Medieval and Renaissance Christmas Trivia

[DonaCatalina]

How many people knew that today, December 26 was the Feast of Stephen?


Good King Wenceslas looked out
on the feast of Stephen,
when the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
though the frost was cruel,
when a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.

Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou know it telling:
yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain,
right against the forest fence
by Saint Agnes fountain.

Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine
when we bear the thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together
through the rude wind's wild lament
and the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now,
and the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps my good page,
tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his master's step he trod,
where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
ye who now will bless the poor
shall yourselves find blessing

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Me!  And he was the first Christian martyr, too.

[DonaCatalina]

Thanks to Henry VIII, the Christmas that we know today is a much reduced version from what originally replaced the old pagan festivals. Although the Church did its utmost to ensure that it was a religious festival.
But of course for the well-to-do there were feasts and pageants that went on after everyone had attended Mass.
Advent was the season leading up to Christmas. Then the Christmas season itself lasted until Twelfth Night.