A century ago, in the Victorian era, New Year’s day, rather than New Year’s eve, was the time for big celebration and gala entertaining known as open house. It was held from noon until six p.m. The tradition was that all the young ladies and boys under the age of ten would stay at home to receive callers while the eligible gentlemen went out to pay visits.
This tradition was carried by the “well to go” families, which invited eligible bachelors to meet their daughters and served their guests with bourbon, rum, or brandy and egg nog.
To invite their guests, the wealthy Victorians would use calling cards which you can see below. After receiving the engraved invitations, the eligible gentlemen would be arriving in the morning to sample chicken, turkey, fruit pie and to exchange witty repartee with the young lady of the house.
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| A Happy New Year 1879 from H. A and S. S. Brickenstein |
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| A Happy New Year, 1876, Henry M. Bloser |
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| A Happy New Year, 1876. Mary A. Bacon |
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| A Happy New Year, 1879 from Jas. Mc Cambridge |
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| A Happy New Year, 1879, Lawrence C. Hankey |
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| A Happy New Year, 1879. Lee Halliburton, H. B. Smith, P. S. Dinsmore, M. H. Beebe, O. J. Hill |
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| A Happy New Year, F. E. Grave |
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| A Happy New Year, Oscar C. Schloerb, ca. 1858-1897 |
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| A Happy New Year, Will D. Reiber |
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| A. C. Krider, Happy New Year, 1882 |
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| Happy New Year, John Wanamaker, Grand Depot, Philadelphia, Pa. |
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| Wishing You a Happy New Year, J. P. Baker, Traveling Agent, Harrisburg, Pa., 1896 |
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