Christmas events
-
On September 28, the Catholic Church remembers Saint Wenceslas, a 10th-century Bohemian duke and martyr. St. Wenceslas is known for his piety, patronage of the poor, and his role in converting Bohemia to Christianity. He converted his nation to Christianity and was known for his kindness, generosity, and piety. He was martyred by his brother,…
-
An invitation to a magnificent farewell feast….
Auld Lang Syne, Castles in the air, cats, Elizabeth Duchess of Suffolk, Fools and jesters, Henry VII, John de la pole Earl of Lincoln, John Howard Duke of Norfolk, lapdogs, Margaret Beaufort, medieval dogs and hounds, medieval feasts and banquets, medieval recipes, pugs, Richard III, Sir William StanleyI think that by now many of you know that the Murrey & Blue blog is to end by 24 January. To those of you for whom this is the first intimation, I apologise. There may be efforts to continue it or start a new blog in its place, but the final post in its…
-
Medieval royal Christmases….with a few camels thrown in….!
A Christmas Carol, Bayeux Tapestry, Becket, Bishop Odo, Charles Dickens, Christ Church Canterbury, coronation 1066, Edward III, Edward IV, Elizabeth I, Epiphany, Henry I, Henry II, Henry III, Henry VI, Henry VII, Henry VIII, John Leland, Katherine of Aragon, King John, King Wenceslas carol, Lucy Worsley Christmas Odyssey, Matthew Paris – Benedictine, Medieval camels, medieval Christmas, Medieval Ireland, Richard II, Richard III, Royal Menagerie, Scrooge, Twelfth Night, William ICamels seem to have figured quite a lot in gifts to medieval monarchs, at Christmas and other times. But I’ll begin with commenting on the season itself. St Stephen’s Day is the second day of Christmas (Christmas Day itself being the first, and Epiphany, 6 January, the twelfth and last). Today, unless we’re among those…
-
Before I write another word, may I wish you all the Compliments of the Season….and warn that my post today has little to do with the sacred and profound meaning of Christmas, but rather with the earthly aspects, both happy and sad. There were only two Christmases in Richard III’s all too brief reign, and…
-
With Christmas now upon us, and the clocks ticking away until Santa clambers down our chimneys, here’s a link—https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-14068977/Tales-royal-Christmases-Merry-Monarch-celebrations-cancelled-Queen-Christmas-tree.html—to an article about royal Christmases from the 15th century right to the present day. There is one particular medieval Christmas to which our attention is drawn. I quote from the Daily Mail article: “….It [the celebration]…
-
Gloucester Cathedral is one of the most beautiful of our cathedrals, and to visit it at Christmas is a very special experience. Once again this year it will be welcoming visitors to enjoy its Christmas decorations and atmosphere, an to absorb the meaning of the season. If you wish to visit it this year, go…