How To Celebrate Christmas...Medieval Style! | Tudor Monastery Farm Christmas | Chronicle

Although Christmas was celebrated very differently in Tudor times, if anything the celebrations were even bigger. Historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Tom Pinfold and Peter Ginn turn the clock back 500 years to rediscover how the farms of Tudor England celebrated the 12 days of Christmas. While Peter and Tom decorate the farmhouse with holly and ivy, Ruth prepares grand banquets for the farm workers. The Christmas Day feast was particularly special and featured a pig's head rather than a turkey as its centrepiece.
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[@debbiedamianobillirakis4175]

What's the heavy breathing at the introduction it's weird.

[@bevalee1533]

Hey Debbie,. I, myself, didn't notice any heavy breathing. Guess I can go back and see what you're talking about.

[@bevalee1533]

Oh,. I see what your referring to Debbie. It's not meant to be breathing at all. It's supposed to be sound effects of the knife whittling out the digital wooden Chronicle insignia or whatever.. Somebody should talk the sound man that put that sound effect together.

[@felixkrause4839]

Prime !

[@triciacallahan1680]

Two things I love about these series: 1) how sentimental Peter is about the baby animals being born, and 2) how strong Ruth's stomach is working with the dead animals (getting them ready for the dinner table).

[@Nana-vi4rd]

I have watched and saved every episode these three have made, the building a castle in France, Farming in Tudor England, and living in the time of King James the Ist of England. When I was younger I would have loved living this way, but now at my age with good arthritis and gout I like my modern life.

[@prowl06]

I watch them all the time when I need to relax. They are to me what others think of The Office or Friends.

[@FeedScrn]

You probably would not have lived long enough back then - to worry about arthie or gout. Just saying.

[@vampcaff]

@@FeedScrn kind of why she said she likes her modern life... you do you nana! It's fun watching these and getting a feel for what life would've been like in a different era.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

There is a load more! They go more or less right the way through, plus spin offs.There is a Saxon one , Edwardians, Victorians, WW2. They veer off into Railways and Pharmacies. Similar series are 24 hours in Victorian England, one about Workhouses, another where they put 3 ordinary families in 3 adjoining houses in each more recent period. One is Posh, on is Middle Class and one is working class. The odd thing is all of the modern women hated being posh and middle class, because they had Nothing to do! Just look decorative and entertain others in the same situation.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

@@FeedScrn But not thinking. What a stupid saying that is. Anyone using it appears to have the IQ of a lettuce and less empathy Nothing of value to contribute, but going to make a noise anyway. 'Just Saying' :))

[@theboredengineer2947]

I reckon we are so spoiled nowadays with relative abundance of food and technology. I'm Asian and I suppose we had different ways of life and even celebrations but our ancestors had to undergo all of these. This is just the British context but the effort these people had to put in was really something.

[@CaribouOrange]

No words to express how grateful I am for this documentated adventure into the past. Thank you so much !

[@gardengeek3041]

Before this series, who would've imagined that detailing everyday life of common folk 500 years ago could be just as fascinating as the usual histories of those who ruled them. A much better way to teach us about our past.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

So what do you think they were doing? Sarcasm?

[@commonsense571]

Meeee🙋🏻‍♀️ I always want to know how the normal folks lived! I get tired of monarchs and soldiers and this is right up my alley 😁👍✨

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

There's nothing Ruth can't do....

[@musiquefrique]

I wait all year for these and absolutely LOVE THEM!!! Happy Christmas everyone

[@patricialeachman7562]

I love watching Ruth! she gets so excited about what she's doing..but I would be afraid to work for her .pretty sure she would holler at me😂😂

[@xKagryx]

Oh I’d be thrilled to go to any party Ruth hosted!

[@bevalee1533]

The 12 days of Christmas seemed like a nice bit of vacation break for the servants. Looked like it was fun for them. All the actors portrayal was terrific and very convincing.

[@Peruvian_Sky]

I absolutely love the way this was done, where the actors would explain what they were doing and why. It seems more natural and less cheesey than many historical documentaries

[@joshschneider9766]

Weald and downland is a fully restored and functional Tudor village that acts as a living history museum. This documentary was part of their mission of education on Tudor England, but you can actually go visit them yourself. It's a magical place, where time travel happens. I highly recommend looking it up and checking it out if you're ever over there. Well worth the drive from visiting London to go see it for me anyways. Absolutely fantastic day trip outside the city.

[@joshschneider9766]

Also look up Ruth Tom and Peter they did a bunch of similar documentaries on different time periods as a trio. They work extremely well together regardless of the time period they're discussing.

[@evelynzak8454]

Facinating! Well done! And my hats off to my ancestors digestive tracts.

[@MrSmetanka]

"Merry Christmas, little pigs" killed me

[@somersetdc]

Especially when within a year they would be Christmas dinner.

[@elirien4264]

❤🐷

[@upnorth2421]

Probably their dad has his head stuffed.

[@ggrother539]

I believe the wood becomes supple and easier to shape, once soaked for a time in water, in preparation for the process of shaping into the ceiling crown. Always fascinated, Chronicle, thank you!

[@bunnygirl2448]

I have always wondered how the actual 12th night was celebrated ever since I heard that the title of Shakespeare’s play, “Twelfth Night” was thus named in reference to the misrule and topsy turvy role reversal of the Twelfth Night Christmas celebration

[@teresahiggs4896]

The Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia at the Winter Equinox. And on at least one day they did a role reversal day where slaves acted like the masters and masters acted like slaves. I think this was the ancestor of the days of misrule. And there was lots of drinking, and feasting…

[@jjjj-uh3mu]

​@@teresahiggs4896that was the period when they tried to turn Christmas secular along with the Roman Catholic church.

[@davidcarr7436]

I really wish that the three of them would go back to the castle and show us how much more has been done

[@davidcarr7436]

@@Stevie-J No, that's Tony Robinson!

[@henrijs1733]

this trio is for me as much comfort food as the feasts displayed in this video

[@blimby2416]

Ruth: And this is how an oven works. the boys: We forgot about the fuckin door.

[@wendymoyer782]

How wonderful to see, brought to life, traditions, and celebrations I have long read about, and could only feebly imagine! Thank you!

[@danielleboutet2172]

Et dire que nous célébrons avec le père Noël ! Mon père chantait aux trois messes de Minuit et nous devions attendre pour ouvrir nos cadeaux. De plus nous devions attendre après le réveillon pour déballer nos cadeaux! Dans son temps il passait Noël au collège et les cadeaux c’était pour le jour de l’an . Nous avons toutefois conservés les traditions de la bénédiction paternelle et nus suspendions nos bas pour trouver de petits cadeaux comme quelques petits bonbons et une tangerine. Mais ça c’était au jour de l’an!

[@wellingtonsboots4074]

Thank you enjoyed this. Got me thinking about the ancestors and wondering what kind of life they lived. Really enjoyed watching this series Merry Christmas all.

[@natsomething0]

I don't know. It seems like we have nothing on them. My family feasts for a couple of days and done. And we've no decoration that can even approach the festive presence of the crown, so impressive in its raw beauty. I doubt I ever celebrated a holiday as well as they did. They worked much harder to earn their leisure. There's too much everyday bounty in my life to create much contrast.

[@mydigitalfootprint.]

I'm happy to find this video. I like these people. I hope they have fun making these shows. Please make more !!!

[@joshschneider9766]

These were made years ago but Google them they made quite a few of these multiple episode documentaries together. My favorite was the one on Edwardian farms from the eighteen hundreds

[@elirien4264]

A Tudor Christmas looks more fun than a modern Christmas.

[@bobbbxxx]

And 1000 times more work, too! 😊

[@gloriarangott8803]

It absolutely WAS more fun than modern times...I also think the farmers and peasants had a better time than aristocracy who were always so stodgy, and so rigidly bound.

[@bobbbxxx]

@@gloriarangott8803 If you think so, Gloria.

[@roddo1955]

KZbin used to be so relaxing. Nowadays you watch a documentary, only to be interrupted every 2 minutes with an ad about anti-fungal creams and tampons.

[@aspenram3885]

I pay $10 per month and see no commercials. Worth every penny. You pay either way, and I prefer this way. Sounds like you might like it to.

[@jasonbrophy5567]

Welcome to capitalism

[@adit1001able]

Use KZbin Vanced. No ads and it's free

[@danielclaeys7598]

I got to where I accepted the ads, but since 2 days ago, I now get pop-up ads every 2 to 5 minutes apart. I am literally getting ads interrupting the ads and it doesn't matter if it is on KZbin, Facebook or a movie app.

[@annazaman9657]

Ads even interrupt the comments.

[@Ashannon888]

The monk practicing archery was rather fun to see. Brother was a decent shot too.

[@shaynagonzales7692]

I wish I could go back in time and just witness these people live, without actually having to live through it lol

[@sunlightpictures8367]

What an amazing history lesson. Merry Christmas!

[@janinebean4276]

I love the Christmas crown, it’s so pretty! I might try to make one one day

[@JimCvit]

This was good. Thanks for sharing. Gotta save this for when we end up back at this same place sooner or later.

[@so_she_said]

Hard times but how beautiful everything was.

[@dyskelia]

This was a delight to watch. Thanks so much. My love of raisins is fully vindicated.

[@stephaniemontor1567]

They should show these series in schools!

[@LuzMaria95]

How wonderful! 😍♥️ Merry Christmas 🎄 and Happy New Years 🥳 everyone!

[@KenDelloSandro7565]

Great video. It would of been a legit historical Christmas recreation if they made it in December when it doesn't look so green and warm outside.

[@MrSheckstr]

Perhaps….. then again…. There is something to be said about a performance by actors who are really enjoying themselves, versus a slick productions with fake snow…

[@pricklypear7516]

Oh, geez Louise. With as much historical accuracy the series brings to us, you're complaining that the weather wasn't to your liking? Seriously?

[@MachaMongRuad]

Don't know where you're at, but this is pretty typical English weather in December. Maybe not necessarily as cold as it was in period, as a good part of the Middle Ages experienced a mini ice age, but the location and month are accurate.

[@alicelong3613]

@@MrSheckstr go complain elsewhere

[@susanmercurio1060]

I live in Minnesota USA. It snows all winter and it gets bitterly cold. I can adjust my mind to understand that those climactic conditions don't exist elsewhere. I know perfectly well that England's climate (or that of the southern US) may not have snow in the winter. Get a grip.

[@lizzy66125]

those tiny piglets!❤️❤️

[@kathrynjordan8782]

An interesting video on how people celebrated Christmas during Tudor England. Seeing these videos makes me wonder what it would have been like to live during this time. I have wondered how the people of Tudor England celebrated 12th night so I do appreciate finding out more about 12th night. Happy Christmas everyone.

[@ecwhittemore]

BRILLIANT program -- THANK YOU!!!

[@sup9373]

AMAZING such a cute feeling to really celebrate Christmas like this

[@gloriarangott8803]

Lovely and so instructive.I enjoyed every minute if this♡

[@Ivehadenuff]

Th work didn’t stop for the cooks!

[@stephaniemontor1567]

I love watching this series! Keep them coming!

[@paulopheim4224]

Fabulous! Informative and enlightening.

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

The Blessing! Perfect

[@josearellano9812]

I love his smile 4:41

[@debrademedici864]

Love this video !!!! It seemed so simple but we know it was very hard work … loved the pig head but I couldn’t do it !!!! Thank you for sharing ♥️

[@brenmanock]

So informative with a festive air!

[@ElinasAlchemy]

One more lovely episode! Thank you!

[@cestmoi4532]

Wonderful, thank you for sharing this beautiful, fun video! 💛

[@lgd4247]

Thank you for you informative, entertaining videos.

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

Love it guys, amazing, I love the chance to see, thankyou, but we were still so savage in so many ways..survival all the time x

[@catharinepizzarello4784]

This is beautiful!

[@JosieReddingtonDeSanta]

oh that little man

[@asamanyworlds3772]

I wish we could celebrate like this

[@yuriination]

I was literally felting while listening to this lol when they started talking about it, I suddenly felt like part of the celebration. 😄

[@michellepernula872]

Lovely! The entire thing is lovely!

[@michellepernula872]

Except eyes are opened that the church turned others into their slaves to feed them, and make them rich so they could build more temples to control people. They got people to confess to them, brought boys in the choir to make it fuller, sweeter. Hum. That's the excuse? Why not use female voices then?

[@vetgmacatmomfl2055]

Just fascinating!!!

[@stevenfromer3816]

Fascinating

[@aurus6483]

Ruth is my IDOL

[@SiCkNeSs-ux5lb]

Awesome!

[@patricialong5767]

I helped my mother make pig's head cheese and ate a bit of it: excellent! My father was from Denmark, so we kids grew up with his customs. :)

[@QuadCloudNine]

the lady cooking the pigs head is awesome

[@karengerber8390]

Thank you! 16:14, Friday 24 December 2021

[@collidingforces9589]

Excellent documentary!

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

MERRY CHRISTMAS X

[@dubuyajay9964]

08:59. I guess this explains the use of raisins and cranberries in New England dressing. Ty for answering that for me.

[@SuzaneFreire7]

Amei o vídeo!!! 😃

[@janettohara9645]

What Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kekort2]

Great stuff.

[@ijunkie]

@25:30 awww piglet

[@anti-ponyassociation2444]

Both of the falconers outfits are so nice

[@jacksparrowismydaddy]

carrying all that fire is absolutely fearless when you consider all that cloth she has on...

[@generatoralignmentdevalue]

It's probably wool, which tends to smoulder before it burns, giving time and warning to put it out. I can't comment specifically on this era, but I know a bit later in history, it was standard to wear wool while cooking for that very reason.

[@JB-lm5xt]

Thank you.

[@robyndavis3043]

Very interesting-thank you

[@joe-vl3nd]

Great stuff 👍🇬🇧

[@jonhansen679]

Okay, I’m m an American and I know in England the “F” word means bundle of sticks, but damn did it take me off guard! 😂 17 minutes in

[@trangep7540]

This reminds me of my love for the game RuneScape. Such a vibe.

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

The role reversal thing could be dangerous.....OMG THE PIPES !

[@carolynwatson4301]

Here in Arkansas it is likely to have either boar or venison for Christmas supper. It is modern gun season right now for deer. It's open season for boar year round. Most people here hunt, fish and garden. Wild food year round. The Ouachita Mountains are in the middle of a million acre forest.

[@markadams7046]

You didn't just have spit boys to turn the spits, there used to be a breed of dog called a spit dog or kitchen dog that was bred to walk in like a large hamster like wheel that turned a spit. The breed went extinct around the middle of the industrial age as more mechanical means to turn spits were developed. I hear that the Smithsonian has a preserved spit dog.

[@allietv22]

That sounds like it should have been named slave dog , but I'm not going to judge since this was hundreds of years ago lol I'm relieved for the breed it's extinct now though

[@kotaniyumiko]

@@allietv22 what?? Workin dogs exist even till this day, such as those used by police or farm dogs. A lot of dogs are ware happy with their jobs to them its just a fun physical activity

[@elizabethpotter6189]

The glen of unsalted turned the spits in ireland

[@coop5329]

I don't know about a special breed of dog for that. But my county fair has a dog-operated washing machine and a mule operated hay baler that they demonstrate every year. The dogs and mules seem to enjoy it, maybe because of the treats and attention they get. I don't think it would take any particular breed of dog from what I've seen, unless it has to do with the size of the dog.

[@elizabethpotter6189]

The dog was a glen of imaal - like a westie but in Ireland - they were trained to turn the spit

[@joshschneider9766]

The tradition of the boars head roast is echoed by boars head foods here in the USA. Some of the finest cured meats I've ever eaten outside of France and Italy I must say. Cheers to it. The jowl meat is actually my favorite on the entire animal. Cubed and pan fried it makes a superb substitute for anything with bacon in it.

[@explorationgmer1336]

We should bring this back.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

Hawks wearing their little hats 🎩 makes me chuckle every time. So cute.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

Did sewing their eyelids together make you chuckle too? It is unnatural and therefore cruel.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

@@hogwashmcturnip8930 would prefer it were your eyelids. How unfortunate.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

@@BloodSweatandFears You will learn . Nasty people make nasty ends. And you are revolting. So.,.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

@@hogwashmcturnip8930 my original comment was just observing the birds looked cute, you are the one that decided to make things negative. I simply returned the favor.

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

57:29 Merry Christmas, little pigs!

[@msinvincible2000]

I love this series of documentaries, but I couldn't help but notice that they filmed this Christmas episode in summer or early aurumn (the trees all have their green leaves)

[@meemurthelemur4811]

Came here to say this. It was honestly pretty distracting and ruined the illusion that they spent a full year on the farm.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

@@meemurthelemur4811 This was done seperately and no they didn't claim to have spent the whole year there. It is a working museum! But I agree that Christmas in Summer was a bit weird. The BBC do it all the time. They have people cavorting around in Santa hats with Christmas trees when it is clearly August outside! Claiming it is Christmas. They Don't. They say they are Re enacting Christmas, they don't say the timing is right!

[@BastiatC]

@@meemurthelemur4811 the fact that they wore the same cloths through the year didn't do that?

[@meemurthelemur4811]

@@BastiatC no. Tudor peasants only ever had one set of clothes. It was only the rich who got to play dress up.

[@BastiatC]

@@meemurthelemur4811 hardly. This isn't the 13th century, and even the people would dress differently depending on the season.

[@luciditywaling]

Would shooting this in winter have been prohibitive? I enjoy this series greatly!

[@emilinebelle7811]

I love European culture!! So versatile. 🥰🥰🥰

[@hollybishop484]

By the 1700s Nutmeg was something that would be carried in the pockets of men in their day to day life along with a grinder so they season their meals wherever they were. 😊 Fun fact

[@anthonydavid5121]

I wish you had filmed this during winter.

[@janinebean4276]

11:26 he looks like a cartoon 😂

[@dandowns2665]

Holly jolly everyone!

[@AutumnSunshine11]

All the food prep and I'd still maybe eat mashed potatoes and a roll

[@LynxSouth]

They didn't have potatoes yet.

[@felesamabilis]

I don't get it at all why you say Dec 25th is the coronation of Christmas season. It's still the beginning. The Christmas time starts with the Vesper on Christmas Eve and ends first Sunday after January 6th. And most of us still keep the Christmas tree till Candlemass as it was 50 years ago. We still keep Advent as fasting time till Vesper on Dec 24th

[@daphne4983]

Very early Tudor!

[@MatthewsLivingAdventures]

I cant find this show on the site, even though iv subscribed and everything

[@catherinegibson7578]

And of course, keep the pretty feathers as nice as possible for use as decor, sale, flies, etc, just like pigs use everything but the squeal.

[@morbidcurios]

5:15 "First the skull is removed to create a cavity that will be stuffed with meat" That's so metal.

[@kuzadupa185]

I was half asleep when all of a sudden my subconcious woke myself up to double check i heard what I had thought i had heard.... "she's prepping the oven by burning WHAT inside it@??@!? AND again@?"

[@sawahtb]

I’ve never had a pigs head for Xmas. I would be willing to try it. If someone did the work. Ruth took the skull out like a boss. The Xmas crown looks like a serious fire hazard. What’s missing are dogs, didn’t the peasants have dogs?

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

You eat nose to tail. If you kill something you owe it that. I live in Iberia, 13 years of that in a very rural place, and things haven't changed That much. You breed a pig, you kill a pig and you use Everything but the squeal. The blood in sausages, the ears, the feet. the fat. That animal died for you. I am a pagan, so I see it slightly differently probably to the Catholics doing it. But at the end it is the same result. You bred that animal for meat, to feed you for months. You are going to make every last blood cell count, to keeping You alive and fed.

[@MrSheckstr]

Outside of the nobility, there would have been very few “pet” dogs and even in the nobility most of those dogs would have been task orientate dogs (hunting, herding, guarding, tracking ) a dog requires a very high protein diet and meat is scarce for peasants …. It’s u likely a peasant would have a dog just to lay under the table and eat scraps

[@sawahtb]

@@MrSheckstr That makes sense. I read that during WWII people had to get rid of dogs because the country couldn't spare the protein. Sad, but that seems like it would apply to Medieval peasants too.

[@YSLRD]

@@MrSheckstr They had dogs. They were generally small and multipurpose.

[@LynxSouth]

@@MrSheckstr They had dogs. They (along with cats) were used for pest control as well as guarding fowl & pigs, lots of guarding in general. Dogs are omnivores and don't have nearly as high a protein requirement as cats. Scraps, bones, offal, peas, stale bread, cheese rinds -- it's all good chow to a dog,