Christmas in Medieval Europe: Entertainments

Medieval Europeans celebrated throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas. They might attend religious services or watch mystery plays that retold biblical stories pertinent to the season (see NATIVITY PLAYS). In addition, the well-to-do made music, played GAMES, danced, told stories, hunted, jousted, and feasted. In late medieval times the elite of some European countries began to celebrate the season with roving, costumed events known as MASQUES. In a more homemade version of this custom, ordinary folk dressed as MUMMERS or received a band of mummers into their home or tavern. In England peasants who worked on large estates rested from their customary chores during the Twelve Days. Moreover, they par-took of a communal feast provided to them by the lord of the estate, offering him in return a gift of farm produce. In England Christmas festivities ended on PLOUGH MONDAY, when farm laborers went back to work.