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The Tudor Society
  • 2 February – The death of Sir Francis Bryan, the Vicar of Hell, and the Feast of Candlemas

    On this day in Tudor history, 2nd February 1550, Sir Francis Bryan, died suddenly in Ireland. He was a rather colourful Tudor character, known as much for his drinking, gambling and all-round bad behaviour, as his diplomacy, royal favour and gift for poetry.

    Find out more about this one-eyed courtier and his nickname, “the vicar of hell” in this talk…

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  • Teasel’s Tudor Trivia – 22 December – Beware of goblins!

    In today’s edition of Teasel’s Tudor Trivia, Claire and Teasel share with you how to avoid goblins in your household, and it’s all to do with your Christmas decorations. Please do heed this warning from poet Robert Herrick!

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  • 2 February – The Feast of Candlemas

    In today’s video, I talk about the Feast of Candlemas and the traditions associated with it.

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  • Happy Candlemas!

    Yes, today is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. It commemorates the purification (or churching, as medieval people would have seen it) of the Virgin Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus Christ, when it was traditional for the mother to make an offering or sacrifice according to Jewish law, and the presentation of the baby Jesus at the temple in Bethlehem. It is the end of the liturgical season of Christmas tide and Candlemas Eve was also time to take down any Christmas decorations that you hadn’t taken down on Twelfth Night.

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  • Candlemas

    Candlemas, or the the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, is celebrated on 2nd February. It commemorates the purification (or churching, as medieval people would have seen it) of the Virgin Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus Christ, when it was traditional for the mother to make an offering or sacrifice according to Jewish law, and the presentation of the baby Jesus at the temple in Bethlehem.

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  • Christmas Decorations, Twelfth Night and Candlemas

    An article about the tradition of taking down Christmas decorations at Candlemas.

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