Get into the festive spirit
From wreath-making workshops and carol concerts to winter illuminations, find Christmas days out near you.
Midwinter Merriment at Lyveden
- Published:
- 24 August 2023
This year Lyveden will be taking inspiration from traditional midwinter festivities. Discover how the Tudors celebrated Christmas and, in the new year, learn more about the tradition of wassailing the orchards. Embrace a simpler, more natural way to celebrate the festive season. Greenery decorations, craft workshops, family trails and much more will help to make your midwinter merry and bright.
Tudor Christmas at Lyveden
In the manor, greenery will adorn windowsills, mantlepieces and banisters – a nod to the simpler Christmases that Thomas Tresham would have known. The café will be evoking the feasts of Tudor Christmas with decorations inspired by Tudor festive favourites.
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about the 12 days of a Tudor Christmas and the quirky traditions of Tudor festivities.
Candlelight performance at Lyveden
Join us for an extra-special, after-dark Christmas experince at Lyveden, with candles lighting up the manor and a roaring fire in the wood burner.
An Elizabethan Christmas - carol concert with Eboracum Baroque
Friday 24 November, 6pm and 7pm
Join Eboracum Baroque for a festive programme of music with an Elizabethan twist.
Spookily festive storytelling
Friday 15 December
Did you know that the Tudors loved to share ghost stories on Christmas Eve? Join Marion Leeper by the fire for a festive evening of traditional ghost stories.
Christmas workshops
Join Liddy Parry from Something Less Boring for craft workshops that are sure to get you in the festive mood.
Christmas Wreaths workshop
Friday 24 and Sunday 26 November (10.30am), £45.
Christmas Card workshop
Friaday 24 and Sunday 26 November (2pm), £45
Festive Door Decoration workshop
Saturday 25 November (3pm), £45.
Festive family fun
'Game of goose' family trail
Friday 24 November to Monday 1 January
Discover 'the Game of Goose' - a favourite Tudor board game. Follow the trail and track down some festive family fun and take home your own board to colour in and play yourself. £2, booking not required.
An Elizabethan Christmas - carol concert with Eboracum Baroque
Friday 24 November, 6pm
Eboracum Barqoue will delight us with their Elizabethan twist on some festive favourites. £15 (adults), £10 (children).
Board games in the café
Saturday 25 November and 2, 9 and 16 December, 11am-3pm
Cosy up in our festive café and indulge in a favourite Tudor pastime - playing board games!
Advent crafts
Sunday 26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December, 11am-3pm
Get crafty in the run-up to Christmas with a new Tudor Christmas-inspired craft each week. £1, booking not required.
Spookily festive storytelling with Marion Leeper
Friday 15 December, 5pm
Indulge in a Tudor festive favourite and listen to some spooky stories by the fire. The earlier performance is intended for a family audience with funny, spooky, join-in stories with the occasional jump.
Festive birdfeeders
Thursday 28 December, 11am - 3pm
Make a mince pie... for a bird! Use some familiar ingredients to make a birdfeeder which will help keep your local birds feeling festive. £1, booking not required.
Festive food and drink
If you’re feeling peckish or need to warm-up us after a winter's stroll, we have plenty of festive treats available in the manor café. Why not treat yourself to a warming hot chocolate next to our log burner or take one with you as you explore Tresham's garden. And of course, we’ll have all your usual favourites including a mincepie or two.
Wassail
Friday 12 January - Sunday 25 February
Wassail away those post-Christmas blues and discover the quirky tradition that ensures a healthy apple harvest. The manor will still be decked out in some of it's festive finery and an exhibition in the Common Room will tell you more about this ancient custom.
Wassail trail
Saturday 17 February - Sunday 25 February
Join Robin on this free, fun-filled family trail to discover how an orchard is wassailled.
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