The 12 Days of Medieval Christmas

We’re familiar with the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas” but in the middle ages, this extended holiday Christmas looked a bit different. There were plenty of lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing but the only partridge was trussed up on the King’s table next to the swans-a-swimming in gravy. And the gold rings were baked in the Christmas pudding! Medieval people dropped their plows, wrapped their spinning wheels in holly and ivy and took 12 days off, from Christmas day to Epiphany on January 6th. As the yule log crackled in the fire they feasted, played games and sports, attended mass, enjoyed subversive revelry and imbibed gallons of wassail. It all culminated into the most raucous party of the year on twelfth night! So Deck your halls, mull some wine, and cut a slice of mince pie as we join in the celebrations of the 12 days of Medieval Christmas... Advent, December 24th - Christmas Eve December 25th - Christmas Day - 1st day of Christmas  December 26th - The Feast of St Stephen - 2nd day of Christmas December 27th - The Feast of St John - 3rd day of Christmas  December 28th - Childermas - 4th day of Christmas  December 29th - Feast of St. Thomas Becket - 5th day of Christmas December 30th - 6th December 31st - New Year’s Eve - 7th day January 1st - New Year’s Day - 8th day January 2nd - 9th day January 3rd - 10th day January 4th - 11th day January 5th - Twelfth Night - 12th day January 6th - Epiphany My historically accurate 12 Days of Christmas Song: On the 12th day of medieval Christmas my true love gave to me: Twelve massive parties Eleven herbs and spices Ten archery arrows Nine saints bones Eight royal presents Seven swans-a-roasted Six carole singers Five bowls of wassail Four bishop boys Three mince pies Two alms for the poor and a boars head on a bed of holly! Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating videos! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: 12 days of Christmas by United States Air Force Band Background: Yonder Hill & Dale by Aaron Kenny The Boar's Head Carol Good King Wenceslaus by U.S. Army Band Coventry Carol by United States Air Force Band Here We Come A-wassailing by U.S. Army Band  All music is royalty free or public domain #ChristmasHistory #Medieval History #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices