Christmas with the Tudors

In Tudor England, the festive season was a tale of contrasts. It began with a period of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. Its name, Advent, came from the Latin, advenīre, to come towards. It was a season of fasting, which meant fish, soups and stews instead of roasted meats and pies. Christmas Eve was stricter with no meat, cheese or eggs. As appetites sharpened, excitement built, for it was on Christmas Eve that people decorated their houses and churches for the coming feast. John Stow recalls ‘every man’s house’ in the early 16th century decked with holly and ivy, while candles pierced the winter darkness.