Monthly General Meeting at Crofton Halls

Doors open at 2pm for refreshments until the main meeting starts at 2:30pm

Christmas, A Festive History - Andy Thomas

In a fascinating, entertaining and uplifting presentation, Andy uncovers the long and intriguing background to the festive season. From the ancient midwinter celebration of light to the marking of the birth of a messiah, mid-December has long been a time for rituals and rejoicing. Yet the history of Christmas has not been straightforward; its celebration was banned in Puritan times and its merry traditions splintered into many guises before the Victorians rehabilitated the festival into what it has become. Andy shows how, for all the commercialisation, we can still find meaning and enjoy Christmas today while keeping the flame of light alive in the winter darkness.