Most of us think Advent means calendars, chocolate, and switching on the Christmas playlist…
But for our medieval and Tudor ancestors, Advent meant something completely different.

Welcome to Day 1 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series!
Today we’re stepping into the medieval and Tudor world to explore what Advent really meant, and how it prepared people for the true Christmas feast that didn’t begin until 25 December.

In this episode, I cover:

- Why Advent was more like a mini-Lent — a season of fasting and restraint - Why Christmas Eve was the strictest fasting day of all
- How the Church shaped December as a time of preparation, not celebration
- The older midwinter traditions behind the season
- Why a Tudor walking into our modern homes would think we’d started Christmas FAR too ea ...