Claire | January 6, 2023
Today, 6th January, is Epiphany or Kings’ Day or Three Kings’ Day – Happy Epiphany! Feliz día de los Reyes! Epiphany is a huge celebration here in Spain. The Three Kings visited our village last night with sweets and presents, and we’ve been tucking into our Roscón de Reyes, our special Kings’ Day cake. Unfortunately, […]
Claire | December 28, 2022
28th December was an important part of the Twelve Days of Christmas in England in Tudor times. It was the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also known as Childermas. Let me explain the origin of Childermas and how Tudor people marked the day… Transcript:
Claire | December 26, 2022
Today is the Feast of St Stephen, which is also known as Boxing Day in the UK. How did the Tudors celebrate St Stephen’s Day? Let me tell you, before moving on to talking about this day in 1546, when an ill Henry VIII made some changes to his will in preparation for his nine-year-old […]
Claire | December 25, 2022
A very Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you have a wonderful time whatever you are doing today. In the video and transcript below, I explain how the Tudors celebrated Christmas before moving on to an “on this day” event, the death of Lettice Knollys (married names: Devereux, Dudley and Blount), a woman Elizabeth […]
Claire | December 12, 2022
It’s time for another treat from this year’s Anne Boleyn Files Advent Calendar. Today’s Tudor treat from me will keep you busy. It’s a whole magazine to read, and it’s Christmassy too. I do hope you can set aside some time to enjoy reading its articles. To get access to today’s treat, and any you’ve […]
Claire | December 6, 2022
Today is the Feast of St Nicholas, or to give him his full name, St Nicholas of Myra, the 4th century Bishop of Myra. On the Feast of St Nicholas in medieval and Tudor times, it was traditional for a “boy bishop” to be elected. This boy would undertake all of the duties of a […]
Claire | November 19, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 19th November 1587, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, an important member of the Catholic underground, Henry Vaux, died of what was probably consumption. The Catholic recusant and priest harbourer died at Great Ashby, the home of his sister, Eleanor Brooksby. Henry Vaux is a fascinating Tudor man. […]
Claire | October 31, 2022
Today, the 31st October, is All Hallows Eve, which is more commonly known as Halloween. Halloween is the first day of Hallowtide, which also includes the Feast of All Hallows, or All Saints’ Day, which is celebrated on 1st November, and the Feast of All Souls, which is celebrated on 2nd November. Let me explain […]
