logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2022
29m 22s

Medieval Christmas (Radio Edit)

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Greg Jenner and his guests Miles Jupp and Dr Eleanor Janega go back to the medieval Christmas for this one-off festive special. They look at the history and traditions that have thankfully continued through the ages, like gift-giving and stuffed wild boars (although numbers on stuffed wild boar we're told are down from previous years) and some that have mysteriously fallen off the radar completely, like masked carol singers and jellied eels.

For the full-length version of this episode, please look further back in the feed.

Research: Lloyd Roberts Script: Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Project Management: Siefe Miyo Edit Producer: Cornelius Mendez

Up next
Jul 3
Empress Dowager Cixi (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-century China by historian Professor Yangwen Zheng and comedian Sophie Duker to learn about the Qing dynasty ruler Empress Dowager Cixi.A contemporary of Queen Victoria, Cixi rose from low-ranked concubine to de facto ruler of China for nearly half a ... Show More
28m 7s
Jun 26
History of the Telephone (Radio Edit)
For our 150th episode, Greg Jenner is joined by historian Professor Iwan Morus and comedian Catherine Bohart to learn about the history of the telephone on its 150th anniversary.The inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, was granted the American patent for his new comm ... Show More
28m 8s
Jun 24
Announcing Series 12
Greg Jenner looks ahead to the new series of You're Dead to Me.If you’re in the UK, listen first on BBC Sounds, or watch on iPlayer from Friday 26 June. If you’re outside the UK, you can find us on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts, with the new series beginning on Friday ... Show More
1m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Midwinter Medieval Traditions
<p>Ever wondered how Christmas was celebrated in Medieval times? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis explore the fascinating world of Medieval festive traditions. From the violent brawls of medieval football to the quirky custom of 'mumming,' Eleanor and Matt dive into the rich tap ... Show More
42m 19s
Dec 2020
Nateland | Ep #26 - Christmas
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. So this episode, the guys delve into the history of many of our Christmas traditions and share a few Christmas traditions of their own. Co-hosts: Brian Bates ( https://www.instagram.com/brianbatescomic) & Aaron Weber ( https://www.inst ... Show More
1h 45m
Dec 2020
Ep 28: How the Judgies Saved Christmas
Gather 'round the Yule Log and listen to this week's Holiday Special from the Judgies! We share a few stories we found about Christmas time gifting traditions, a set of twins who tried a real life parent trap, and returning a gift that was opened too early. We also have a liste ... Show More
55m 16s
Dec 2021
Christmas feasts: Medieval & Tudor revelry
From brawn to plum pottage, Annie Gray takes us back to the raucous world of festive feasting in the medieval and Tudor eras. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, for the first episode in our new mini-series on Christmas food through history, she also touches on subversive merrymaking, s ... Show More
30m 27s
Dec 2019
Krampus and Friends Holiday Special, Part 4
Our holiday special is back! We're once again looking at holiday figures from around the world. Today, we’re going to have a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese traditions as we cover the nisse, the Yule Goat, and the Seven Lucky Gods. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www ... Show More
26m 33s
Sep 2025
Ballads of Love and Death
In this enchanting episode, Dr. Eleanor Janega dissolves the boundaries between history, folklore, and music to explore the haunting world of medieval ballads. Joined by author Amy Jeffs, illustrator Gwen Burns and composer/singer Natalie Brice, Eleanor uncovers the timeless stor ... Show More
1h 1m
Dec 2023
Christmas Special
We take a deep dive into some classic culinary Christmas traditions. Chiara Rimella and Fernando Augusto Pacheco sit down in the studio for a battle of the panettones. Plus: Monica Lillis sings the praises of Christmas pudding and Nina dos Santos tells us why cod will be on her t ... Show More
27m 10s
Dec 2022
The Silver Gonads of Santa Claus in the mouth of a Gelding Foal
A festive Christmas episode&nbsp;<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p> 
1h 2m