Yule at Sutton Hoo

Travel back in time over 1,400 years and discover how today’s Christmas traditions have been inspired by the past. 

We'll be celebrating a traditional Anglo-Saxon Yule from Saturday, 22 November where you can see the High Hall exhibition space decorated for a traditional Yule feast and share your own traditions with us as we celebrate the festive season.

What did Christmas mean to the Anglo-Saxons? 

In the Anglo-Saxon period the days around the winter solstice are believed to have been known as Géola (Yule). The Yule feast was one of the key feasts of the year. Whereas now the winter solstice commonly falls on 21 or 22 December, under the Julian calendar it fell on 25 December.

The actual customs of yule are very similar to many of the customs we still celebrate over this festive period. The Anglo-Saxon celebration of Yule is believed to have involved decoration, feasting, drinking and paying homage to ancestors. 

Christmas in Tranmer House

Find out how Edith Pretty spent some of her Christmases with extracts from her travel diaries on display and enjoy decorations inspired by some of the objects discovered here at Sutton Hoo, handmade by our BusyBees volunteer team.

Head into the Discovery Room where you can make your own Yule-themed decorations and help decorate our tree or, from 6 December, see a magical line-up of trees decorated by local schools and community groups.

Our quiet play space in the Stables will also be open for you to make a Yule card or relax with some colouring or reading.

Festive shopping and eating

There’s plenty of Christmas shopping to be done with a visit to our National Trust shop, open on weekends only. You’ll find loads of gift ideas, from books, toys and homewares to accessories, decorations and food and drink.

And a festive visit wouldn't be complete without a treat or two to round off your day. Tuck into some tasty treats with our seasonal flavoured drinks, including decadent hot chocolates, as well as pasties, sausage rolls and some yummy yuletide bakes. Keeper's Kiosk, beside Tranmer House, is open daily from 10am-3pm and King's River Cafe is open at weekends.