Victorian+Day

Each year, as a culminating celebration of our in-depth research on Victorian-era London and author study of Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol, the seventh grade dresses up and creates a period experience or simulation. In the past years, even more emphasis has been placed on authentic reenactment and our afternoon will center on, not just sipping tea and dancing, but the actual recreation of a busy mid 1800’s market.


 * __The Victorian Market information for STUDENTS__**

Check out period photos from The Daily Mail

As you’ve learned, the market was, in many ways, the center of Victorian life. Likewise, it will be the center of our Victorian celebration. Each seventh grade student should be involved in the market element of the afternoon in some way, but there are many possibilities from which to choose.

Please read a little bit about food and markets in the era as you begin thinking about what you may want to contribute. Another resource with woodcut images of market vendors.

Students may team up with some friends to create something, bake something or sell something. Pay close attention to the descriptions that Dickens gives us of food vendors and bakehouses in __A Christmas Carol__. Also, keep your upcoming toy project from Economics class in mind, or consider a profession typical to the era, such as: “shoe black” or “street doctor” or “boardman”. Listen carefully to the discussions in class, brainstorm, take notes, and do a little research on your own before you settle on an idea.

Also, the items at the market will be for sale. Students will be able to purchase goods and services with the “pence” and “shillings”, and perhaps even “pounds” that they earn during the month of December. Money will be granted to them by teachers for things such as: excellent work in class, benevolent behavior, etc. This money will be tallied each day and a record will be kept in the English classroom. At the start of the market, students will collect their money from one of our “banks”.

We will begin in Mellowes Hall at 1:00 P.M. and continue until 3:15 P.M. Seventh grade parent volunteers will help us set-up and clean up, but the majority of the work will be done by students. There will be musical entertainment, parlor games and dancing as well as market day activities.

As in previous years, all students are strongly encouraged to dress in period costumes for the entire day. We will spend many weeks in class researching and discussing numerous aspects of the Victorian era and this Victorian Day is an opportunity for everyone to show off what they’ve learned.

Look at photos of 1870's London from the Bishopsgate Institute and watch some video clips of Old London (1903) or read about Dickens and London's Borough Market which dates to the Victorian era.

See photos of a past celebration

This year, however, extra credit points and prizes will be awarded to the most historically correct, home-made costumes. Parents and students should keep in mind that wonderful costumes can be put together from things at home or from items purchased from second-hand stores for just a few dollars. Many students may find it very appealing to be in “fancy dress”, but by1899, 31% of London was living in extreme poverty. Another 16.2% were considered “moderately poor” by sociologists of the time and would never have owned a lavish ball gown or silk cravat. According to a study done by Danny Dorling from the University of Leeds, “Dickens's A Christmas Carol also helped open the eyes of non-fictitious Londoners to the extent of poverty in their city...” Thus it seems incorrect to finish a unit that focuses closely on the problems of the poor and an author who rallied against poverty by spending large sums of money to rent extremely extravagant costumes. Furthermore, the costume of a chimney sweep or scullery maid or pauper may be more realistic, historically correct and easier to create from ordinary household items. Finally, student involvement is paramount, and therefore, I would rather students refrain from simply going to a costume shop and renting an expensive outfit.

Some of the best costumes each year are those taken right from A Christmas Carol, including: • Scrooge in a vest, coat and hat or in his night clothes (long underwear or a long nightshirt) • Marley with his bandage around his head and chains around his waist • Bob Cratchit in threadbare clothes and a thick white wool scarf • The Ghost of Christmas Past with his white robe lined in flowers • The Ghost of Christmas Present in his green robe and holly wreath on his head • The grim "reaper-esque" Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come • Tiny Tim in knickers and a cap perhaps with his crutch
 * COSTUME IDEAS:**

Mid 1800’s Men’s Clothing could be recreated by finding any of the following items: • a frock coat (knee length dark wool coat) or sack coat or any wool coat or jacket • dark trousers or knee-length pants or knickers • a waistcoat or vest • square toed leather shoes or any leather shoes with dark socks • a necktie or cravat and perhaps a wool scarf • a top hat or derby hat or wool newsboy type hat Hair: always a side part for boys

Mid 1800’s Women’s Clothing could be recreated by finding any of the following items: • a blouse with a high neck-line and puffy sleeves (the puffier the better) • a skirt that fits snuggly at the waist but is very full at the bottom and reaches practically to the floor • any floor-length dress with a fitted waist perhaps with an apron or pinafore over the top • lots of layers of undergarments (chemises or camisoles, stockings, petticoat(s), perhaps with hoop skirts or crinolines) • square toed leather shoes or any leather shoes • some form of headgear – bonnet or hat, etc. • some sort of outerwear such as a cape, shawl, woolen scarf, etc. Cashmere wraps and shawls were first popular in the 1800’s Hair: Always a center part for girls – popular styles included: French braids, curly ponytails, ringlet curls pinned back with ribbons or barrettes

More pictures [|from another previous celebration]

Last year, many students found great costumes for under $10 at **Goodwill** and **Salvation Army** locations in Menomonee Falls and Milwaukee. Find all [|Goodwill locations] in southeastern Wisconsin here.
 * FINDING COSTUMES**

N89W16895 Appleton Ave Menomonee Falls, WI 53051-2038 (262) 253-2285 [|get directions]
 * Salvation Army Thrift Store**

Stores that rent Victorian costumes:

Kim’s Costume Ltd. 7211 W. Greenfield Ave. (414) 453-3976

Miller and Campbell Costume Service 907 S. 1 St. (just north of Allen Bradley) Milwaukee, WI (414) 671-6227


 * Possible Market Stalls / Vendors / Visitors:**



bank / counting house / money lender

bakery

penny candy stall

fruit seller

shoe black / Boot polisher

newsboy / Newspaper

toy and trinket seller

flower girls/ florists

pawn shop / Second-hand goods store / taking donations

hawkers / advertisers / sign carriers / boardmen or boardwomen

street musicians

street photographers

carolers

Tentative AGENDA for 7th grade Victorian Day 1:35 – 3:15 P.M. Students will follow the normal class schedule from 8:15 AM until 1:35 PM but will be in costume for the entire day.

1:00 P.M. Parent volunteers begin setting-up in Mellowes Hall / Food can be brought in at that time

1:35 P.M. Students collect market goods from Ms. Reimer’s room or their advisor’s room and head to Mellowes after going to the dining room, dropping off their goods at their market table, and then sit on the floor facing the risers in the Mellowes

1:45– 1:55 P.M. all students should be seated

1:55 - 2:00 P.M. -- Introduction of student emcees and then emcees go over following points: • Welcome everyone • Thank parents for making this possible, organizing, getting costumes together, helping with market goods and set-up • Run through of agenda • Remind everyone that at Victorian celebrations, all guests were on their best behavior and the same goes for us today • Give proper respect for entertainers and performers • Gentlemen bow when asking a lady to dance and women respond and curtsey • Introduction of guest speakers by emcee

2:00 – 2:10 P.M. -- presentation of Scrooge scene by 7th grade drama students

2:10 P.M. – emcee instructs students to return to market table and set up their tables

2:15 -2:45 P.M. – shopping at Victorian Market

2:45 -2:55 P.M. – move all belongings to perimeter tables / clear off tables and move them aside - set up for game of change seats

2:55 -3:00 P.M. – change seats – led by Mr. Ballentine and Mr. Jacobs – The chairs will need to be moved into two large circles in the center of the room. Students sit in the chairs – half of the class in one circle and half in the other. Once the circles are made, one chair should be removed from each circle, so that each circle has one more student than chairs. For the first round, two students can share one chair. Mr. Ballentine and Mr. Jacobs Each will start the game by explaining the rules. If they make a statement and it is true for you as well, you need to run across the circle and find a new seat. At the end of each round, one student will be left without a seat and he or she will lead the next round by going into the middle and making a statement. An example could be, “this morning I ate cereal for breakfast.” Or, “I wore a top hat to school today.”

3:00 – 3:05 – move to the MS gym and hand out dance cards to all male students

3:05 -3:15 P.M. -- dancing –Following instructions from the PE teachers there will be two-three couples’ dances for which the boys will use dance cards / if time allows, there can be a free choice dance or a ladies’ choice dance

3:15 – 3:20 P.M. – clean up – everyone helps
 * Parents who wish to view the party and take pictures may join us at 3:00 P.M. during the final dances.