From Yuletide to Nativity: Christmas in Early England

Rediscover the magic of Christmas with an exploration of the significance of the great midwinter festival and how it was celebrated in early England. Beginning with a look at the Old English calendar, which reveals how the pre-Christian year was structured, we shall consider how this calendar was transformed into the Christian year - how, for example, did Módra Niht (Mothers' Night) become Christmas Eve? We shall consider the question in the light of the archaeology of feasting, as well as medieval art and literature.