The Geffrye Museum presents Christmas Past 2010. 400 Years Of Seasonal Traditions In English Homes, open Tuesday 23 November 2010 – Wednesday 5 January 2011.
Christmas Past offers visitors a fascinating insight into how Christmas has been celebrated in English middle-class homes from 1600 to the present day. Each year, authentic festive decorations transform the museum’s eleven period rooms, creating a vivid and evocative picture of how earlier generations celebrated Christmas. The rooms provide the perfect setting for visitors to explore the origins of some of the rich and colourful traditions of Christmases past, from feasting, dancing and kissing under the mistletoe to playing parlour games, hanging up stockings, sending cards, decorating the tree and throwing cocktail parties.
Throughout the exhibition, festive food will be served in the restaurant and visitors can hunt for original gifts, decorations, cards and books in the shop.
Related Events
All Ages
Open Evening: Find Your Festive Spirit
Thursday 2 December, 5.00 – 8.00pm. Admission free.
A special evening to help banish Christmas blues: stroll through the candle-lit period rooms, enjoy a seasonal food talk with food historian Kate Colquhoun, sing along to live festive music or bring children to a workshop to create glow-in-the-dark Christmas decorations. Come and get merry!
Family Day
Saturday 4 December. Workshops run from 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2.00 – 4.00pm.
A lively day of Christmas workshops for children aged 3-5, 5-11 and 11-16, with carol singing for all ages.
Farewell to Christmas
Thursday 6 January 2011, 4.00 – 5.00pm. Admission free.
The Geffrye’s traditional burning of the holly and the ivy, celebrated with carol singing, stories about Epiphany and a taste of mulled wine and Twelfth Night cake. Please note that this event takes place in the garden, so wrap up warm!
Events for Adults
Concert by Candlelight
Wednesday 15 December. Concert begins at 8.00pm, museum opens at 7.30pm. Tickets £14.50 in advance (includes a glass of sherry or port and a mince pie).
Festive a capella music performed by Bocca Aperta under the Christmas tree in the reading room.
Vintage Christmas Cards Workshop
Saturday 4 December, 1.30-4.30pm. Tickets £20 (includes all materials).
Use vintage letterpress blocks to create striking and original Christmas cards.
Christmas Greenery Workshop
Saturday 11 December, 1.30-4.30pm. Tickets £25 (includes all materials).
Make a star-shaped arrangement with greens and a mixture of scented, natural ornaments.
Exhibition Talk
Saturday 11 December, 11.30am and repeated at 3.00pm. Admission Free.
Image: A living room in 1965 during Christmas Past – photo Steve Speller, Geffrye Museum
Geffrye Museum 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2.
Tel: 020 7739 9893
Email: [email protected]
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk