How Christmas Came To Be

Overview

Plot Summary

The audience is warmly welcomed by our five hosts, each of them either a famous Christmas character, or someone from a period in history which had an influence on our modern-day Christmas. Through them, and the scenes and songs they introduce, we get a fascinating and thoroughly entertaining insight into how Christmas developed through the ages into the festival we know and love today. (song – A Time To Celebrate)
Firstly, we are taken back to ancient Rome during the festival of ‘Saturnalia’, when the winter solstice was celebrated in quite an unusual way. An old grandfather, Senilius, is bewildered by the bizarre antics of his family who enthusiastically embrace the festival’s practice of social-role reversal! This could explain why the household slave, Lavatoria, is wearing expensive clothes and is refusing to do as she’s told! (song – Saturnalia)
Next, we join the Norsemen of northern Europe during their festival of Yule. As Olaf prepares to light the Yule log and tap open his barrels of home-brewed ale, can he escape the advances of his wife, Astrid, who is stalking him round their homestead with a sprig of mistletoe? (song – Banish The Winter Blues)
We then learn how, once Christianity became widespread in the 4th century, the Festival of the Nativity was introduced and December 25th became the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus. While the feasting, the giving of gifts and other customs carried on from the existing winter festivals, the reason for doing these things had now changed forever – Christmas had arrived! As a Nativity tableau is presented, the audience is entertained with a rousing bit of gospel music! (song – Hallelujah!)
After hearing how things developed through the middle ages and Tudor times, the mid-17th century is our next stop, as we encounter the Puritan ban on all things Christmassy! As three soldiers try to enforce this ban by confiscating food, drink and presents from festive revellers, not all goes according to plan and one lucky individual finds a way to keep the party going! (song – No More Christmas)
In so many ways the Victorian age saw Christmas becoming more like the festival we recognise today. In our next scene, as an excited Prince Albert brings home the first Christmas tree, Queen Victoria is definitely ‘not amused’ at having to sweep up pine needles from the palace floor! (song – The Victorians)
Our final destination is the North Pole, where we meet the biggest icon of our modern Christmas. After learning how the early persona of Santa Claus developed over the centuries, we meet him right in the middle of an image crisis! With some expert professional help, this crisis is averted and he settles on a look (and a catchphrase) that will forever capture the imagination of children everywhere! (song – Ho! Ho! Ho!)
And now, with Santa’s use of the internet allowing children to track his progress around the globe on Christmas Eve, our journey is brought bang up to date. As our hosts wish us well for the festive season, we are reminded that one message above any other should be kept at the heart of Christmas – goodwill to one and all! (song – Roll On Christmas Day)