Christmas through the ages online talk

In our final talk of the series, HRP Chief Curator Lucy Worsley is joined by food historian, Richard Fitch and Public Historian, Charles Farris for a whistle-stop tour of Christmas traditions through the ages.

Covering everything from food to decorations, this one-hour long talk will dive into the festive season through the centuries, explaining everything from ancient royal traditions, to the familiar Christmas festivities we know today, which were popularised by Queen Victoria and her family. Discover the topsy-turvy world of the Lord of Misrule, the emergence of the pantomime, and Christmas banquets featuring plum porridge and boar’s heads. Lucy, Richard and Charles will be debunking a number of myths along the way too, including the ingredients of a traditional mince pie – which really aren’t for the faint-hearted!  Join us for some festive fun, as they bring to life the sights, sounds and smells of the palaces at Christmas.

Register now for the event

This event is free to join, but we ask you to consider making a donation of £10 or whatever you can afford. 

Historic Royal Palaces is a self-funding charity. The closure of our six sites for four months following the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on our finances. We have begun the phased re-opening of some of our sites, and would love you to show support for us by visiting. We have restricted the number of people allowed on site each day, so you will have the chance of seeing these wonderful places up close, without the usual crowds.

We look forward to you joining our online event.