The use of evergreens to decorate for Christmas goes back to Kalenós, the ancient mid-winter feasts of the Romans.

The word pomander comes from the French pomme d’ambre, meaning amber apple. Pomanders, small balls of perfume carried in a hinged metal case or aromatic spheres prepared with fruits and spices, had a dual purpose.

Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago. These were pagan songs sung in celebration of the winter solstice, or mid-winter. Over time, wassailing and Christmas caroling went hand in hand in Tudor England.

In Tudor times, what was wassail, and what was wassailing? During the Christmas season, groups of people traveled from house to house with a communal wassail bowl to wish good health to their neighbors and sharing the wasssail drink.

Agecroft Hall was built in Richmond with the intention of it becoming a museum.

The dessert course of Tudor meal was called the “banqueting course” at the meal’s end and consisted of a table full of sweet and elaborate confections.