How the Tudors Celebrated Christmas | from Advent to Twelfth Night

With Twelfth Night upon us and the Christmas season is coming to a close, follow along as I explain the religious reasons of what and why the Tudors did what they did before, during, and after Christmas. 

 

When singing Christmas carols in today's world, did you know that there are many historical references in these songs? For example, when singing about the 12 Days of Christmas, during the Tudor era, people celebrated Christmas for twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany (Twelfth Night).

 

  Picture credits: 

- National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/three-kings-magi-epiphany 

- David Teniers. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/David_Teniers_%28II%29_-_Twelfth-night_%28The_King_Drinks%29_-_WGA22083.jpg 

- Catholic Herald. https://catholicherald.co.uk/tudor-house-recreates-henry-viii-era-mass/ 

- Elizabeth I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I#/media/File:Darnley_stage_3.jpg 

- Mary I. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/myth-bloody-mary-englands-first-queen-180974221/ 

- Jane Grey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey#/media/File:Streathamladyjayne.jpg 

- Edward VI. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VI_of_England#/media/File:Edward_VI_of_England_c._1546.jpg 

- Henry VIII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII#/media/File:After_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_Portrait_of_Henry_VIII_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg 

- Henry VII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England#/media/File:Enrique_VII_de_Inglaterra,_por_un_artista_an%C3%B3nimo.jpg 

- Hever Castle. https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/news/what-a-tudor-christmas-was-like/ 

- Royal Feast. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/S%C3%A1nchez_Coello_Royal_feast.jpg 

- Tudor Extra. https://tudorextra.com/2023/12/22/5-extravagant-tudor-christmas-traditions/ 

- Tudor Nation. https://www.tudornation.com/a-tudor-christmas-how-did-they-celebrate/ 

- Davis, Christopher. https://www.vaultofthoughts.com/2017/12/15/mummers-murder-merrymaking/ 

- Lewkowska, Olga. https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/470626229830170486/ 

- Avebury Manor. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/456904324671224534/ 

- Corinium Museum. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1141808217951809&id=100063679234516&_rdr 

- Bruegel, Pieter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peasant_Dance 

- Aertsen, Pieter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Aertsen 

- English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/twelfth-night-cake/ 

- Osburn, Kalynn. https://renfestival.com/weird-tudor-christmas-traditions/ 

- History Channel. https://www.history.com/news/christmas-traditions-tudor-england