Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

When the Thames Froze Solid

What did winter really feel like in Tudor England?Spoiler: nothing like the winter we know today.Hello, I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode we’re stepping into a world of bone-deep cold, frozen rivers, and incredible resilience, the world of Tudor winter during the Little Ice Age.Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Europe and North America endured some of the coldest winters in recorded history. And the Tudors? They lived right in the middle of it.In this episode, discover:
What Tudor winters were really like — without heating, forecasts, or modern comforts
The astonishing times the River Thames froze solid
How Henry VIII and Elizabeth I reacted to the deep freeze
The extraordinary celebrations that took place on the ice
Why London’s legendary frost fairs eventually disappeared
At the end, I’d love to hear from you: What’s the coldest winter you remember, and how did you cope?If you enjoy these festive Tudor deep dives, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you don’t miss the next episode in the Advent series.
Keep warm!
 
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The Moment That Changed Anne Boleyn’s Life

Step into the winter stillness of Hever Castle with me, the beloved home of the Boleyn family, and a place that witnessed far more than festive cheer.In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I’m sharing Hever as you may never have seen it: dressed in its glowing Christmas finery and wrapped in the quiet magic of midwinter. But Hever is more than beautiful… it is the backdrop to a moment Dr Owen Emmerson and I believe changed the course of Tudor history.During the Christmas season of 1526 into early 1527, something happened here, something that shifted Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s future, and with it, the future of England.Anne was away from court, surrounded by family, and finally had the space to reflect on Henry’s increasingly urgent pursuit. What unfolded at Hever that Christmas would set the stage for everything that came next.In this episode, I’ll take you through Hever’s festive rooms and frosted gardens, sharing photographs taken this December by Dr Owen Emmerson and some of my own from Christmases past… while we explore how one winter retreat became a turning point in Tudor history.If you visit Hever at Christmastime, I invite you to imagine Anne here in 1526, facing a decision that would shape not only her destiny, but the destiny of a kingdom.Let’s step into Hever Castle at Christmas… And if you’d like to know even more about Anne’s family and their beloved home, do take a look at "The Boleyns of Hever Castle".#HeverCastle #AnneBoleyn #TudorChristmas #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #BoleynFamily #HeverAtChristmas #ChristmasHistory #HistoryYouTube #TudorTok #TheAnneBoleynFiles #BritishHistory #CastleHistory #LearnHistory #ChristmasAdventSeries

Tudor Carols & Christmas Music

Today we’re stepping into one of the most joyful parts of a Tudor Christmas - the music.Whether your festive soundtrack is Michael Bublé or Bing Crosby, Tudor England had its own musical traditions… and many of their carols are far older than you might expect.In this episode, we explore:- How music shaped Tudor Christmas celebrations
- Which carols the Tudors actually knew
- Why carols were originally dances - songs performed in circles, homes, streets, and seasonal revelshe role of the waits
- Music in Tudor homes
- Carols in wassailing traditionsThank you for joining me for this musical journey through Tudor Yuletide.If you enjoyed it, please like, subscribe, and click the bell, and tell me in the comments:Do you have a favourite Christmas carol? Or a Christmas soundtrack?
See you tomorrow for more Tudor Christmas delights!
 
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Bells, Staves & Misrule

Today we’re stepping into one of the most colourful, energetic, and wonderfully noisy traditions of the Tudor festive season, Morris dancing.You might picture modern dancers with bells and handkerchiefs on a village green…but in Tudor England, Morris dancing was bolder, brighter, and far more theatrical.In this video, we’ll explore:- What Morris dancing really looked like in the 15th and 16th centuries - bells, ribbons, masks, mock combat, clashing staves, blackened faces, and vibrant costumesHow it became part of court entertainment - including Henry VII’s Christmas revels and Henry VIII’s masques
- Its deep roots in English folk culture - from May Day to Whitsun ales, parish festivals to civic pageantry
- The unforgettable stock characters - Maid Marian (played by a man!), jesters, hobby-horses, Robin Hood, even dragons!
- Why it mattered at Christmas and Twelfth Night - joy, misrule, community, and celebration at the darkest time of year
- And how Morris dancing survives today - a living tradition linking us directly to the Tudor worldIf you’ve ever seen Morris dancing and wondered where it came from, or if you simply love the colour, spectacle, and spirit of Tudor celebrations, this episode is for you.Thank you so much for watching!If you’re enjoying this festive journey through Tudor Christmas, please like, subscribe, and click the bell - there’s more Yuletide history coming your way tomorrow.
 
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Tudor Yuletide Customs

Yule Logs, Twelfth Night Cakes & the Lord of Misrule. Step into a Tudor Christmas with me!
I’m historian Claire Ridgway, and today’s Advent episode looks at the real Yuletide customs of Tudor England, from the dramatic arrival of the Yule log to the playful misrule of Twelfth Night.Why did Tudor households bring home an enormous log on Christmas Eve?What role did a humble bean play in choosing the “king” of the festivities?And how did these rituals blend ancient midwinter beliefs with Christmas celebrations?Discover the symbolism, the revelry, and the wonderful strangeness of a Tudor Yuletide, a world of firelight, games, and meaning woven into every tradition.Join me for a journey into the customs that made Christmas magical for the Tudors.If you’re enjoying this Advent series, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell — more Tudor Christmas delights are on the way!
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Tudor Winter Warmers

The Festive Drinks That Kept Henry VIII’s Court Merry
 
Step into a warm Tudor hall, sit beside the glowing Yule log, and discover the festive drinks that kept Henry VIII’s England merry throughout the cold, dark days of winter.I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and for today’s instalment of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we’re exploring the wonderful world of Tudor winter warmers, from hippocras to buttered beer, from wassail bowls to honey-rich mead.Before the feasting and celebrations, everyday Tudor life ran on ale, safer than water, weak enough to drink by the pint, and brewed constantly by the women of the household.But Christmas?Christmas called for something special.In this video, discover:- Hippocras — the spiced Tudor mulled wine Henry VIII adored- Lambswool — the frothy wassail drink of roasted apples and warm ale- Mead, Metheglin & Melomel — honey wines sweetened with herbs or fruit- Christmas Ale — brewed stronger for Yuletide feasts- Posset — a creamy, curdled Tudor comfort drink- Buttered Beer — yes, the real Tudor drink (long before Harry Potter!)- Mulled wine & imported sweet wines enjoyed by the wealthyThese weren’t just beverages — they were hospitality, ritual, community, and the unmistakable flavour of Tudor Christmas.Which Tudor drink would YOU try first?Hippocras? Buttered beer? Lambswool?Let me know in the comments!
 
Links to my videos on some of these Tudor drinks:
Tudor Buttered Beer - https://youtu.be/0HMxpWVzrvcTudor Hippocras - https://youtu.be/yabiVqlV4pwLambswool Wassail - https://youtu.be/9GDrnPesC2YIf you enjoy this cosy dive into Tudor festive life, please like, subscribe, and click the bell to follow along with the rest of my Christmas Advent series.

Dragons, Masques & Royal Revelry

Dragons that spat fire.Masked dancers sweeping through palace halls.Henry VIII himself turning up in disguise…Welcome to Tudor Twelfth Night, the most spectacular, theatrical, and joyfully chaotic night of the entire Christmas season.I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and for Day 8 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we’re stepping into the dazzling world of masques, mumming, disguisings, pageantry and revelry at the Tudor court.You’ll discover:- What Tudor “disguisings” really were
-  How mumming evolved into masked processions of luck and mischief- Why the morris dance became a Tudor Christmas favourite- The Italian-style masque Henry VIII introduced - How Edward VI’s court staged elaborate moral allegories, mock battles, and a banquet of 120 dishes- And how Twelfth Night became the grand, magnificent finale of ChristmastideFrom wild pageant carts to torchlit dances… from Robin Hood characters to allegorical triumphs… Twelfth Night was where Tudor magnificence reached its peak.Thank you for joining me for today’s Advent instalment!If you’re enjoying the series, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you don’t miss the next festive deep dive.
 
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How the Tudors Decorated for Christmas

Forget fairy lights and tinsel, Tudor Christmas decorations were deeply symbolic, richly traditional, and filled with myth and meaning.Hello, I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and welcome to Day 7 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series!Today, we’re stepping inside the Tudor home to discover how people really decorated for Christmas.In Tudor England, there were no Christmas trees, no early December decorating…In fact, a Tudor walking into your home right now would think you’d gone completely mad, because they only decorated on Christmas Eve.Instead of baubles and glitter, their homes were filled with:- Holly – symbol of Christ’s sacrifice & protection- Ivy – representing fidelity and strength- Laurel & rosemary – symbols of eternal life- Evergreens everywhere, believed to bring luck and keep away evilYou’ll also discover:- The origin of the kissing bough- How mistletoe gained its romantic reputation — from Druids to Norse myth- Why decorations stayed up until Candlemas Eve… but NEVER beyond (unless you wanted goblins!)- And how London transformed into a city draped entirely in greeneryPlus, we’ll explore the medieval and Tudor tradition of the Christmas crib, from Pope Sixtus III to St Francis of Assisi, and how it lives on beautifully in Spain today.Tudor Christmas décor wasn’t about sparkle…It was about symbolism, faith, magic, and midwinter hope.If you’re enjoying this Advent journey through Tudor traditions, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell — many more festive videos are on the way!
 
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