Local Historian and city animator Tom Hudson of Live History delivered an entertaining tour de force on the history of Christmas and its traditions to the West Cheshire Heritage Forum, the CWAC sponsored group which brings together experts and local history groups.

Starting with the hijacking of Santa by the Coca Cola company in the 1920s who wanted to stimulate more sales in winter, Tom toured back through history touching on the origins of the poem “Twas the night before Christmas” which was written by a Clement Clark Moore in 1823 and was originally called “A visit from St Nicholas. He spoke about the development of the legend of Santa and his reindeer – including Rudolph who only appeared in 1949. For the more serious historians he explained why Oliver Cromwell and the Puritan government was accused of cancelling Christmas, why Viking legends have created the idea of a sleigh in the sky and how the original St Nicholas provided dowries in the form of gold coins for three girls one of who received hers down the chimney.

He also provided plenty of Chester Christmas tales that when Charles Dickens first visited Chester on 13th August 1858, where he gave a reading from his festive book ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the music hall (formerly St Nicholas’ Chapel) on St Werburgh Street, now Superdrug. Members of the WCHF were able to adda few more Chester Christmas stories to Tom’s repertoire including Handel’s stay when he was trying to get to Dublin to perform the Messiah.

Tom is appearing at Stanley Palace in a Dickensian Grotto until 22 December and through the year his company Live History https://livehistory.co.uk/ creates amazing history animations celebrating the history of Chester.

West Cheshire heritage Forum welcomes representatives of local history groups and societies Contact Cathryn.Eales@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk