Advent is a time for reflecting upon Mary, the Mother of God. One avenue is to contemplate the beauty of the Old English Advent Lyrics
Category: Medieval feasts
Advent was a Season of Eager Anticipation and Multiple Preparations
Advent was a busy period of festive preparations in the Middle Ages filled with slaughtering, cooking, and brewing.
Christmas Party at Aagaard in Denmark in 1496
Today, Aagaard is an insignificant farm located down to the Limfjord. Its history, though, reaches back into the Viking Age and the fortress at Aggersborg. In 1496 it was home to a famous Christmas party
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
The Three Magi – or Setting the Social Scene
The story of the Magi – also called the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings – visiting and adoring the child in the house of Mary in Bethlehem is unique. Peculiar to Matthew, the story positions Christ in society.
Medieval 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.
Late Medieval Christmas was a German Invention
In Late Medieval Germany, Christmas turned into a family event. How did this come about and why?
Medieval Christmas AD 336 – c. 1400
Was the medieval Christmas primarily a religious feast? Or a boisterous folk-festival? The answer is probably both!
Veiling the Altar at Advent in Århus
Bernt Notke (c. 1440 – 1509) was a German Painter and wood-carver responsible for the intricate altarpiece in Århus Cathedral, which has three positions, Feast, Passion and Advent
Advent – Truce of God
Originally 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
How to Plan a Medieval Christmas
A quick-list for the last-minute organizers of a Medieval Christmas...