Sick of Christmas? Seek solace in the fact that once upon a time it lasted three months

Suffering from ‘festive fatigue’? Like Christmas has already been going on for far too long.

It could be worse – you could be living in Tudor times, when Christmas celebrations ran for three months.

Festive preparations seem to start earlier and earlier each year, with decorations and gifts on sale from Halloween, which is actually in line with the start of yuletide celebrations for 16th-Century society.

But while we still pack Christmas away in January, Tudor celebrations carried on for almost another month – until Candlemas eve on February 1.

That means those living in the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I could have spent nearly a quarter of the year celebrating Christmas.

The comparison has been highlighted by Professor Nick Groom, of the University of Exeter’s English department.

Professor Groom, known as the ‘Prof of Goth’, said the early descent of darkness in the winter months, coupled with much of the land being fallow, marked the start of a long period of general festivity.

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Some places even appointed a “Lord of Misrule” to organise the food and drink and preside over celebratory games and jovial pranks, he said.

Prof Groom said: “Christmas was not merely an annual festival – it was effectively a whole season, and a season to enjoy the fruits of the year’s farming with meat and vegetables, cakes and ales.”