12 Days of Tudor Christmas

Locations
Call Number: DVD Holiday Twelve
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Holiday Twelve	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Holiday Twelve	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Lucy Worsley, host.
Lucy Worsley recreates how Christmas was celebrated during the age of Henry VIII, eating, drinking, singing, dancing and partying as people did 500 years ago. On each of the traditional twelve days of Christmas, Lucy reveals a different aspect of the festivities, uncovering fresh insights into the Tudor mind and casting a captivating new light on Christmas itself.
DVD, wide screen ; region 1, NTSC.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Surprising Historical Christmas Celebrations submitted by Meginator on June 19, 2022, 12:09pm This hour-long documentary features some painstakingly recreated scenes of Christmases past, from a surprising roast beast served at the royal table (accompanied, naturally, by a weirdly specific carol) to sadly forgotten social traditions and other ways of making merry. Remarkably, host Lucy Worsley frequently mentions which specific years are being referenced in particular segments, resisting the common urge to flatten out the entire Tudor Era or, indeed, the entirety of Henry VIII’s reign. The king and his court are the primary focus, but a few segments spotlight rural life and the peasantry. Each segment seems to be thoroughly researched, with visits to the archives (swoon) and interviews with brewers, culinary and music historians, and other subject-specific experts. The recreations themselves are remarkably thorough and really help to make history come alive, especially given that so many of the traditions in the spotlight here have since died out or changed significantly. The documentary is incredibly specific but great for anyone who might be interested in the topic; it’s enjoyable and takes its scholarship seriously while possessing a sense of good holiday cheer.