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This later developed into the practice of placing a coin into the Christmas pudding. This meant that everyone had to do as they say – similar to the Lord of Misrule. Under the Tudors, the tradition of placing a bean into a Christmas cake emerged and whoever found it would become the King of the Bean.
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They could be religious songs but they could also be rude. Carols also emerged in this period – people would sing and dance. In the evenings, the Lord of Misrule commanded what Christmas games would be played. Mulled braggot was often drunk, a type of extra-strong ale mixed with honey, cinnamon and brandy. Mince pie was one large pie filled with actual minced meat and Christmas pudding was a spiced porridge. The rich would often eat goose or swan, while the poor would eat poultry. Again, mistletoe drew on old beliefs as the plant was sacred to Druids and was thought to bring good luck to the home.
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In later eras this would later be replaced by mistletoe. A kissing-bough (made of twigs, leaves and fruit) would be hung from the ceiling. Another Pagan tradition was to decorate the home with evergreen plants (such as holly and ivy). This log – decorated with ribbon and greenery – was brought into the home on Christmas Eve and was burnt for all twelve days. Customs of the Pagan feast included burning the Yule Log. Medieval customs were a mix of Saturnalia (masters and servants swapping roles and gifting presents) and the Saxon Pagan midwinter feast – the Feast of Yule. On the ‘Twelfth Night’ presents were given. People would fast until Christmas Eve and then celebrate for 12 days until 6th January. The Medieval period was when Christmas began to take on a form that we still see remnants of today. By the time Christianity became the official religion of the empire in 380 CE, under the rule of Emperor Theodosius, Christmas had been intertwined with the celebration of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti on 25th December – or as we know it – Christmas day. This festival took place on 25th December and celebrated the days becoming longer again. There was another festival that coexisted with Saturnalia called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti or the birthday of the ‘unconquerable sun’. The poet Gaius Catullus called Saturnalia ‘the best of days’. Sigillaria were small figures – normally made from pottery or wax – that were given as presents, as well as cerei which were wax candles. At Saturnalia the practice of gift giving emerged. There would be a sacrifice in the temple, followed by a huge, rowdy public feast. Slaves were fed by their masters and even had some time off, everyone wore brightly coloured clothes instead of the usual white toga and gambling was allowed. All normal etiquette and rules went out the window. This festival – known as Saturnalia – celebrated the God Saturn who was head of the Roman Gods. Their five days of parties, feasts and singing started on 17th December and led up to the shortest day. The Romans continued to celebrate the midwinter solstice but expanded the festivities. They probably sang songs, accompanied by the whistle of bone flutes as bonfires were lit on the frosty ground to honour the sun. Archaeological evidence from around Stonehenge shows us that they had immense feasts – from pork and beef to mead made from honey. The midwinter solstice would have been a very important day for Neolithic people. Every year on 21st December the tallest stone at Stonehenge lines up with the rising sun.