When we think of the Twelve Days of Christmas today, visions of drummers drumming, lords a-leaping, and golden rings might come to mind thanks to the famous carol. However, during the Tudor period (1485-1603), the Twelve Days of Christmas were far more than a whimsical tune. They were a time of extended festivity, feasting, and a good deal of unruly merrymaking.
For the people of Tudor England, the Twelve Days of Christmastide—which ran from December 25th to January 6th—were sacred, celebratory, and downright chaotic. From humble households to grand aristocratic manors, these days of revelry provided a much-needed break from the hardships of winter.
Let us journey back in time to discover how the Tudors made merry for nearly two weeks, culminating in the raucous Twelfth Night—a celebration of reversal, revelry, and revelatory feasting.
What Were the Twelve Days of Christmas?
In Tudor England, Christmastide began on Christmas Day (December 25th) and lasted through January 6th, the feast of Epiphany—commemorating the visit of the Magi (or Three Wise Men) to the Christ Child. Unlike today’s focus on Christmas Day alone, the Tudors considered the entire twelve-day period one continuous celebration. While the days had their religious significance in honoring the birth of Christ, they were equally an opportunity for indulgence, joy, and merriment.
The Twelve Days were rooted in medieval traditions that blended Christian solemnity with older pagan practices. By the Tudor era, this combination of reverence and revelry gave rise to a season of festivities that combined church-going, theatrical pageantry, and joyful chaos.
Each of the Twelve Days held its own importance, but they shared a common theme: people, regardless of social rank, were expected to let loose and partake in the season’s spirit. Feasting, music, games, and entertainment would fill the long, dark winter nights, bringing light and cheer to an otherwise cold season.
How Ordinary People Celebrated
For regular people—farmers, laborers, and tradespeople—the Twelve Days of Christmas were a rare and precious break from work. Christmas Day itself was typically spent at church, but after that, the days were filled with festivities. The Tudors embraced the concept of merrymaking wholeheartedly. In some villages, communal celebrations abounded. Neighbors gathered to share food, drink, and company. Each household might contribute to the revels, whether by brewing ale, baking pies, or roasting whatever meats could be spared. There were songs to sing, dances to perform, and games to play.
One favorite game was “mumming”, where villagers donned masks and disguises to perform lighthearted, comedic plays. These performances were impromptu and often filled with slapstick humor, ensuring that all involved—performers and audience alike—could laugh off the winter chill.
Wassailing was another popular activity. Groups would move from house to house singing songs, offering blessings for good health, and drinking spiced cider or ale. This was both a communal celebration and a superstitious tradition—a way to bring prosperity and drive away ill fortune. More importantly, during this time of year, the poor could approach the better-off and expect hospitality. It was considered un-Christian to refuse food, drink, or warmth to those in need.
The Gentry and Aristocratic Celebrations
While ordinary folk enjoyed simple festivities, the gentry and aristocracy took the Twelve Days of Christmas to extravagant heights. These were days for grand banquets, elaborate entertainments, and indulgence in every sense of the word.
Feasting was at the heart of noble celebrations. Tudor feasts were notoriously extravagant, especially during Christmastide. Tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats such as venison, swan, boar, and even peacock—the latter often presented with its feathers reattached for dramatic effect. Mince pies were another staple, though in Tudor times they were filled with meat, spices, and dried fruits rather than the sweet filling we know today.
In wealthier households, feasts were paired with performances by minstrels, jugglers, and dancers. Masques—costumed theatrical productions with music, poetry, and elaborate scenery—were particularly popular. These displays allowed nobles to showcase both their wealth and creativity.
The culmination of noble festivities was the celebration of Twelfth Night, a feast held on the evening of January 5th. Twelfth Night marked the end of the Christmas season, and it was often the most riotous and theatrical of all. Nobles and their guests enjoyed feasts, plays, and games—but this night had a special twist: it was a time of reversal and misrule.
The Lord of Misrule: Chaos and Reversal
At the heart of Tudor revelry was the figure of the Lord of Misrule. A mock king or ruler, the Lord of Misrule was appointed to preside over the festivities during the Twelve Days, particularly on Twelfth Night. This character—often a servant or a lower-ranking individual—was responsible for orchestrating chaos, absurdity, and merriment.
The Lord of Misrule turned social norms on their head. Servants might give orders to their masters, jesters could mock kings, and everyday decorum was tossed aside. It was a brief but gleeful escape from the rigid social hierarchy of Tudor England. In some ways, the Lord of Misrule echoed older pagan traditions of the “world turned upside down.”
The revels presided over by the Lord of Misrule included:
Mock coronations and ceremonies
Pranks, games, and absurd contests
Theatrical skits and ribald humor
Twelfth Night celebrations often included a Twelfth Cake baked with a hidden bean or pea. Whoever found the bean in their slice was declared the “King of the Bean,” while the person who found the pea became the “Queen.” These roles allowed commoners to play at royalty for the night, adding to the topsy-turvy fun.
Why the Twelve Days Mattered
The Twelve Days of Christmas were more than an excuse for merrymaking—they were a vital cultural and religious tradition. For Tudor people, Christmastide was both a time of sacred observance and community celebration. The long winter months were harsh and dreary, but the Twelve Days brought warmth, light, and joy.
Moreover, the traditions of misrule and reversal allowed people to release tension and temporarily escape the confines of their social roles. The Lord of Misrule, mumming, and feasting were all ways to cope with the rigors of daily life through laughter, indulgence, and shared celebration.
While modern Christmas celebrations have moved away from the extended revelry of the Twelve Days, echoes of Tudor traditions remain. Feasting, gift-giving, and caroling all have their roots in Christmastide practices. Even the idea of a topsy-turvy celebration—where the world turns upside down for a day—lives on in customs like Mardi Gras and April Fool’s Day.
For the Tudors, Christmas was a season of joy and indulgence, a time to reaffirm bonds of faith and community. And above all, it was a time to let loose, make merry, and revel in the chaos of the season.
So as you celebrate this holiday season, raise a glass of spiced cider to the wild and festive spirit of Tudor England—a time when the world turned upside down, and for twelve glorious days, joy reigned supreme.