Advent – Truce of God
At first Advent was a period of Parousia with Christmas signalling the Second Coming of Christ. Later it became a period set aside for peace when warring and feuding was strictly prohibited. Signalled by the Triumphant Coming of Christ and his earthly representative, the King heralded a new worldly peace
Medieval Christmas AD 336 – c. 1400
Was Medieval Christmas a religious feast? Or a boisterous folk-festival? The answer is probably both!
Acting out the Nativity
Sometime in the 10th–11th centuries the tradition evolved to turn part of the Christmas celebrations into a drama. Out of this grew the tradition of building a manger scene….
Late Medieval Christmas was a German Invention
In Late Medieval Germany, Christmas turned into a family event. How did this come about and why?
Christmas Party at Aagaard in Denmark in 1496
The History of Aagaard reaches back into the Viking Age and the fortress at Aggersborg. In 1496 it was home to a famous Christmas party…
Medieval Christmas Banquet in Paris 1378
In 1377 a fabulous medieval Christmas banquet was celebrated in the ancient royal castle at île des la Cité. A newly opened exhibition tells the story…
Medieval Christmas in Linköping in Sweden
From Sweden comes an old bishop’s manual dating from c. 1520. It tells the story of how Christmas was celebrated in Linköping in Östergötland.
How to Plan a Medieval Christmas
A quick list for a perfect Medieval Christmas is hand when everybody stresses and everything threatens to crash….