Room at the museum

Went to the Geffrye Museum and wandered round their Xmas rooms, from the 16th century to a fictional loft living 1990s couple. It's only in the '60s when a Christmas decorated room starts to look familiar with its presents, streamers and tinsel. No fairylights in the '30s. I knew that the Victorians basically invented Christmas, but what I didn't know is that there were traditions up until the mid 18th century and then they started to decline - in those days, Twelfth Night was more important than 25th December. Also, the "goose is traditional" marketing ploy is bollocks, people ate beef before turkey took over as the main event in the late 19th century (there was no mention of the humble nut roast....)



Later, we went out to Tanya's boat club for a festive fancy dress party. My donation to the proceedings was a Santa hat, but other people had gone the whole hog. No sexy Mrs Claus here, it was the full pagan: sheep, owls, moths, birds, as well as a lot of greenery (the Geffrye museum told us that that evergreens were first used as part of Saturnalia with bay and rosemary being as much a part of it as holly and ivy, but adopted by the Christians as a sign of ever-lasting life). The boat house had been done up like Narnia: trees, snowflakes, baubles and lights and and there was some Turkish Delight with which I stuffed my face. I'd've betrayed any member of my family for it in an instant.