Olive And Pru: Christmas

22 December 2022

Christmas

Merry Christmas

Seasons Greetings

Happy Holidays

Courtesy of freepik

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat,

If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,

If you haven’t got a ha’penny, God bless you!

Beggar’s rhyme.

The musical sheet belongs to the writer Edith Nesbit (Bland) (1858-1924), the author of popular children's literature.

Here in England turkey has been the favoured traditional Christmas dinner for a few decades. At the turn of the century though not many people could afford turkey so goose was the popular choice. Often a family would raise a goose, fattening it up in time for Christmas.

The song also talks about the charity of the Christmas season. Beggars would hold out their hats for a penny from people walking by. If you didn't have a penny on you, you could always give a half penny (pronounced ha'penny). If you didn't even have a "ha'penny" then you needed some blessing because you were just as poor as the beggar!

🎄🎄🎄

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, is usually credited with having introduced the Christmas tree into England in 1840. However it was actually his wife's grandmother 'Good Queen Charlotte', the German wife of George III, who set up the first known tree at Queen's Lodge, Windsor, in December 1800. Charlotte was born and raised in Germany, where the tradition of bringing a tree inside at Christmas time, decorated with lights and sweets, is believed to date back to the 16th century. As a child, Charlotte’s family always decorated single yew branches and laid presents for each other underneath. When she married King George III in 1761 she brought the custom with her to England.

🎄🎄🎄

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been an annual gift to the people of Britain from Norway as a token of gratitude for British support to Norway during the Second World War.

🎄🎄🎄

In 1647 Oliver Cromwell, an English Puritan leader, banned the festivities of Christmas for being seen as immoral on such a holy day. The ban was lifted in 1660. He was a dour man.

🎄🎄🎄