Forty of our members’ met on December 6th to celebrate and to welcome in the Festive Season with mulled wine and mince pies. Chrisina Brailsford joined us and gave a very interesting presentation on Christmas traditions. The presentation gave an opportunity for audience participation which was great fun.
Christina explained that some traditions went back many centuries but were popularised by Prince Albert in the Victorian era. Mince pies were originally made from meat and gradually over the years sweet fruits (sultanas, raisins etc) and liquor was included and the meat disappeared. Oliver Cromwell banned these pies and they were reintroduced after the renaissance. Christmas puddings were made on “stir up” Sunday, (the first Sunday in Advent). This pudding was popularised by Prince Albert. He also brought the Christmas tree over from Germany. Christmas cards also became popular at this time and became even more widespread when postal services commenced. Tom Smith invented the Christmas cracker in 1847. So you can appreciate that many of the Christmas traditions we have today were started in the mid Victorian era. Christina explained these processes very well.
Margaret White