochiyuurichin1459]

It has to be remembered that some aspects of Dicken's Xmas celebrations were the topic years earlier by Washington Irving years earlier.

[@lucadelmare5542]

i'm in love with this... thanks from south Italy.

[@AirborneAirAssault6565]

I finished the 17th History of Britain and starting another. I have no doubt I'll learn more from these wonderful Documentaries!

[@jmsjackie]

I like to watch this each year. Would love to see more by this team.

[@spiritonfire3672]

Thank you for these, I enjoy them.

[@SiCkNeSs-ux5lb]

Totally & completely awesome!

[@carlsenlifeafter60carlsen11]

I love this series. That fresh cut hay must smell amazing.😊🇺🇸

[@paulcarmichael596]

I also love these series gives u a feel ing f bring there during those time periods

[@vickiewoolford5682]

Watch them all the time! Love them❤

[@timtrainor9720]

The hay harvest song brought me to tears

[@gracie3174]

Great channel , 👏👏👏👏👏

[@tizeye4760]

The horse; one of God's most amazing creations.

[@lailasile182]

Thank You! 🌟

[@DianeBianchi_MNStormSpotter]

Very enjoyable! Greetings from across the pond.

[@gracie3174]

Greetings from the states🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@teresawilson7531]

I really love watching this series

[@teresawilson7531]

So much to learn and appreciate

[@cattycorner8]

Love learning about where so many of our English phrases originated

[@sweetcherry7759]

2:12:32 old world turducken! 😆

[@miric6224]

Sean. i can’t believe you’re working on the outside of the cabin. Are the windows and door not going to warp? Just wondering…. Have a good Christmas. Glad the snow still crunches under foot.

[@jaimedavis439]

41:46....Ruth out did herself with that one

[@KellieEverts--conductsNightTra]

This was entertaining & informative. Love the way she explains women's issues, which the men - all kinds of men in all cultures - leave out. How they made the Kotex of that era! I've often wondered re things like that & thank God Ruth is in these series. My cousin in Lithuania told me about the Communists also, leaving women's needs out of the supply market. No Kotex, no tampax & no condoms! And brassieres were revolting, just shapeless bags. Men only think about MEN. They are supposed to be journalists. A journalist looks at the story from all angles, not just his own personal view.

[@dottiebaker6623]

Well said!

[@jamy8575]

You do not understand the "journalists" job; AS MOST of us do not either. . 100% narrative sales. What you believe it to be is what they want you to think it is... A small dose of Mark Twain will set any of us straight as to what it truly is/has ALWAYS been. We, if desiring truth must learn the art of "reading between the lines"

[@PleaseNThankYou]

I adore competence. All of you are so very competent and capable.

[@jamy8575]

I pick & choose my friends & acquaintances' on "competence" ALONE Wife too.

[@PleaseNThankYou]

@jamy8575 it must have been a tactic you learned early in life. For me, it seems to be a fleeting thing. I appreciate it when I see it or am in its presence.

[@b.visconti1765]

Lordy! Sooo much work! Love to see how it was done But sooo glad i was born when life was so much easier to live😂

[@thisbeem2714]

Quite like this!

[@joettabraddock9480]

I love the dailies. You are so much more down to earth than I previously believed. I love getting to know the "clan". I am gaining such a better understanding how Laland is really a community serving each other and visitors. I love how each person has his or her place in the community--even the laundress. I am a talented sewist, and would love to be able to practice my art in such a beautiful place. You are all so blessed!

[@jamy8575]

Fella is new to swinging an Axe

[@sablewright8053]

WOW ❤😊 LOVE THIS

[@jazi-san4563]

much love to you all

[@pattidrier9593]

I have my great grandmothers wooden bread bowl from the 1800’s. And the “new” butter churn from grandma circa early 1900’s. Our family grew just enough wheat for family use. It was stored in a special wheat bin in the granary. They took a bushel of grain to the mill in town. The mill would grind it into flour and keep part of the grain as payment for grinding.

[@marywest2896]

can't say just HOW many times I have watched these series with Ruth Peter, and Ales, and Tom, they truly bring history to life. one thing that always bothered me, even with this viewing, While Ruth and her daughter were making butter, Ruth spoke of how clean milk maids were, and Ruth's fingernails were horrible, and through the whole series they were either stained or dirty.

[@dottiebaker6623]

As a person who lives in the country, I can say that if you work in the garden or with animals all day, it's very hard to keep your nails clean. I scrub mine at the end of the day, and they're clean before I cook dinner. I'm sure Ruth doesn't have time between each scene to scrub her nails, and I'm sure she didn't spend all her time in the dairy. Also, the Victorians didn't know nearly what we do about about germs and bacteria. Dirty nails, especially for workers, were probably common.

[@user-yn4xc8kt3i]

I do a lot of different kinds of outside work, arts and crafts, and sometimes my nails get horribly stained and there's really nothing to be done about it. They look dirty as anything but they are spotless, just stained.

[@cherylmaden5989]

Yup there's some things even lava soap( brand not type) cannot get out

[@judithmoore8692]

Hard to believe anyone doing all that physical/ hand work could have such long nails!! Grossed me out when she was kneading bread. 🤮

[@paulacorreal1675]

Remember that bread was ultimately baked and any germs would have been killed…

[@susanmercurio1060]

In the United States, we usually start the haymaking along one side of the hayfield, not down the middle.

[@sgrannie9938]

The Actons certainly didn’t suffer for having these series filmed on their estate.

[@AJones-mb7zg]

During the Victorian era in the USA, Munsingwear (longjohns) were worn for warmth by rural people. They were knit and in one piece with a "back flap". I am wondering if saltwater was used for gargling for a sore throat or was Mint grown to use for tea to fight congestion, etc. from colds? Also, I understood the life expectancy in London was short not only because of the Coal smoke, but also because arsenic was used to make green wallpaper (which was the rage) and green dye for fabric. Keeping the windows shut against the coal smoke made the stale air inside the homes thick with arsenic from the wallpaper! The people were poisoning themselves. Is this accurate?

[@Can-rd2ft]

Yes it’s true, I just watched the episode on it. Plus they used boric acid in milk when it turned sour to make it not taste sour. And used aluminum /plaster of Paris in bread to make it look white.

[@joydavis4087]

That is so fun. ❤❤❤

[@Skye_Writer]

The blacksmith "instructor" has no patience and keeps snapping at the boys, but otherwise this was a sweet episode.

[@marymagnuson7275]

Our ancestors made quilts with a paper pattern and left the paper on the inside with some batting as a bit extra wormth.

[@cristinatobosaru1495]

Mulțumesc mult sănătate multă numai bine vă doresc felicitări

[@gailhandschuh1138]

Alex seems to be all talk and light on the actual work. Not really an asset to the team.

[@gailhandschuh1138]

Ruth andPeter and Ruth are the most valuable members of the team. 😊

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

@@gailhandschuh1138 Alex still worked. Maybe Peter wanted to experience those jobs. People shouldn't compare people so much. I mean would you want the same to happen to you? For me, I would want to try all the jobs. Someone commented on another one of these videos that it'd be nice if the public could try this experience.

[@ingridakerblom7577]

There is something with brittish productions 😂 Like the casual zoom in on the sheep balls.. 😂

[@mollyfairchild8761]

How was the copper made fit for heating water for cooking , face washing etc?

[@taiikomochiyuurichin1459]

To cut the fruits and peel easier put two knives together and as you pounce it don they cut into the size between the blades. Going over the ingredients just decreases the size all the more. I use that technique to esily cut ingredients without need of any additional cooking equipent.

[@zoetevka4653]

Love ♥️♥️♥️

[@vgil1278]

Why would he seed over her garden? People have to eat! The new place looks a lot shadier and all the improvement she did to the native soil! Only someone completely clueless would be so destructive.

[@teresawilson7531]

Yeah, easy on Clumpers teeth with that bit

[@Grannievore]

Ruth is living my dream job.

[@maraujo600]

I think if you had scrunched up the paper a couple of times, then smoothed it out, repeat several times. The paper would have softened a bit and form to the bidy better and would be less noisy

[@clairecouplandmusic]

Clumper!

[@olddirtybasterd-ex2vb]

ruths daughters cameo 40:20

[@Isabellabbyy332]

I wish i could do this❤

[@johnclarke6647]

I would have primed it with Rustoleum spray grey primer before I painted it, just to keep it from rusting, later, and to kill any minute rust that was still on the metal. Then, it would get two coats of paint.

[@petergitau1805]

Very nice tho the advertisements are too many ..imagin after every one minute!!!

[@holymelon8011]

I'm glad they didn't get in trouble xp

[@sweetcherry7759]

41:15 *Science!*

[@dianelipson5420]

Question, if anyone knows? Why I didn’t the hay wagon have sides?

[@Lili-xq9sn]

❤ my bookmark 48:00

[@taiikomochiyuurichin1459]

The moister in the clay steams it and there has to be nothing better tasting as the sugars concentrate as the moister decreases in the potato with the skin!

[@Kathleenwasrobinson6]

Me too

[@Kathleenwasrobinson6]

Love it can't get enough

[@margaritacanincia1906]

What arrogance! You can do the gardening in this awful space. She worked so hard on the kitchen garden.

[@fumomofumosarum5893]

a victorian christmas without a single child... sure...

[@savantianprince]

Clog dancing is like Irish dance

[@ashleydemoss4609]

I want to do this

[@mollyfairchild8761]

How, when were cottage , farm improvements made & PAID FOR?

[@sgrannie9938]

My family farmed without mechanized equipment until the middle of the 1930s. It was almost all women’s work as the men were out finding income wherever they could. Five women and one horse. Hard graft.