Tag: traditions
The Christmas Turkey : Why are they so ugly ?
Dec 4, 2020 | General Interest, Trivia |
Why Are British Elections Always Held on Thursdays...
Oct 2, 2020 | General Interest, History, Trivia |
The History of the Christmas Pud
Dec 20, 2019 | General Interest |
Did you Know – Christmas tree lights were in...
Dec 6, 2019 | General Interest, Technology, Trivia |
A Brief History of St Patrick’s Day
Mar 8, 2019 | General Interest, Religion |
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LatestA (brief) History of Christmas – Part 2
Dec 18, 2018 | General Interest, Trivia |
A history of Christmas might sound like a fairly simple undertaking. From nativity, to church, to family, to commerce - a story of high beginnings, a cosy, warm middle and the chill of cold hard cash and commercialism at the end. However its not quote that simple - the type of Christmas we celebrate today has a very winding tale indeed.
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A (brief) History of Christmas – Part 1
Dec 14, 2018 | General Interest, Trivia |
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Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh?
Dec 11, 2018 | General Interest, Religion |
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Who was Guy Fawkes?
Nov 2, 2018 | History |
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Historical Superstitions We Still Observe Today
Aug 3, 2018 |
We like to think that our modern world is free from superstition – we are enlightened people living in an age of science fact. Well, not quite, we still find ourseves observing superstitions – sometimes consciously and sometimes by habit. In this article we look at some historical superstitions we still observe today.
Read MoreTwas the Night Before Christmas – A Poem that Shaped Modern Santa
Dec 22, 2017 |
Much of our modern idea of Santa Claus comes from a very famous poem, the 1823 work ‘A Visit from St Nicholas’. More commonly known by its first line, ‘’Twas the night before Christmas’
Read MoreChristmas Traditions – The First Ever Nativity Play
Dec 12, 2017 |
Even in modern, secular Britain there is one tradition that still holds sway at Christmas – The Christmas Nativity Play. In this article we look at the 800 year old origin of this Christmas institution.
Read MoreBeing British and the Art of Queuing
May 9, 2017 |
Being British can be a complex business and there is one part of our identity that will confuse ‘Johnny Foreigner’ no end – Queuing!
Read MoreGuernsey Ways – Vraicing
Apr 14, 2017 |
Few island customs, except perhaps the Clameur de Haro, which survive today can claim as ancient a history as that of ” vraicing.”
Read MoreWassail Punch – A Medieval Winter Warmer
Dec 16, 2016 |
Add some history to your festivities with a glass of wassail punch.
Read MoreHow did people in the Middle Ages Celebrate Christmas?
Dec 13, 2016 |
Today we celebrate Christmas with a spirit of merriment, gift giving and (over) indulgence. But that begs the question … How was Christmas celebrated in the past? Or more specifically for our aricle here – the Middle Ages?
Read MoreHow to Smug a Guy – An old Guy Fawkes Tradition
Nov 4, 2016 |
The British are a nation with a long and proud history steeped in ritual and tradition. None more so when it comes to the rather odd celebration of ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ where we gleefully celebrate the burning of a Catholic traitor caught trying to blow up the houses of parliament. However there is one rather odd tradition surrounding this event that we would suggest is best not revived – ‘Smugging a Guy’.
Read MoreSo Why do the British Traditionally Eat Turkey at Christmas ?
Dec 25, 2015 |
Christmas is probably the time of year when there is an overwhelming plethora of traditions and practices that we all enthusiastically embrace. In this article we look at one of the most enduring of British traditions … the Christmas Turkey.
Read MoreSome Christmas Tree Factlets
Dec 18, 2015 |
Today the Christmas Tree is a pretty ubiquitous symbol of the yuletide season. It wasn’t always so. In this article we look at a few historical Christmas Tree factoids.
Read MoreThe Christmas Tree
Dec 8, 2015 |
The Christmas tree is a ubiquitous image of the season. Trees were a symbol of life long before Christianity. In this article we look at a very short history of the Christmas tree.
Read MoreMore Old Guernésiais Cures, Remedies & Superstitions
Nov 13, 2015 |
Guernsey used to posses a rich set of folklore tales, ancient cures and remedies for ailments and many superstitious tales. Some of the more intriguing and somewhat amusing wisdom of the old Guernésiais folk.
Read MoreOld Guernésiais Cures, Remedies & Superstitions
Mar 6, 2015 |
Being a small community isolated from the rest of the world it’s no surprise that Guernsey used to posses a rich set of folklore tales, ancient cures and remedies for ailments and many superstitious tales. In this article we’ve gathered together some of the more intriguing and somewhat amusing wisdom of the old Guernésiais folk.
Read MoreSo Why is the Day After Christmas Called Boxing Day?
Dec 26, 2014 |
In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day, 26 December. But why is it called boxing day ?
Read MoreSome Amazing Santa Factoids
Dec 19, 2014 |
Some factoids about that jolly seasonal elf … Santa Claus
Read MoreHow Did Xmas Come to Stand for Christmas?
Dec 16, 2014 |
The use of the colloquial “Xmas” has often been singled out as an example of how this religious celebration has been commercialized and robbed of its religious content. So how did Xmas come to stand for Christmas?
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