Victorian Christmas traditions at the Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown

Visitors to the Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown will be immersed in a Victorian-era scene this holiday season, as the decor evokes memories of Christmases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation will offer one-hour interactive tours on December 10, 16 and 17 to showcase the traditions the house's original residents maintained during this time of year.

Caitlyn Paxson, who works for the foundation and developed the museum's holiday program, said she will lead people through the tour in costume — and cap off the tour with a treat prepared using a historic recipe and the sounds of Christmas carols played live on a harp.

“Working in a historic home makes Christmas even more exciting,” she said. “I'm always decorating and baking cookies and doing all these things that kind of focus on the Victorian Christmas long before the actual holiday, so I find it definitely gets me in the Christmas spirit.”

Some holiday traditions that bring joy to Christmas celebrators were shaped by traditions dating back to the Victorian era, Paxson noted.

As an interpreter and programmer at the museum, she tries to create experiences that help people understand the connection between the past and the present, she said.

“We tend to think of [the past] as far, far away from us, but actually it's much closer than we like to think,” she said. “I just always hope that this connection helps people give everyone a more holistic view of the world.”

For more information and online ticket sales, visit the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation website.