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Christmas

Past and Ancient

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LOGOLOGO 23 marriages before 1750

LOGOLOGO 68 marriages 1750 - 1800

LOGOLOGO118 marriages 1800 - 1850

LOGOLOGO136 marriages 1850 - 1900

LOGOLOGO 44 marriages 1900 - 1950

LOGOLOGO12 marriages 1950 -

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LOGOLOGOThe official date of the birth of Christ is notably absent from the Bible and has always been hotly contested.

It was Pope Julius I who eventually settled on 25 December.

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Whilst the term “Christmas” first became part of the English language in the 11th century as an amalgamation of the Old English expression “Christes Maesse”, meaning “Festival of Christ”.

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Christmas or Xmas?

X stands for the Greek letter chi, which was the early abbreviation for Christ or the Greek ‘Khristos’.

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Carol singers...

... on the doorstep.

Many carollers took the word carol literally (to sing and dance in a circle)

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In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas was not as popular as the Epiphany on 6 January, the celebration of Jesus’ baptism and the visit from the three kings.

By the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) Christmas had become the most prominent religious celebration in Europe.

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The Christmas crib...

... originated in 1223 in medieval Italy when Saint Francis of Assisi explained the Christmas Nativity story to local people using a crib to symbolise the birth of Jesus.

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Boxing Day has traditionally been seen as the reversal of fortunes, where the rich provide gifts for the poor.

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By the Georgian period (1714 to 1830), Christmas was once again a very popular celebration.

And so it would appear that a Georgian Christmas was very much all about parties, balls and family get-togethers.

Christmas Day was a national holiday, spent by the gentry in their country houses and estates.

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January 6th or Twelfth Night signalled the end of the Christmas season and was marked in the 18th and 19th centuries by a Twelfth Night party.

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The Gifts

In a ... Christmas stocking, which first became popular from around 1870, only an apple, orange and a few nuts could be found.

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Christmas Cards

Sir Henry Cole tested the water in 1843 by printing a thousand cards for sale in his art shop in London at one shilling each.

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Turkey Time

Turkeys had been brought to Britain from America hundreds of years before Victorian times. When Victoria first came to the throne however, both chicken and turkey were too expensive for most people to enjoy.

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Mince Pies

Mince pies date from the Middle Ages. Traditional ingredients were minced meat, suet, a range of fruits, and spices. By the 19th century the sweet mince pie we eat today became more widespread.

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The Tree

The tradition of a Christmas tree in the house was a German custom and apparently brought to Court in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, wife of George III.

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The Yule Log

A great blazing fire was the centerpiece of a family Christmas.

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The Crackers

Invented by Tom Smith, a London sweet maker in 1846.

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1843 - O Come all ye Faithful1848 - Once in Royal David's City1851 - See Amid the Winters Snow1868 - O Little Town of Bethlehem1883 - Away in a Manger

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Happy

Christmas!