Tales from the Hundred Years’ War: Christmas in the Count’s Court
At the feasts of Christmas, which he kept with great solemnity, crowds of knights and squires from Gascony waited on him, to all of whom he gave splendid entertainments.
The Story of Christmas: Medieval Extended Edition
Ludolph of Saxony’s 14th century work The Life of Christ offers an extended version of the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus.
How Much Do You Know About The History Of Christmas?
Here are 15 questions about the history of Christmas. See how many you can answer!
Viking Age Christmas Traditions
By Emma “Bruni” Boast Everyone knows that a lot of the modern Christmas traditions stem from previous pagan cultural ones. What are the seasonal…
From Ale to Wassail: Lady Matilda’s Guide to Surviving a Medieval Christmas
Christmas is around the corner, are you worried about hosting the perfect medieval feast? Lady Matilda has you covered.
Merrie Medieval Recipes for Holiday Feasting
I’d like to suggest a few common and simple medieval recipes for your table.
Medieval Manuscripts: Illustrating the Nativity Scene at the end of the 15th century
The Hours of Charles of Angoulême was commissioned c. 1485 by the Count of Angoulême, and is undeniably Robinet Testard’s most personal work. Around the same time (c. 1500), in England, the illuminator Jean Poyer finished his masterpiece, The Hours of Henry VIII.
The social, political and religious contexts of the late Medieval carol
This thesis examines the late medieval English carol, an important indigenous musical form that is abundant in a number of sources from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth century, both with and without extant musical notation.
The Medieval Magazine 102 – Vol. 3, No. 19: Merry Medieval! Christmas – Part I
The first of our holiday issues! Christmas cheer, Medieval style! A mulled wine recipe, monastic brewing practices, Japanese Anime’s take on Medieval legends, and the Circumcision of Christ. We’ve got your table talk covered in in this issue, so pass the gravy!
York Becomes Home of Medieval Christmas Celebrations
York Becomes Home of Medieval Christmas Celebrations York’s historic Barley Hall is hosting a special exhibition exploring the lost Christmas celebrations of ordinary…
The Medieval Magazine: A Medieval Christmas (Volume 2 Issue 31)
Happy holidays from Medievalists.net! Medieval holiday traditions, the story of how Nicholas became Santa Claus, and some tasty treats for your holiday feast.…
Epiphany: Three Kings Day
A look at the history behind Epiphany and Twelfth Night.
Surviving Winter in the Middle Ages
Surviving Winter in the Middle Ages: How did people stay warm? What did they eat? What did they do?
Advent in the Middle Ages
Advent in the Middle Ages
A Christmas Crib as a Meek Heart of the Late Mediaeval Christian
In the summer of 2013 the Rijksmuseum acquired a rare Late Gothic Christmas Crib (c. 1510-20). In the 15th century tangible aids – devotionalia – were promoted to support meditation, to accomplish as it were a link between God and the soul of the believer.
From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus
How did a 4th century bishop become the jolly man who comes down the chimney with gifts for children on Christmas?
Bah! Humbug! Complaining about holiday gifts 1600 years ago
Christmas has long been associated with gift giving, but one suspects that Asterius of Amasea would not like seeing all those presents under the Christmas tree!
The Earliest Christmas Tree
One of the most iconic traditions of Christmas is having a tree in your house, decorating it and placing the presents underneath. How early did this tradition begin?
The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra
Around the fourth century in what is now Turkey, a boy of humble circumstance became a man revered for his many virtues.
Sal ich von den Ioden liten große pin? – Integration and Isolation in the Medieval German Christmas Play
I would like to start with two responses to the performance of Christmas plays that provide some insight into their effect on the socialization of the Christian communities in which they were performed.
Saint Lucy’s Day: A Light in a Dark Time
Scandinavian and Sicilian girls eagerly await the arrival of Saint Lucy on 13 December.
A Medieval Christmas: Such Splendid Sight Was Never Seen
Take in this medieval play in Toronto on Friday December 13th and Saturday, December 14th
Matthew Paris and the Royal Christmas: Ritualised Communication in Text and Practice
In the Chronica majora, and its abbreviations, Paris opened each year with a description of how and where the king held Christmas.