Meeting 12th November 2019

Talk by Tim Healey

A 17th Century Christmas

Tim Healey gave the Society an entertaining and informative description of the pagan and pre-Christian origins of many aspects of present-day Christmas celebrations going back to the 1600s.  These included music and singing by the waits, wassailing and over-indulgence in food and drink as well as traditional Christmas foods like roast meats, plum porridge and minced meat pies.

For part of the 17th century, there was a puritan backlash against Christmas as manifested in these practices, but following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 the earlier form of Christmas celebrations were restored as well.

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Following his talk, Tim drew attention to forthcoming events involving the Oxford Waits. 


The SCLHS Chair, Mary Thompson, concluded the meeting by wishing all members and their families a happy and healthy Christmas

Venue: Sutton Courtenay Village Hall

Tuesday 12th November 2019 7.30 pm

About the Speaker

Tim Healey is a musician as well as a writer and broadcaster on a wide range of subjects.  He is a popular speaker at historical societies, U3A groups and other associations.


He has previously given talks to the Society about the Drove Roads of Oxfordshire and The Story of May Morning in Oxfordshire.

Tim has been a frequent contributor to the Oxford Times monthly colour magazine, Oxfordshire Limited Edition. Many of the photographs accompanying his pieces are his own. 

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