Christmas: Did you mean...?

African slave life in Colonial British America was far worse than slavery practiced in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans. The indigenous tribes took people as slaves in raids, enslaved those convicted of crimes, and traded slaves...

The Somerset Levels is an area of the British Isles that captivates visitors with its stunning natural landscape and historical sites and monuments. Glastonbury is famous for its apple orchards and music festival. It is one of the most visited...

A 1913 biscuit tin showing Good King Wenceslas, the Bohemian duke and saint Wenceslaus I (r. 921-935), and the music for the Christmas carol of that name. The lyrics were written by John Mason Neale (1818-1866). Tin made by Hudson, Scott...

A page of sheet music for the Christmas carol The Holly and the Ivy. From a 1926 issue of the Radio Times magazine.

A 19th-century English Christmas card showing carol singers. (The British Museum, London)

The Christmas tradition of preparing the Yule log at Hever Castle, to be burnt over the twelve days of Christmas, painting by Robert Alexander Hillingford, 19th century.

Did you know that the festive greeting Io Saturnalia to the Romans was much like Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays is to us today? This video is all about the earliest predecessor to Christmas, the Roman festival of Saturnalia. The Ancient...

William the Conqueror (c. 1027-1087), also known as William, Duke of Normandy, led the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 when he defeated and killed his rival Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. Crowned King William I of England...

The Battle of Hastings in south-east England on 14 October 1066 saw the defeat of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II (r. Jan-Oct 1066) by the invading Norman army led by William, Duke of Normandy (reigned from 1035). After a day of heavy fighting...

Sherman's March to the Sea (15 November to 21 December 1864) was a significant military campaign in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Hoping to cripple the Confederacy's ability to make war, as well as to crush its will to keep fighting...