Welcome to the Culham/Reep Yuletide Feast
In Europe the seasonal habit of making merry in the dark days of winter dates back into the dim and distant past. There is no need to seek a religious explanation for this. The dreariness and scarcity of the season is reason enough for people to seek light, warmth, food and good company.
At the same time, it is probable that people have long felt a need to give thanks to God for such welcome seasonal blessings. For Christians, all thankfulness is a response to the grace of God, most clearly evident in Jesus Christ.
The dark days of winter seem an appropriate background to celebrations of the birth of Jesus, the ‘light of men’ (John 1.4).
Up to the eleventh century the Christian feast of the Nativity was usually referred to in English simply as midwinter – middum wintra. The first record of the word ‘Christmas’ (Cristes Maessan) occurs in 1038. The Norse word ‘Yule’ became widespread in England at the same time – a result of the Danish invasions of that period. The origin of the word puzzles scholars. Some have suggested it has the same root as the word ‘jolly’!
Whatever the case, we hope you will have a jolly time at our Yuletide Feast. In the meantime, you can find out more about your host, Sir Geoffrey Luttrell.