Yule at Sutton Hoo
Experience a traditional Anglo-Saxon Yule at Sutton Hoo.
Check back later on in the year to find out how we'll be celebrating Yule at Sutton Hoo in 2026.
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.
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