Besides the more familiar celebrations of Christmas, Easter, May Day and Valentine's Day, many other holidays and festivals were still observed in Victorian times. Some of these were more likely to be found only in the countryside - and some only in other countries. Many have long since been forgotten, and were considered remnants of an older time even in the Victorian era.

June: Whitsuntide Processions, by Thomas Miller (Illustrated London Almanack, 1849)

November: Guy Fawkes Day, by Thomas Miller (Illustrated London Almanack, 1849)

Fascinating not only for its description of a typical country Guy Fawkes celebration, but for its explanation of the odd notions country boys had about Fawkes - that he was a blackmailer who went door to door demanding money or he'd blow up one's house. (Part of the celebration, for those of us on the American side of the pond, is to go from door to door asking for "money for the guy.")

Whitsun Ale (Illustrated London Almanack, 1850)

A brief article about the Whitsun Ale festivity, with an illustration of a Whitsun Ale jug.

Well-Dressing on Holy Thursday (May) (Illustrated London Almanack, 1852)

St. Matthew's Day at Christ's Hospital (Illustrated London Almanack, 1855)

The Fairlop Oak Festival (Illustrated London Almanack, 1856)

An annual July "bean-fest" festival centering on the Fairlop Oak in Essex.

Lord Cornwallis's Day (St. Nicholas, 1875)

A holiday that used to be observed in the US on October 19, celebrating the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington in 1781.

Shrove-Tide in Ireland, by Narissa Rosavo (Argosy, 1881)

American Holidays, by Charles W. Ward (Century Magazine, 1883B)

Why Americans don't seem to like having too many holidays (one answer being "the pursuit of the Almighty Dollar").

Editor's Easy Chair (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

On a move to restore "the old-fashioned Fourth of July."

April Fools (Illustrated London Almanack, 1888)

Columbus's Day, by Edward A. Bradford (Century Magazine, 1890A)

A proposal to create a "Columbus Day" holiday.

A Fourth of July Dinner, by E.M. Lucas (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

St. John's Fires in France, by Georges de Dubor (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

[Well-dressing] A Charming Village Service (Home Magazine, 1898)

Arbor Day, by the Rev. Hugh MacMillan (Good Words, 1902)

A look at the American holiday, its spread to other countries, and an argument for adopting it in England.

August Bread-fast Day [Lammas Day]; Oyster Day (Good Words, 1902)

Some Notable Whitsuntide Customs, by York Hopewell (Sunday Strand, 1907)