Decorating Dolls Houses For a Victorian Halloween

With the first hints of fall in the air, it's time to think about the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween. For those of us with a Victorian dollhouse, decorating for Halloween is a great chance to add period decorations. Did you know that Halloween as we know it was first celebrated during the Victorian period?

During the Victorian era, nighttime was quiet, dark, and a little scary, even without the prospect of ghosts. Candles and gas-lit lanterns cast eerie shadows, without modern technology to distract from the quiet night.

During the late nineteenth century, the focus of Halloween shifted from ghosts and witchcraft to a celebration of the harvest. Dancing, singing, and trick-or-treating gave Halloween a livelier feeling. Stage a festive party with pumpkins, hay bales, and of course, tiny dolls in costumes. Or consider making it a more formal celebration, as many Halloween parties were in the Victorian era, with a dinner party. Set the table with silver and china. A meal of roasted meats and pies brings this scene to life.

This season is also a great chance to incorporate Gothic-inspired elements. Decorating dolls houses with candleabras, aged stone, and dark colors helps to bring in the mystical Gothic era. Finally, don't forget the Jack-O-Lantern! This traditional carved pumpkin has been a symbol of Halloween for centuries.

How will you be decorating your Victorian dollhouse for Halloween?