Whether you read the books as a child or have fallen down the rabbit hole of movie adaptations with your own kids, everyone knows about Alice in Wonderland. Indeed, according to the Harvard Library, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) has been translated into over 170 languages worldwide and has been published in more than 300 editions. But did you know that, every July 4th, while the nation celebrates its Independence Day, there’s an entire day dedicated to Lewis Carroll and his children’s classics taking place at the same time? Even the galumphing Jabberwock and the frumious Bandersnatch are happy to celebrate this frabjous day, or so we’re told.
Given that Alice in Wonderland is so popular, then, it’s unsurprising to learn that its influence is keenly felt in pop culture: there are multiple movie adaptations, numerous references in literature and TV shows, and even some *cough* customizable merchandise, courtesy of Zazzle. Bearing that in mind, and knowing that today is the best day to do it, we’ve decided to write a few “nice grand words” about the history of Alice and Wonderland. Join us as we delve into the background of the books, learn the inspiration behind Alice in Wonderland Day, and mention some ways for you to mark the occasion. You might be inspired to pick up the books if you’ve never done so before, or to return to both if you’ve forgotten them from childhood.
Dismiss it as “stuff and nonsense” if you will, but we think this article is going to have you grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
What is Alice in Wonderland About?
Typically, when people talk about ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ they’re actually conflating two books: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871). Both were written by English storyteller and mathematician Charles Dodgson, better known by his pseudonym Lewis Carroll, who taught at Christ Church in Oxford University. When fellow academic Henry Liddell took the position of Dean at Christ Church, Dodgson was introduced to his three daughters: Lorina, Edith, and Alice. The group would go boating together, and on these outings Dodgson would relate vaguely nonsensical stories to them, which he later wrote down and presented to Alice as a Christmas present entitled: Alice’s Adventures Under Ground: A Christmas Gift to a Dear Child in Memory of a Summer Day (1864).
Ultimately, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a fantasy story. In it, the seven-year-old Alice stumbles down a well while chasing the White Rabbit. When she eventually lands at the bottom, she emerges in a strange land populated in large part by absurd characters and anthropomorphic animals. Many of these creatures that Alice questions and encounters about her whereabouts – such as the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat, and the Caterpillar – only give her confused advice. The story ends at the climax of a court case involving the tyrannical Queen of Hearts, at which point Alice wakes up from a nap. Her adventures in Wonderland are revealed to have all been a dream – or they would be, if Alice’s sister wasn’t seemingly aware of Wonderland as well. Curiouser and curiouser.
How Did Alice in Wonderland Become a Classic?
When Dodgson officially published the book in 1865 – under his nom de plume Lewis Carroll – it soon became a hit. “By the end of the 19th century,” according to Britannica, “Alice (taking the two volumes together) had become the most popular children’s book in England, and within two more decades it was among the most popular storybooks in the world.” Through the Looking Glass, while less well-known in modern times, is also a very important work, and much of what we associate with Alice and Wonderland can be found there, such as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and “The Walrus and the Carpenter” poem. In fact, Tweedledum, Tweedledee, the Walrus, and the Carpenter also all feature in Walt Disney’s animated classic, Alice in Wonderland (1951).
Almost two centuries later, Alice in Wonderland continues to have a profound impact on popular culture. In The Matrix (1999), Neo is beckoned by Morpheus to join his cause; to “stay in wonderland,” where he can be shown “how deep the rabbit hole goes.” In the Batman comics, animated series, TV shows, and video games, Jervis Tetch, also known as the Mad Hatter, is one of DC Comics’ oldest supervillains. And in the 21st century, Tim Burton, another Batman and Lewis Carroll fan, has both directed and produced adaptations of the books: Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).
What Is Alice in Wonderland Day?
While Alice has quite the storied history, then, Alice in Wonderland Day is a relatively new phenomenon. Founded in 2015 on the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the day is greeted as an opportunity to celebrate the fantastical characters depicted in both that novel and its sequel. Because Dodgson took Liddell’s daughters on a boating trip from Folly Bridge to Godstow on July 4th 1862 – and that was when they first begged him to tell the story that would become Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Alice in Wonderland Day takes place on this date every year.
The only exception to this rule, however, is in Oxford, England, where Dodgson taught and went to college, and thus a special city-wide celebration of Alice is held there on the first Saturday in July. This year’s theme is “Fabulous Monsters and Curious Creatures,” and so we expect there to be many odd-looking participants performing the Lobster Quadrille at parades throughout the town!
How Do I Celebrate Alice in Wonderland Day?
Although Alice in Wonderland Day is already upon us, that doesn’t mean you’ve missed your opportunity to take part – as Alice learns at the beginning of her own book, “few things [are] really impossible.” There are several, quite possible ways to start the Wonderland-themed festivities and to join in the fun this July 4th, and we’ve prepared a list of them right here!
Host a Tea Party
One of the most famous scenes in Carroll’s novel is when Alice sits with the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and a sleeping Dormouse for a spot of tea – during which the Hatter spouts riddles like “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?” Though such wordplay may leave your guests, like Alice, “dreadfully puzzled,” the idea of a Wonderland-themed tea party is a good one. Tea parties are easy and inexpensive to organize, and you can customize them with fancy tableware, stylish mugs, and unique, far-flung blends.
Throw a Costume Party
Whether it’s soldiers that resemble playing cards or rabbits that wear waistcoats, the cast of Alice in Wonderland dress in all sorts of outrageous costumes. Because of this, there’s endless inspiration to draw upon for a fancy dress party – and you can even schedule one at short notice with our downloadable invitations. Still, if an entire outfit might be hard to assemble, you can at least encourage attendees to pick out a black hairband, white apron, or light blue dress, so that they match Disney’s iconic heroine.
Play Lawn Games
Another major scene in the book and animated movie is when Alice must play croquet against the Queen of Hearts (who is constantly declaring “Off with their head!” when it comes to the other players). While we can’t recommend using flamingos and hedgehogs as sports equipment, we do suggest that you play a few lawn or garden party games today as a way to celebrate, such as Topple Tower, Fast Four, cornhole, or frisbee. The carnivalesque atmosphere is perfectly in keeping with that Wonderland vibe; the animals even hold their own competition in the book, known as the ‘Caucus-race.’
Have a Game Night
Along with being fantasy stories for children, Carroll’s novels also demonstrate an interest in puzzles, games, and riddles, together with a passion for mathematics he developed while teaching at Christ Church. For example, soon after Alice arrives in Wonderland, she loses her ability to multiply: “Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is – oh dear!” You don’t have to spend the rest of July 4th hammering out your times tables, but you can still partake in the aforementioned puzzles, games, and riddles: piece together a jigsaw, play a game of chess, or grab a deck of cards.
Plan a Shower or Wedding
Okay, planning a baby shower, bridal shower, or wedding might not be too much for one Alice in Wonderland Day, but basically we’re saying that you can incorporate elements of the book and movies into the theme of your wedding or shower. You can decorate your venue to look like the Queen of Hearts’s croquet-ground, serve candy favors and refreshments that say “EAT ME” and “DRINK ME,” or include some fantastical poetry in the program. To learn more about how you can personalize an event to your interests, read our article on “Incorporating Your Favorite Characters Into Your Wedding Theme.”
We knew as soon as you opened this article that you were a fan of Alice in Wonderland – you must be, or you wouldn’t have come! And now that you’ve refamiliarized yourself with the story and learned more about the Alice in Wonderland Day, only one question remains: how will you spend the rest of this “very important date”? To our mind, there’s nothing better than returning to the books and to the movies – the cartoon version of the latter is available on Disney+, and we have thousands of officially licensed customizable products to help you have some animated adventures of your own! Enjoy the rest of your “happy summer day[s]”, and let us know what your favorite children’s books are in the comments below!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
