A Victorian Christmas

The Christmas season is a time for remembrance and reflection. A time to observe traditions and to remember those who came before us. This year, CCC began the Christmas season in true remembrance of the past—specifically the Victorian past.

In honor of the 175th anniversary of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, written in 1843, CCC's Christmas celebrations took on a Victorian theme this year.

"The lessons of A Christmas Carol are still so relevant today," said CCC Marketing Manager Paige Peak. "The story has such a beautiful message of hope, redemption, and caring for others. It mirrors what we offer every day at CCC so incorporating it into our Christmas celebrations was natural."

The Victorian Christmas festivities began the day after Thanksgiving with an exclusive showing of the movie, The Man Who Invented Christmas, at the historic Byrd Theater in Richmond.

"It was such a pleasure to see the community enjoying a Christmas movie together," said Development Manager Donald Miller. "The whole theater applauded when the movie was over. It was really just a lot of fun for everyone."

A few days later, on the Monday following Thanksgiving, the Victorian Christmas theme continued with CCC's 27 th annual

Holiday Festival of Music at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, featuring the Richmond

Symphony and the VCU Commonwealth Singers. The musicians played a selection of Victorian Christmas classics along with a mix of more contemporary songs.

A highlight of the evening was the symphony's rendition of Overture to Merry Christmas honoring CCC's retiring executive director, Joanne Nattrass.

"It was such a delightfully special evening for me, the agency, and for all who attended," said Nattrass.