by Wickhambrook History Society
Mike Wabe came to our November meeting and his subject was ‘Father Christmas, Myths and Mistletoe’ and in his cheerful style, Mike explored the customs we now associate with Christmas. Here are a few dates that might surprise you! They refer to the first recorded mention of each item.
4AD – The Roman winter feast of Saturnalia with feasting, gifts and games, perhaps the basis for the Christian festival
10AD – gifts given, possibly based on the Magi at the manger
270AD – St Nicholas gives gifts to poor girls in Myra, Turkey
937AD – King Wenceslas of Bohemia gave to the poor – starting gifts to charity?
15th Century – Holly and Ivy taken indoors
1510 – Christmas trees in Latvia
1526 – Turkeys brought from the New World
1647 – Christmas festivities banned by Oliver Cromwell
1843 – Cards sent
1846 – Trees indoors made popular by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
1847 – Crackers made by Tom Smith in Norwich
1878 – A Yule Log cake became popular in Scandinavia
1931 – The definitive image of Santa Claus appears in a Coco Cola Advertisement
1939 – Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer makes his debut
Whatever you are doing this Christmas, have a lovely time.