Christmas Festivities: A history of seasonal food and entertainment

A lighthearted two-lecture study morning to get us ready for the festive season:

From Turkey to Trifle: a history of the Christmas table and customs

Take a gourmet's journey through the origins of festive fayre and the traditions we have adopted and adapted from Georgian and Victorian times. From the turkey stagecoach to the drinking of Port with Stilton cheese and the custom of wiping one's mouth on the tablecloth (!) - all revealed in the fascinating portrayal of our Christmas customs.

O, Yes it is!: History of Pantomime from Ancient to Modern Times

This talk examines the complex and fascinating story of how Pantomime developed out of its Greek and Roman roots through to the religious plays of the Middle Ages and the Italian Commedia Dell’Arte. It looks at the characters of the Harlequinade, Grimaldi the 18C clown, Music Hall artistes like Dan Leno and Marie Lloyd and the soap stars of today. They have all contributed to the art of Pantomime and have helped to turn it into a peculiarly British institution associated with the festive season.

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