A Merry Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley

If there was anything I gleaned from this documentary, I learned that many Christmas traditions from the 15th and 16th centuries in England were banned during Oliver Cromwell's "reign" of the 1650's. Traditions I had never been aware of have been reintroduced in this fine documentary about Tudor history and culture concerning Christmas (celebration of Christ).

Lucy Worsley has presented an outstanding glimpse into Christmas Tudor style. Unlike today, Christmas lasted 12 days, from Dec 25 to Jan 5, not only Dec 25. The gift-giving aspect was a fundamental part of the activities, particularly gifts to the current monarch, in this case King Henry VIII. (Worsley plays young Henry Tudor.) Aside from gifts, games and masques were all part of the activities for 12 days.

There was also a form of tomfoolery, an early form of partying Tudor style, mainstays in Christmas traditions among the nobles and servants of the nobility. Someone would be named the Lord of Misrule who would "conduct" the partying activities of Dec 25, for nobles, clergy, servants and students.

All these wonderful traditions, save a small few, were gutted from the celebratory menu. Thanks to Oliver Cromwell and Puritan sensibilities which frowned on things like celebrating the entire tradition of the 12 Days of Christmas was erased from culture.

So the traditions which have been largely lost have been brought to the fore because of Worsley. Maybe there might be room to have these kinds of celebrations again!