The day is fast approaching and at Dukes Hotel we’ve been getting in the Christmas spirit and decorating our lovely Georgian guest house from top to bottom.
Now that the decorations are up getting into the spirit is easy. Even more so when you’ve got a glass of mulled wine in one hand, a mince pie in the other. Imagine you’re putting your feet up in front of a roaring wood fire in the beautiful period surroundings of our luxury bed and breakfast hotel. Especially at this time of year our Grade One listed Georgian guest house is alive with atmosphere and, whilst surrounded by such festive inspiration, it got us thinking about a few Regency Christmas traditions.
A hugely important part of Christmas is the decorations. One form of decoration that was very popular in the Georgian era that we still love now is the hanging up of holly and sprigs of evergreen. Christmas trees weren’t so common, in the Georgian and Regency era; they were more popular in Germany; Queen Victoria made them a tradition here in the later half of the 19th century. Wreaths would have been made though and added to with ribbons and aromatic spices. Christmas never smelt so good!
Christmas never tasted so good either. A turkey or a goose, or if you were a member of the landed gentry then maybe also venison, was the meat of choice for the main course of Christmas dinner. To follow this up, for desert King George I was given plum pudding (an early variant of Christmas Pudding) during his first Christmas dinner, thus establishing it as a festive favourite.
Spending time with family and friends is what Christmas is all about and balls, parties and family reunions were the main focus of the season. Fun family games such as pick-up-sticks and charades were very popular. Unfortunately while Christmas holidays today may only mean a few days off for many people, in the Georgian era the festive season ran from December 6th - St Nicholas Day through until January 6th - Twelfth Night.
We are passionate about preserving history and love getting lost in the Regency atmosphere here at Dukes Hotel, so what better way than to reintroduce the festive season? At the end of a long year, taking a short break in Bath over the Christmas period is a great way to relax and celebrate. Whether you’re looking for a luxury bed and breakfast escape, a romantic getaway, a city break, or a longer stay in Bath to give you time to really unwind and get into the Christmas spirit, Dukes Hotel is here to help. We’re in the heart of Bath, just a few minutes walk from the city centre, but with stunning views of Prior Park and Claverton Down visible from our windows to one side and the impressive Great Pulteney Street to the other.
Christmas is the time to treat yourself. We’re here, Regency guest house halls decked, ready with the mulled wine and Christmas cheer to help you do just that!
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