PEOPLE can turn back the clock 170 years to get a taste of Christmas past at a Kirklees museum.

The Red House at Oxford Road, Gomersal, has launched its Christmas House exhibition, featuring Christmas decorations, customs and feasts from the 1830s.

The show runs until January 5.

The museum, a former cloth merchant's home, has been decked out in evergreen garlands of holly, ivy, laurel and rosemary, a 19th century style holly Christmas tree and kissing boughs of evergreens, apples, candles and mistletoe.

Andrew Gilpin, exhibition researcher, said: "Bringing evergreens into the house is a very ancient tradition. Its origins lie in the need to bring life and light to the dark days of winter."

Festive food from the 1830s will be on display in the period kitchens and dining room.

Some of the favourites include goose-filled Yorkshire Christmas pie, cheeses carved with Christmas crosses, ribbon jellies, `tipsy hedgehog' cake, pearled fruits and whim wham - a blend of cream, white wine, lemon, sugar and redcurrant jelly.

Helga Hughes, museum officer, said: "Christmas festivities and mid-winter ceremonies dating back to ancient times have always included lavish feasting on special foods.

"In the 1830s, goose was traditional. Some of the sweet dishes from that time are really delicious and we will give recipes to visitors so they can make some of their own."

Running alongside the Christmas House exhibition, until January 11, will be the Christmas Past exhibition.

This exhibition aims to explain more about Christmas traditions through the ages.

Feasting and decorations were pagan ways of celebrating the winter solstice until the 4th century, when Christians adopted December 25 as Christ's birthday and the two celebrations merged.

Familiar customs such as crackers, cards, trees and Santa Claus were all added to Christmas celebrations by the Victorians.

The exhibition will feature items including toys, exotic Chinese lanterns and rare Victorian cards.

There will also be a Night Before 1950s Christmas display and war-time Christmas souvenirs and decorations sent to Austrian women working in Yorkshire textile mills.

Admission to both exhibitions is free.

The museum opens from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from noon to 5pm on weekends.

It will be closed from December 24 to 26 and on January 1.