Be generous like the Victorians this Christmas- UEA expert
It comes as new research shows that the number of donations to good causes has consistently fallen since 2019
Last updated 19th Dec 2025
A local academic is urging us to take a leaf out of the Victorian's book and be more charitable this Christmas.
It's as work from the Charities Aid Foundation's found that just half of us gave to good causes, last year.
The number of donations to good causes has also consistently fallen since 2019.
"Victorian Britain turned Christmas into a season of charity"
Professor Thomas Ruys Smith, Professor of Literature and Culture at the University of East Anglia, said:
“The Victorians understood something we’ve almost forgotten, Christmas isn’t just about celebration, it’s about compassion.
"Amidst the lavish feasts and festive cheer, they wove charity into the very fabric of the season.
“Today, with the cost-of-living crisis squeezing households and charitable giving in decline, that spirit feels more urgent than ever. If we want Christmas to mean more than consumerism, we need to revive the generosity that defined the Victorians’ Christmas past and make giving a tradition worth keeping.”
"Victorian Britain turned Christmas into a season of charity, blending faith with social responsibility. Boxing Day became central to this tradition, with employers giving servants and the poor boxes of food, money, and gifts - a custom rooted in church alms.
"Public feasts of roast beef and plum pudding for the destitute reinforced the idea that festive abundance should be shared. Churches collected donations throughout December, distributing them on St Stephen’s Day, while charities provided warm clothing and coal to help families survive winter.
“By embedding philanthropy into Christmas traditions, Victorians shifted the festival from a purely religious observance to a broader social ethic, laying the groundwork for modern charitable practices.
“Though that Victorian spirit of giving feels more urgent than ever, you could argue we’re all a bit more Scrooge now,” said Prof Smith.
“If we want Christmas to mean more than consumerism, we must revive the spirit of generosity,” he added.