December means the tenth month as the calendar year originally had only 10 months before January and February was added on to the end. This is the month to try Tolling the Devil’s Knell, Allendale Fire Ceremony or Burning of the Clocks.
Experience Yule, the Norse midwinter festival filled with feasting, fire, and festivities fit for gods and warriors alike. Before Christmas was the holiday of the season, the pagan Norse celebrated Yule, a midwinter festival steeped in ancient customs, symbolism, and…
Experience the pomp, pageantry, and political spectacle of the York Sheriff’s Riding—a medieval tradition of civic pride and power. Step back into medieval England with a visit to York during the Sheriff’s Riding, a grand ceremonial procession marking the authority…
Explore the birthplace of Sir Geoffrey Howe, the mild-mannered yet formidable Chancellor who reshaped Britain’s economy and politics. On December 20, 1926, Geoffrey Howe, one of Britain’s most influential post-war politicians, was born in Port Talbot, Wales. Known for his…
Step into the moody, windswept world of the Brontë sisters and witness the poignant end of Emily Brontë’s remarkable life. On December 19, 1848, Emily Brontë, the enigmatic author of Wuthering Heights, passed away in the quiet village of Haworth,…
Celebrate the birth of Sir William Edward Parry, polar explorer and a true adventurer who charted the icy frontiers of the Arctic. On December 19, 1790, Sir William Edward Parry, the famed Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer, was born…
Celebrate the birth of Joseph Grimaldi, the father of modern clowning and the man who brought laughter to the Georgian stage. On December 18, 1779, Joseph Grimaldi, the most celebrated clown in British theatre history, was born in London. Known…
Witness Clement Attlee’s government lay the tracks for modern Britain with a historic vote that reshaped the nation. On December 18, 1946, Clement Attlee’s Labour government won a decisive parliamentary vote to bring key industries under state ownership, setting the…
Visit the birthplace of Sir Humphry Davy, the scientific genius who lit up the 19th century—literally and figuratively. On December 17, 1778, Sir Humphry Davy, the pioneering chemist and inventor, was born in the picturesque coastal town of Penzance, Cornwall.…
Celebrate the birth of Catherine of Aragon, the queen who reshaped Tudor England and whose life was as dramatic as any royal court intrigue. On December 16, 1485, Catherine of Aragon, the youngest daughter of Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II…
Experience the Boston Tea Party, a revolutionary act of defiance that brewed the storm of American independence. On December 16, 1773, under the cover of night, a group of American colonists, some disguised as Mohawk warriors, boarded three British ships…
