Category Archives: Christmas Special

Twelve Days of Christmas: Twelve Drummers Drumming

By Professor Matthew Worley It was only two drummers, but it sounded like twelve. My pop music epiphany came on 16th October 1980: Adam and the Ants performed ‘Dog Eat Dog‘ on Top of the Pops, which you can watch … Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas: Eleven Pipers Piping – Brassed Off

By Dr Natalie Thomlinson “More than owt else here that symbolises pride, it’s this bloody band!” [Image credit: bpcraddock from Pixabay.] To give you a flavour of the music from Brassed Off watch the William Tell Overture from the film here. … Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas: Ten Lords a-Leaping

By Dr Elizabeth Matthew On a summer’s day in 1189 a group of men rode swiftly to the quayside at Dieppe after a long journey from the Loire valley, two hundred and forty miles to the south. Keen to cross … Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing

By Professor Emily West The festive season provides a time and space for dancing (badly or otherwise), along with socializing, eating, drinking and celebrating. As befits a Christian celebration it also grants time for religious worship and quiet reflection. One … Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas: Eight Maids-a-Milking

Tales of Turning Milk into Wine and Festive Phlegm! By Amie Bolissian McRae [Image credit: The Milkmaid, Lucas van Leyden (Netherlandish, Leiden, ca. 1493-1533 Leiden), 1510. Image from metmuseum.org.] What would 17th century festivities have been without milk, cream, cheese, … Continue reading

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