(Cover image – © Unknown Artist / Unknown Source)
For us, the end of a year often means reflecting on ourselves, the things we’ve experienced that year and the ups and downs we’ve went through. New Year’s Day, on the other hand, allows us to set new goals and to welcome the new year in a celebratory manner. Many people think of New Year’s Day as an opportunity to have somewhat of a fresh start, to make the new year even better than the last and to remain hopeful for what’s to come. Despite the wonderful aspects this day symbolizes, we’re often too tired to fully dedicate ourselves to January 1st. We celebrate New Year’s Eve with pomp, delicious food and most of the time we’re up until after midnight – that way we cannot enjoy the next day as much. However, New Year’s Day wasn’t always this ‘neglected’ and the Tudors would surely shake their heads if they were to witness how we spend New Year’s Day nowadays. Let’s journey back to the 16th century to learn how one of our favourite dynasty celebrated January 1st, shall we?
The people in Tudor England eagerly awaited the festive season that started on November 1st (Allhallowtide) and lasted until 'Candlemas' on February 2nd – that’s twelve weeks of celebrations and sumptuous meals. It’s safe to say that every person – no matter their status – lavishly celebrated the weeks of festivity. Although no records have survived (or have simply never existed) of people from lower classes celebrating New Year’s Day, we sure know that their celebrations must’ve differed from that at court. The Tudor court has established itself as a rich and splendid place with music, dancing and the medieval concept of courtly love. Two monarchs of the House of Tudor – Henry VIII and Elizabeth I – have probably spent the twelve weeks in the most luxurious and extravagant manner as compared to the other Tudor kings and queen.
Henry VIII chose his birth place, Greenwich Palace, as the main location for yuletide, a period of many days that also include Christmas and January 1st. It was there that you’d find yourself surrounded by thousands of courtiers, gentlemen and gentlewomen who gathered together to be joyous and to enjoy the many meals and banquets. As was custom, the Yule log was lit on Christmas Eve and provided everyone with warmth. The Lord of Misrule was in charge for games and carols, adding to the glory that was the festive season. According to records, Henry VIII spent a whopping £13.5m for his first Christmas in 1509. But did you know that December 25th wasn’t the highlight of the twelve weeks but rather January 1st?
Presents were exchanged on this day and courtiers were to present the king and queen with magnificent gifts that could either be accepted or rejected. The act of exchanging gifts took place in the king’s and queen’s presence chamber and was a well-planned event. The queen’s messengers handed over the presents to the king and left with a reward in form of money. At the same time the king opened the queen’s gift, the queen accepted the king’s gift that was also handed over by a messenger. The queen’s ladies also gifted things to the king, i.e. velvet cases, shirts, jewels, etc., and the queen rewarded her ladies with gifts on January 1st, too. Anne Boleyn, for instance, presented her ladies with ‘palfreys and saddles’ in 1533.
If you were lucky to have your gift accepted by the monarch, you’d receive a gift back. Natalie Grueninger writes on her blog that “in upper classes, gift giving was of great political significance” and as I mentioned before, showed whether you were in royal favour or disgrace. A good example occurred in 1532 when Henry VIII gladly accepted Anne Boleyn’s gift but rejected Katherine of Aragon’s, his first wife. The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, rejected a gift from the imprisoned duke of Norfolk in 1571 who was then executed in 1572. Eight years later, in 1580, the poet Sir Philip Sidney gained royal favour again after Elizabeth accepted his gift of a jeweled whip.
To summarise, it’s evident that January 1st was of much more significance as it is today. It was a day to impress the sovereign with your gift in order to remain or even rise in royal favour. To borrow Natalie Grueninger’s words: “It was a way for the upper class to gain royal favour, to assert their status and show off their wealth by giving incredibly lavish gifts.”
January 1st was yet another day in Tudor England passed in immense splendor and the sight of this event wouldn’t fail to impress us who spend January 1st most likely with a hangover or a tired body.
I wish you all a wonderful New Year’s Day and hope that you have a ‘Tudor-fic’ week!
Written by Diana W.
Sources:
Historic Royal Palaces, https://blog.hrp.org.uk/curators/new-years-day-and-the-tudors-a-lesson-in-celebrations/
Natalie Grueninger, https://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/resources/life-in-tudor-england/tudor-christmas-and-new-year/
Ives, E. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, 2004.
Sim, A. Pleasures and Pastimes in Tudor England, 2009.
Comments