Yesterday's London Times

Frumenty, Mummers, Malmsey, and More: A Tudor Christmas

December 15, 2023 Jen & Mares Episode 50
Yesterday's London Times
Frumenty, Mummers, Malmsey, and More: A Tudor Christmas
Show Notes

WELCOME TO OUR 50th EPISODE!

In the final stop of our ‘60s YLT Time Machine, we touch down in the 1560’s just in time for a Tudor Christmas. In a deeply divided nation in which religion is politicized, we’ll see how the young Queen Elizabeth finds her own path.

The Tudor Christmas was a respite from work and from unrelenting poverty. It was a time of revelry and a loosening of societal roles.

Our visit to the Tudor Christmas will ignite our senses.  Along the way, we’ll …

  • Share a dramatic moment with Queen Elizabeth at her first Christmas service as sovereign,
  • Spruce up the place with seasonal décor,
  • Experience 12 full days of partying, including games, plays, carols, wassailing, and feasts,
  • Run into some unique roles: a boy bishop, a Lord of Misrule, mummers, and masque players,
  • See how ancient magic influenced and remained with the holiday.

We’ll end up at Greenwich Palace and spend Twelfth Night with Good Queen Bess herself.  The activities, the exotic and sometimes disturbing feasts, and the political minefield of royal gift giving.

Our SHOW NOTES are FULL of artwork, videos, links to eBooks, recipes, and much more.