The 1890s newspaper reports of Christmas were very different to those of the other decades from the 1850s. Recipes and articles about decorating the home, hint to a greater female readership than other times. Finally, the arguments about English traditions disappeared as Australians formed their own Christmas traditions.
The editor of the Portland Guardian, welcomed Christmas 1890 as if to say “Here we go again”.
The Portland Guardian,. (1890, December 24). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 2 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63631009
The editor continues with a reference to the 1842 editor of the same newspaper and the Christmas day activity of quoits.
The Portland Guardian,. (1890, December 24). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 2 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63631009
Shop windows were once again dressed up by their owners, but only one grocer maintained the tradition of displaying dried fruits and spices.
The Portland Guardian,. (1890, December 24). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 2 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63631009
The following is the first article I have seen on Christmas decorations in the home. It offers tips on Christmas trees and ideas on making decorations.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. (1894, December 28). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 12 Edition: EVENING, Supplement: CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65397988
Christmas recipes became popular in the 1890s. The following for Santa Claus Baskets is from the Portland Guardian of 25 December 1895. Recipes for Whipped Snow and Plum Pudding were also included.
CHRISTMAS RECIPES. (1895, December 25). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), p. 9 Edition: EVENING, Supplement: CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT PORTLAND GUARDIAN.. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63633406
MELBURNE CHRISTMAS EVE MARKET 1892. Image courtesy of the State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/254978
The 1890s saw the traditional beef finally lose favour on the Christmas menu. This article “What People Eat at Christmas” from The Argus, gives a real insight into the Christmas fare of the time. I have not included the entire article, which is worth reading in full. Times were changing.
WEAT PEOPLE EAT AT CHRISTMAS. (1897, December 25). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1956), p. 8. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9784663
Melbourne 1899. CHRISTMAS MARKETING. (1899, December 16). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 – 1946), p. 29. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138612102
To conclude this 19th-century overview of Christmas in Victoria, I must include the following article for anyone wondering if the 1899 Christmas was the last of the century. It comes a little further afield than Victoria as it appeared in the West Australian Sunday Times on 31 December 1899.
Chronology Up to Date. (1899, December 31). West Australian Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1897 – 1902), p. 8. Retrieved December 24, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38505997
Western District Families 
great post, thank you for the pleasure.
“decorate with sweets, paper dolls and other ornaments that will readily suggest themselves” – how lovely to have pushy, talking stuff, and as for flinging MICA over a tree to make it sparkle, well ask for some of that at Bunnings and see the look you get.
Happy Holidays.
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Things were certainly a lot simpler then. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.
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