#20 "The History of Uletide Revels, The Development of the Christmas Carol"

The History of Yuletide Revels
Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Christmas traditions emerged from Roman and early-Christian practices to join forces with the rich patterns of European folk and court cultures. Happily, most missionaries followed the advice of Gregory the Great, who wrote in 597 AD that Christians should not try to destroy pagan customs but adapt them "to the praise of God." As a result, to this day many of these pagan rites survive as part of Christmas.

Period Drama and the Medieval Mystery Play
Imagine mid-June in late medieval York, a powerful and wealthy city in the north of England. Thousands of people have gathered at dawn to witness something that has been happening for nearly two centuries: another performance of their beloved cycle of mystery plays. As the sun rises over the city walls and flashes on the gold of his robe, the man playing God begins to create the world, and over the next few hours, the people of York will see all of history unfurl before them, ending in darkness at the Last Judgment.

The Development of the Christmas Carol
Although most carol's lyrics can be traced back to the 18th or 19th centuries, the Christmas Carol began to appear in its familiar form in the late Middle Ages.