Christmas Through the Ages

Viking Midwinter Festival – Yule (Jul) 

Based in our Viking Long House, spend two days living as a Viking at Yule time including waking up to find a present for everyone left by Odin.

Activities will include:

• Designing and making Viking Yule Runic decorations
• Make a Viking Troll cross to keep the Trolls away 
• Make a leather pouch to leave out for Jolnir (the Viking version of Father Christmas)
• Play Viking winter games
• Cooking some Viking delicacies in preparation for the celebration.
• Sit around the open fire and enjoy listening to a story told in the style of a Viking Saga - be ready for the blood, guts and gore. 
• Lighting the yule log and decorate the Longhouse with evergreens. 

Victorian Christmas Experience

Based in the Victorian Room in the Court spend two days experiencing Christmas as a Victorian child, including waking up to a stocking filled with presents for everyone.

Activities will include:

• Cooking some gingerbread shapes and mince pies
• Making a Christmas card using quilling techniques and writing using an ink pen
• A Victorian Christmas Feast followed by Victorian dancing, games and singing
• Decorating and singing carols around the Christmas tree.

Tudor Christmas Experience

Spend 2 days in our Tudor Room within the manor house and live life as a Tudor at Christmas time, including waking up to find presents in leather pockets on Christmas morning. Arriving dressed in your Tudor clothing, take part in activities such as:

• Making Christmas decorations 
• Baking some Tudor Christmas delights 
• Using quills to write an invitation to the Twelfth Night Feast 
• Taking part in a mummers play and learn about Tudor costume
• Twelfth Night Feast followed by some Christmas Tudor dancing
• A traditional Christmas lunch and Tudor carols and wassailing under the kissing boughs.