How do you celebrate Christmas? You might have traditions that are unique to you and your family, your cultural heritage or national identity. In Britain, Christmas as we know it is a tapestry of ancient beliefs, local customs, and family traditions woven together over centuries. As we look back over time, we can trace the origins of familiar customs, from decorating trees and gift-giving to feasting and merrymaking.
So, where did this celebration come from, how was it celebrated through time and how do we do it here at Weald & Downland Living Museum?
Wading Through Myth: The Origins of Christmas Day
One of the first questions that surrounds the historicity of Christmas is whether it is rooted in and established by, pagan traditions. Was the holiday dedicated to the birth of Christ, the second-most important date in the Christian calendar, a pagan holiday? This has become a widely believed idea, with little grounding in historical evidence.
Early sources suggest that the date of Christmas (December 25th) was initially chosen by early Christians who believed that Jesus would die on the same day as his conception. Nine months after the last week in March (the commonly accepted date of the Crucifixion) places Jesus’ birth in December, and more specifically, December 25th. Early sources confirm that Christmas was a long-established Church holiday before it became a pagan one.
The most likely candidate for a pagan Christmas is the celebration of Sol Invictus, or the Victorious Sun. However, the earliest known dates of this celebration are in October, and it was moved to December 25th by the Emperor Aurelian to combat the rise of Christianity; to conflict with the Christian Christmas.
Another option would be the pagan celebration of Saturnalia. This one is celebrated in December, but the 5th-Century author Macrobius lets us know that Saturnalia was celebrated on December 17th, not the 25th. Indeed, the festival would only last for a maximum of three days, meaning it was finished by December 20th.
A third option would be the festival of Brumalia. However, this was a long festival that ran from the November 24th to December 17th. December 25th was long-established as a Christian holiday and Christmas celebration.
And thus, as Christianity spread throughout Europe, it took its Christmas traditions with it.
Advent: A Season of Preparation & Fasting
The four weeks leading up to Christmas were known as Advent. Traditionally, this was a season of reflection, preparation and penitence. To get into the right frame of mind to celebrate the birth of the Messiah and Saviour, the Medieval world would dwell on their sin. This would usually be done by a fast, much like Lent before Easter. It would usually begin the day after Martinmas on 11th November, where they would enjoy the last of their fresh meat. Traditions varied in different parts of Europe, but giving up meat, fat and ale, was often joined by abstinence from gambling, sex and – perhaps most surprisingly – getting married. As a time of preparation, they would start hoarding food for the actual Christmas celebrations. The fast would last until Christmas, when it would be balanced out by twelve days of decadent feasting.
Usually, Christmas decorations weren’t put up until Christmas Day itself, when the celebrations could truly begin. Here at Weald & Downland Living Museum, we strive to observe the Ritual Year in its most traditional forms. As such, the end of November and throughout December, we will be reliving the Advent Season. We use this as a time of preparation for winter, preservation of food, the gathering of resources and the anticipation of the Christmas celebrations to come. So, in the spirit of historical realism, you may notice a distinct lack of Christmas decorations in our houses. You’ll be able to see demonstrations of making wreaths, cooking food, getting our houses in order, for the Twelve days of Feasting that come next.
Interestingly, the Twelve Days of Christmas didn’t start with the song, it actually has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon period.
Anglo-Saxon England: The Twelve Days of Christmas & The Lord of Misrule
With Christianity firmly established in Anglo-Saxon Britain, the Christmas festivities began to grow and take shape.
Egbert of York, a contemporary of the Venerable Bede, described how Anglo-Saxons marked the twelve days leading up to Christmas with fasting, vigils, prayers, and charitable acts. Though different from the secular indulgence of modern Christmas, this focus on charity echoes through today’s holiday generosity. Almsgiving during this period reflected the biblical gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus – an early form of giving that would evolve into the gift exchanges we enjoy today. As well as offering money or goods to the poor, many Anglo-Saxon Christians extended hospitality to monks and other religious figures.
Feasting during Christmas became more prominent over time, especially under the influence of King Alfred the Great, who saw Christmas as an opportunity for a communal break from labour. Alfred, inspired by the customs of the Frankish court – where Christmas was a grand affair – issued laws granting all but essential workers a holiday from Christmas Day to Twelfth Night. These twelve days off from work made Christmas a significant period of rest, bonding, and celebration for Anglo-Saxons.
In fact, our very word ‘Christmas’ comes from the Old English, Cristesmæsse. We owe a lot of our Christmas traditions to the Anglo-Saxons.
16th Century Christmas: Music, Dancing, & Sugar
The pace of festival expansion and growth didn’t slow down over time. The Tudors brought even more grandeur to Christmas celebrations, especially within the royal court. Twelfth Night continued as a highlight of the season, but the revelry was a little more refined. A bean baked into a cake would crown one person ‘King of the Bean’ (or ‘Queen’, if a woman received it), and guests imitated the ‘King’ in whatever they did—if he drank, everyone drank; if he coughed, everyone coughed. Masked plays and ‘disguisings’ were popular, and Henry VIII and his court even dressed as Robin Hood’s men or other characters, making for lively and humorous gatherings.
The Tudor court was fond of dancing, with Queen Elizabeth I particularly known for her love of the ‘Cushion Dance’. This tradition involved partners kneeling on a cushion and kissing each other before joining the dance. Sweet treats also took centre stage at Tudor Christmases, with sugar – an expensive luxury – used to create edible sculptures of castles, animals, and goblets. Tudor elites enjoyed these sugar feasts, indulging in the era’s favourite festive ingredient.
Gift-giving also became a prominent part of Tudor Christmas, especially among the upper classes. Queen Elizabeth expected lavish presents on New Year’s Day, and each gift’s value was carefully recorded. The love of ceremony and pageantry defined Tudor Christmas, setting the stage for traditions that would evolve further under the Victorians.
Victorian Christmas: Trees, Cards, & Family
It was during the Victorian era that Christmas truly became the holiday we recognise today, becoming a family-focused occasion infused with sentimental customs. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularised the Christmas tree, a tradition Albert brought from Germany. By 1840, trees decorated with candles, ornaments, and presents had become central to British Christmas celebrations. The Victorians were enthusiastic about decorating, and houses were festooned with holly, ivy, and wreaths, a nod to ancient traditions of bringing greenery indoors.
Victorian children looked forward to modest presents, such as sweets, nuts, or perhaps a small toy, though wealthier families sometimes splurged on grander items. Christmas crackers—another Victorian invention—added a touch of excitement to the Christmas table, with their small gifts and jokes bringing laughter and surprises.
The Victorians also brought us many beloved Christmas carols, with classic lyrics for songs like ‘Good King Wenceslas’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ originating in this period. Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, published in 1843, further established Christmas as a time for generosity and compassion. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation encouraged the better-off to remember the poor, and many Victorian families provided gifts or feasts for less fortunate neighbours.
The spirit of family and community became central to Christmas, as did attending church and giving to charity. Victorian traditions of gift-giving on Christmas Day rather than Twelfth Night also marked a shift in the holiday’s focus, with Boxing Day (26 December) emerging as a day to give gifts to servants and tradespeople.
A Legacy of Joy, Generosity, & Tradition
From Anglo-Saxon feasting to Victorian Christmas trees, the traditions of this festive season are deeply rooted in history. Each era added its own layer. As we celebrate Christmas, we participate in customs shaped by thousands of years, honouring a rich heritage that continues to evolve.
Wherever you may be celebrating, take a moment to appreciate the journey of Christmas through the ages—a journey that continues to bring warmth, light, and unity in the darkest days of winter. Whether through feasting, decorating, or exchanging gifts, Christmas connects us with past generations and with the hope and joy they found in this special time of year.
Here at Weald & Downland Living Museum, we endeavour to celebrate Christmas in the most traditional way possible. That’s why you may notice different decorations and traditions than you might expect. Where you might hope to see Bayleaf covered in wreaths, tinsel and Christmas trees, there may be very limited festivities, as Advent was a time of fasting and preparation. The true celebrations were on Christmas Day, and the Twelve Days following. So, join us to experience Advent and Christmas traditions in their historical contexts, and immerse yourself in the preparation for the true celebrations to come.
