On this day in history : 26th December 1871 – Boxing Day is officially recognised in Britain as a Bank Holiday for the first time….
British in its origins – (but celebrated in other Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada) – there are numerous theories as to how it gets its name….but none are definitive….
Some believe it dates back to the Middle Ages, when serfs were given ‘Christmas boxes’ by their lords….
Certainly in the days of being ‘in service’ servants were expected to work on Christmas Day…. Boxing Day was traditionally their day off….and their masters would usually give them a Christmas box to take home to their families…. In recognition of their service throughout the year they would be given small gifts, possibly some money and leftovers of food from the Christmas meal…. It could be called their ‘Christmas bonus’….
Victorian depiction of early C19th Christmas celebration – “Christmas Comes But Once A Year” by Charles Green
It was also the customary day for tradespeople to collect their ‘Christmas box’…. On the first working day after Christmas they may have been given a gift of money, or similar, by their customers by way of showing appreciation for their services during the year…. Some of us still choose to thank our refuse collectors, milkmen and postmen in this way….
A customer asking for a Christmas box from a dentist that he regularly visits; the dentist retorts that he can have a tooth pulled for free… Wood engraving after [L.S.] – Image : The Wellcome Collection CC BY-4.0Another theory as to why we call it ‘Boxing Day’ comes from when Alms boxes were placed in churches during the period of Advent…. Parishioners would donate what they could afford and the collections would have been distributed amongst those in need the day after Christmas…. December is also the feast day of St. Stephen ~ the first Christian martyr and known for his acts of charity….
On this day in history : 25th December 1950 – The ‘Stone of Scone’ – also known as the ‘Stone of Destiny’ – is stolen by Scottish Nationalists from Westminster Abbey – where it had been for 650 years….
Coronation Chair with the Stone of Scone, Westminster Abbey – Cornell University Library via Flickr
The oblong block of red sandstone, weighing 458lb (208kg) is said to have been captured by King Edward I as ‘spoils of war’ in 1296…. He took the stone from Scone, near to Perth…. The stone, a powerful, ancient symbol of the Scottish monarchy had been used in the coronation of Scotland’s kings for centuries…. Edward I had it taken to Westminster Abbey – and incorporated into his own throne…. Most British sovereigns have been crowned upon it ever since….
On Christmas Day 1950 four Scottish students – Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart – removed the stone from the Abbey….during the process the stone broke into two pieces…. They buried the larger piece in a field in Kent….but a few days later dug it up again and took it back to Scotland…. A short while later they also brought back the smaller section and the two pieces were given to a senior Scottish politician who had the stone professionally repaired, by stonemason Robert Gray….
Replica of the Stone of Scone at Scone Palace – Aaron Bradley CC BY-SA 2.0
Meanwhile, the British government had launched a major search for the stone but were unsuccessful in discovering its whereabouts…. On the 11th of April 1951 the Stone of Scone was left for safekeeping by the Church of Scotland on the altar of Arbroath Abbey…. The police in London were informed – and the stone was returned to Westminster Abbey…. At the time it was rumoured that a copy had been made and the one returned was not the original….
In 1996 it was decided that the Stone of Scone should be returned to Scotland…. It now resides alongside Scotland’s Crown Jewels – the ‘Honours of Scotland’…. The only time the stone will ever leave Scotland now is when it is needed for the coronation of future kings and queens of the United Kingdom….
Illustration of the Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey, 1855 – Anonymous engraver – public domain
On this day in history : 24th December 1922 – The BBC broadcasts ‘The Truth About Father Christmas’ – the first play to be written for British radio….
Image via Pinterest
The play was for the BBC’s ‘Children’s Hour’ and was broadcast from Newcastle with radio ‘auntie’ Phyllis M Twigg….
Children’s Hour was aimed at children between the ages of 5-15 years and was extremely popular…. It was on the radio between 5pm and 6pm every evening and ran from 1922 to 1964…. Some of the favourites listened to over the years included:- ‘Just So Stories’, ‘Worzel Gummidge’, ‘Toytown’, ‘Nature Parliament’, ‘Winnie the Pooh’, ‘Journey into Space’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘Jennings at School’….
However, by 1963 listener numbers had fallen dramatically to just 25,000 – as children preferred to watch television…. Those who were listening were in fact middle aged and elderly ladies nostalgic for their childhood days…. In 1964 it was decided Children’s Hour should come to an end….
On this day in history : 23rd December 1992 – A national newspaper publishes the Queen’s speech – scheduled to be aired on BBC television two days later, on Christmas Day….
Queen’s Speech, 1992 – ‘annus horribilis’ – Image : The BBC – fair use
The source of the leak was never found – but the text for the five minute broadcast, which had been recorded at Sandringham, was spread – virtually word for word – across the centre pages of The Sun…. The newspaper insisted it had done nothing wrong and had come by the story by ‘good old-fashioned techniques’….
“1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure”…. – Her Majesty the Queen….
1992 was a difficult year for the Royal Family…. It was the year of the catastrophic fire at Windsor Castle – and the breakdown of the marriages of both Prince Charles and Prince Andrew…. From the speech came the infamous phrase used by the Queen to describe the year…. “annus horribilis”….
Image via You Tube
Her Majesty sued The Sun and was awarded £200,000 in damages – which was immediately donated to charity…. In the following years certain changes were made surrounding the annual Christmas Queen’s Speech…. The venue was changed from Sandringham to Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace – and the media received no information as to the speech contents until late on Christmas Eve…. In 1997 the BBC’s monopoly to televising the speech was ended by Buckingham Palace – and became shared on a yearly rotating basis with ITV…. Some believe it was a snub to the BBC – over their interview with Princess Diana in 1995…. Nowadays the King’s Speech can even be viewed live on social media….
On this day in history: 22nd December 1716 – Britain’s first pantomime is staged at Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre….
The Theatre Royal, Portugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields – Image copyright : Victoria and Albert Museum, London
There was at the time much rivalry between theatres and two days later a pantomime with a similar name opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London…. Pantomime, or ‘Panto’, dates back to the Middle Ages….although we think of it as a British institution its origins actually come from the Italian ‘Commedia dell’arte’…. Blend it with British music hall and we get the quirky, slapstick, flamboyant, fun entertainment that we know and love today….
Commedia dell’arte was a popular form of professional theatre during the 16th to 18th centuries….with many touring troupes across Europe – particularly Italy and France…. Very often performances would have been put on at markets and fairs – and told the story of Pantalone, his beautiful daughter Columbine, the clown Pierrot and the mischievous servant Artecchino…. It was in the late 1600s that these characters began to appear in English comedy plays – but with a slight British twist of course….
Commedia dell’arte scene in an Italian landscape by Peeter van Bredael – Public domain
It was John Rich, an important director and theatre manager of the 18th century, who first brought us Pantomime…. It was also he who opened the New Theatre at Lincoln’s Inn Fields – and later the Theatre Royal at Covent Garden…. Under his stage name of ‘Lun’ he played the part of Harlequin – his version of Artecchino, the servant in the Commedia dell’arte…. These performances became known as ‘Harlequinades’….
John Rich as Harlequin c.1720 – Public domain
The story of the Harlequinade involved five main characters:- Harlequin, who falls in love with the beautiful Columbine – but her father, the foolish and greedy Pantaloon, tries to keep them apart – with the help of the Clown and the servant Pierrot….
Harlequin had magical powers – and carried a wooden sword which could either be a magic wand – or weapon…. The sword was made with a special hinged flap, so when it was struck against something it made a loud ‘slapping’ sound…. This is where we get the term ‘slapstick’ from….
Example of Harlequin complete with slapstick sword – Maurice Sand – Public domain
By the Victorian era Panto had become a fixed part of the Christmas festivities…. It was at the height of music hall popularity that the Harlequinade format began to change…. Song and dance began to influence performances more….and other popular storylines were introduced…. Gradually the original story with Harlequin began to die out….the last performance was staged in London, at the Lyceum Theatre, in 1939….
The Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph book cover, 1890 – showing harlequinade characters – Wetman on en. Wikipedia – Public domain
The Payne Brothers as Clown and Harlequin c.1875 – Public domain
Paul Legrand as Pierrot circa 1855 – Photograph by Nadar – Public domain
Nowadays, the plot is usually based on a well-known children’s story:- Cinderella, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Snow White, Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, are a few we are all familiar with…. Most towns hold a Panto in some form or other….and venues range from village halls to top-end theatres….
The story usually involves a girl dressed as a boy in the principal male role – and ‘he’ always gets the girl…. There is nearly always a fairy Godmother….there are ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ – and sometimes performances involve animals, either real or of the Pantomime horse variety…. There is slapstick and comedy, song and dance and audience participation…. Oh!….and of course – the Pantomime dame….
Actor with Pantomime horse, circa 1869/70 – Weir Collection jpg – National Library of Scotland CCO
The most famous Harlequinade clown was Joseph Grimaldi – who made his first appearance in 1800…. So popular were his performances that people would flock to Drury Lane and Sadlers Wells to see him…. To this day clowns are often called ‘Joeys’, in his memory…. One of his characters was Queen Rondabellyana – where he dressed as a woman….and so, gave us the Pantomime dame….
Grimaldi as ‘Joey’ the Clown – George Cruikshank – Public domain
“He’s behind you!” ~ “Oh no he’s not”….”Oh yes he is”….
Cottage Capers 