Celebrate Christmas in Great Britain with Shakespeare & Dickens

image of Dickens, Shakespeare and Tudor street with text overlay Christmas in Great Britain. Medieval & Victorian Christmas Online courses from www.CaptivatingCompass.com

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Celebrate Christmas In Great Britain With Shakespeare & Dickens

Of all the British writers that had an impact on winter holiday celebrations and Christmas traditions, William Shakespeare & Charles Dickens probably had the greatest impact on traditions that have stayed with us since the middle 16th century, if not longer. Christmas in Great Britain is full of feasting, gathering, and giving. Let Shakespeare & Dickens help you celebrate this festive holiday this Christmas season! Learn all about the history and culture of Christmas in Great Britain during the Medieval and Victorian Eras with these holiday courses your family will love.

Christmas In Dickens’ Victorian England

image of Christmas Unit Study: Holidays in Dicken's Victorian England with text overlay. 25 lessons for 6th-12th grade.

The Victorian era sees the height of the British Christmas tradition brought back to life by Dickens’s most famous book, A Christmas Carol. Discover how Dickens and the creation of one little book changed England and how we celebrate Christmas today in many parts of the world. Your middle and high school students will love the learning, crafts, cooking, and games in the holiday course Christmas in Dickens’ Victorian England.

This 7-module holiday course contains over 30 lessons and activities. Your middle & high school students will enjoy learning about Charles Dickens, one of his most famous literary works alongside learning about Christmas in Victorian England. Students will explore Dicken’s Christmas stories, including A Christmas Carol. Everything needed to learn about and create Victorian Christmas decorations, crafts, gifts, games, and festive cooking is included.

Here’s what’s included:

Module 1 Welcome to Christmas in Dickens’ Victorian England
- Introduction, Materials & Supply List
Module 2 Dickens & Christmas in the United Kingdom
- The History of Christmas in the UK
- What Dickens Did for Christmas
- The Origins of A Christmas Carol
- Charles Dickens and The Invention of Christmas
- Dickens Stories About Christmas
- Create a Dickens Christmas
Module 3 Victorian Christmas Crafts
- Christmas Crackers
- Victorian Wrapping Paper
- Victorian Greeting Cards
Module 4 Victorian Christmas Decorations
- Victorian Table Mats
- Victorian Paper Flowers
- Victorian Ivy & Mistletoe Ball
- Homemade Holly Berries in Victorian Times
- Create & Decorate with Ivy Ribbon
- Creating a Victorian Christmas Wreath
- Victorian Christmas Tree Decorations
- Dress the Tree – Victorian Style
Module 5 Make a Victorian Feast for Christmas Dinner
- Victorian Christmas Pudding
- Victorian Mince Pies
- How to Make Victorian Sugar Plums
- How to Make Victorian Christmas Turkey & Stuffing
- Make Your Own Victorian Bread Sauce
- Victorian Christmas Cake
- Parents – Mulled Wine & Wassail Bowl Punch
Module 6 Victorian Gifts to Make
- Victorian Keepsake Box
- Victorian Gift Bags
- Create A Victorian Picture Frame
- Victorian Scrapbooking
Module 7 Have a Victorian Gathering – Perfect for Christmas Eve or Boxing Day
- A Reading of The Christmas Carol
- Singing Christmas Carols – Victorian Style
- Victorian Games to Play

Get ready to discover and create the magic of a Victorian Christmas in your home with this hands-on course that includes videos with follow-up questions, activities, literature resources, and everything needed to make a fun family Christmas celebration in your home.

While the videos and workbooks are geared toward middle and high school students, there are crafts, games, and activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Christmas in Dickens’ Victorian England is perfect for middle & high school students but is enjoyed by all ages.

Christmas Isn’t Christmas in Great Britain without a little Shakespeare!

Get in the medieval Christmas mood by learning about Christmas with Shakespeare. Explore and experience all the feasting and fun that was had during the 12 days of Christmas holiday celebrations of the winter festive season.

image of Christmas Unit Study Holidays in Shakespeare's Medieval England with text overlay. 25 lessons for 6th-12 grade

Christmas in Shakespeare’s Medieval England

The twelve days of Christmas were all celebrated by the Tudors and all of Medieval England. Shakespeare wrote the play Twelfth Night to be part of these celebrations. In this holiday course, you will learn about many of the holiday traditions of England during the Middle Ages by studying Shakespeare’s medieval England. Some of them we still follow today.

Module 1 Welcome to Christmas with Shakespeare
- Welcome & Materials List
Module 2 An Overview of Shakespeare & Elizabethian England – To better understand this festive period
- Getting to Know Shakespeare
- What was life like in rural Elizabethan England?
- What was life like for the poor in the towns of Elizabethan England?
- What was life like in the court of Elizabeth I?
- Who were the rich in Elizabethan England?
- To what extent was life-changing in Elizabethan England?
- Why was London the center of the Elizabethan world?

Module 3 The Feasting Season & Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- The Importance of the Yule Log & Other Days of Christmas
- What is Boxing Day?
- What is Plough Monday?
- BONUS Video – Daily Life in Medieval England
Module 4 Food & Feasting in Medieval England
- Feasting in Early Medieval England
- What did They eat at a Roayl Feast?
- RECIPE – Sweet Frumenty
- RECIPE – Making Shred Pie
- VIDEO: Tudor Feast at Christmas
- MORE Medieval Cooking Videos
Module 5 Music & Merriment during Shakespeare’s Medieval Times
- The History of Decorating with Holly & Ivy
- The Boar’s Head Carol
- Christmas Dancing
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
- Music for Your Medieval Christmas
Module 6 High School Extra Credit
- Interesting Christmas Lecture on Christmas Carols
- BONUS VIDEO – Jobs in Medieval England

Explore Shakespeare’s Christmas Play – Twelfth Night

This 6-module course contains over 25 lessons. Your middle & high school students will enjoy learning about Shakespeare alongside learning about Christmas in medieval, Elizabethan England. Students will explore Shakespeare’s Christmas play – Twelfth Night as well as life in medieval and Elizabethan England. Everything needed to learn about and create Medieval Christmas music, food, and fun is included.

Get ready to discover and create the magic of a medieval, Elizabethan Christmas in your home with this hands-on course that includes, videos with follow-up questions, recipes, literature resources, and everything needed to make a fun, family Christmas celebration in your home. Use the craft ideas to make a small gift for each family member to open on Christmas morning.

Bring Together Ancient Traditions And Modern Traditions

These courses bring together the ancient tradition of feasting and the more modern traditions brought to life during the reign of Queen Victoria, during the 19th century, creating the perfect complement to the popular tradition of decorating with Christmas lights and other Christmas customs in your family. Create your own festive traditions of Christmas songs, a nativity play, and paper crowns at the dinner table. It will be a Christmas scene that will be remembered and talked about on Christmas Day for years to come.

Christmas in Shakespeare’s Medieval England is perfect for middle & high school students but is enjoyed by young children with the help of a parent. Happy Christmas!