2025 brings a fresh wave of captivating literature—whether you’re drawn to enchanting origin stories, thought-provoking novels, or powerful poetry collections, this year promises a literary treat for readers of every genre to enjoy.
Fans of the beloved novel Chocolat will be delighted by Joanne Harris’s prequel, Vianne, set for release in the UK on 22nd May 2025 by Orion Books. This enchanting tale explores the early life of Vianne Rocher—known then as Sylviane Rochas—as she embarks on a transformative journey from New York to Marseille. Pregnant and seeking a fresh start, she discovers her passion for crafting chocolate-infused delicacies, setting the stage for the magic that unfolds in Chocolat. Harris masterfully weaves themes of pleasure, heartbreak, and culinary artistry, promising readers a rich and immersive experience.
Nigerian poet Chisom Okafor’s debut collection, winner of the Jacar Press New Voices Award, is set for release in November. Blending lyrical intensity with raw honesty, it offers a profound exploration of vulnerability, masculinity, and personal history.
Okafor’s unflinching narrative voice and deeply personal themes position this as one of the most powerful and anticipated poetry releases of the year.
Bestselling author Olivie Blake, known for The Atlas Six, ventures into satirical territory with Girl Dinner, set for release on 23rd October 2025.
This sharp, provocative novel critiques society’s obsession with wellness, food culture, and perfection, challenging conventional norms with Blake’s signature wit and inventive storytelling. With its timely themes and clever social commentary, Girl Dinner is poised to be a standout in contemporary literature.
Acclaimed poet and novelist Ocean Vuong returns with The Emperor of Gladness, scheduled for release on 15th May this year.
The novel follows 19-year-old Hai, who, on the brink of suicide, is saved by Grazina, an elderly woman with dementia. As he becomes her caretaker, their unlikely bond explores intergenerational friendship, mental health, and the complexities of human connection. Vuong’s signature lyrical prose ensures a deeply moving experience that will resonate across generations.
Danish author Tove Ditlevsen’s poetry collection There Lives a Young Girl in Me Who Will Not Die has been newly translated into English and was released in January.
A prominent literary figure in Denmark, Ditlevsen is celebrated for her unflinching portrayals of childhood, identity, and personal struggle. This collection charts her poetic evolution—from structured forms to more abstract expressions—offering raw honesty and emotional depth that will resonate with readers decades after her passing.
Africa, often celebrated as the cradle of humanity, is a continent of immense diversity and potential. With its rich cultural heritage, vibrant young population driving innovation and productivity, and a wealth of the world’s natural resources, Africa stands as a cornerstone of global history and future growth.
Over the previous decades, Africa has been a long-term recipient of foreign aid aimed at assisting with poverty, healthcare, education and infrastructure. There is however a call for change within Africa, a call that promotes long-term goals of empowerment, self-reliance and sustainable partnerships.
Since 1960, Africa has received billions of dollars in financial aid. While these initiatives have undoubtedly played a large part in addressing pressing concerns, its impact as had both positive and negative impacts. Economic support has been instrumental in humanitarian relief, saving countless lives during crises like the 2011 Somali famine and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It has also strengthened healthcare through vaccination programs and AIDS treatments, while funding schools and expanding access to education.
Despite these successes, international aid has also received criticism and sparked debate about its long-term effectiveness. It has been argued that financial aid focuses on short-term relief that creates a cycle of dependency. For instance, free food supplies have sometimes undercut local farmers, negatively impacting their livelihoods. Additionally, corruption and mismanagement have often obstructed the effective use of funds, leaving those most in need without support.
There is a growing call for greater involvement from the local communities that aid is intended to support. Many donors often overlook the complexities, priorities and cultural nuances of the people they aim to assist, resulting in solutions that may not align with their needs.
Many African leaders and communities are calling for more locally led initiates. These bottom-up approaches can ensure that aid is better aligned with local needs as part of a long-term sustainable solution. Many critics of traditional aid are pushing for equitable trade partnerships and fair access to global markets, investment in local industries and private sector involvement to help drive economic growth and job creation.
There is a clear need to shift the narrative of aid towards one that highlights Africa as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural wealth. Partnership programs that promote skill-sharing, technology transfer and joint ventures will empower Africa to take a more active role in shaping its own development.
With Donald Trump returning to office as the 47th President of the United States today, attention naturally turns to the historic and strategic “special relationship” between the UK and the US. Popularised by Winston Churchill in 1944, this term highlights the exceptionally close political, security, cultural, historical, and economic ties shared by the two nations.
Yet, despite their many similarities, including a shared language and commitment to democracy, the political systems of the UK and the US differ in profound ways, as I have shown here.
One of the most significant differences lies in the form of government. The UK is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, where the monarch serves as a ceremonial head of state. Real political power rests with Parliament, led by the Prime Minister, who acts as head of government.
In contrast, the US is a federal republic and presidential democracy. The President is both head of state and head of government, with power distributed between the federal and state governments.
The two countries also diverge in their approach to constitutional law. The US operates under a written constitution, a single codified document ratified in 1789, which explicitly defines the structure, powers, and limitations of government.
The UK, by contrast, relies on an unwritten constitution, a collection of statutes, conventions, legal judgments, and historical documents, such as the Magna Carta. This flexible framework allows for greater adaptability but lacks the rigidity and clarity of a codified system.
The UK, as a unitary state, centralizes power in Parliament, though some powers are devolved to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The US, on the other hand, operates under a federal system, sharing authority between the national government and individual states.
This federal system reflects the sheer scale and diversity of the US, with a population of 340 million, five times that of the UK, and a landmass roughly 40 times larger. Centralized governance on this scale would be impractical, making federalism a necessity.
Judicial authority is another key area of distinction. In the UK, the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, is independent but lacks the power to overturn parliamentary legislation, as Parliament is sovereign.
In the US, the judiciary wields significant influence through judicial review, allowing courts to invalidate laws or executive actions deemed unconstitutional.
The electoral processes of the two nations also differ. In the UK, general elections are held at least every five years using a first past-the-post system. The Prime Minister is not directly elected by the public but is the leader of the majority party in Parliament.
In the US, federal elections occur every two years, with presidential elections held every four years. Citizens vote directly for electors in the Electoral College, who then elect the President. Members of Congress are directly chosen by voters, ensuring a clear separation between legislative and executive powers.
Both nations have bicameral legislatures, (which means separated into two separate assemblies), but their compositions and powers vary.
In the UK, Parliament consists of the House of Commons, whose members are elected, and the House of Lords, an unelected chamber comprising life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers who provide legislative oversight.
In the US, Congress includes the House of Representatives, with members elected based on population, and the Senate, where each state elects two senators regardless of size. Unlike the UK Parliament, Congress operates independently of the executive branch.
While the UK and the US share a commitment to democracy and strong bilateral relations, their political systems reflect distinct historical contexts and governance philosophies. The UK’s parliamentary democracy emphasizes centralized authority and party discipline, whereas the USA’s presidential democracy prioritizes a separation of powers and federalism.
It’s January. It’s cold, it’s miserable, Christmas is over and there’s nothing good to look forward to for ages. So, this month’s recommendation is very much along the theme of ‘Things could be a lot worse’.
Pierce Brown’s debut novel, Red Rising, is very much a tale of things going from bad to worse. Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the colour-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.
However, Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers a terrible secret that has been kept from him and his kind for generations. Darrow learns that he—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilisation against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
Red Rising is a YA novel in the loosest sense of the world, as it treats its readers as wise beyond their years and deals with some mature themes. Darrow is a teenager when the novel starts out, and does a lot of growing up over the course of the novel.
The language is simple, and while the plot isn’t going to win any awards for originality, Brown does a terrific job of not only making you care for Darrow but also persistently raising the stakes, right up to a conclusion that is an absolute belter. His world-building is on point too, creating a Mars that feels objectively bleak and lived in, and very much a believable potential future.
The novel delves into politics, inequality, and classism, and takes inspiration from 1984, Brave New World, and even a pinch of Game of Thrones. Fans of The Hunger Games are going to find plenty to like in this book, as this has the feel of a much more mature version of it. Fair warning though, things do get quite brutal at times, so if you’re not one that kind of thing, maybe give this one a miss.
And the good news is that if you do enjoy Red Rising, it’s part of a long-running series to keep you going through these bitter and cold months of 2025.
New Year’s Celebrations are an all-consuming global event with spectacular firework displays from almost every major capital city in the world, broadcast on TV, signaling the new calendar. A significant part of the world doesn’t follow the Gregorian calendar and do not celebrate their new year on the 31st of December, but do so on alternate dates, in line with their own traditions and belief systems. I have outlined 5 well-known alternate new year celebrations below.
The Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar Calendar and is referred to as the “Spring Festival” in China. It is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world. Rooted in the Chinese lunar calendar, its date varies annually. Families gather to honour ancestors, eat traditional foods like dumplings, and watch stunning firework displays. Each year is associated with a different zodiac animal, believed to influence the year’s character, and 2025 will be the year of the snake and starts on January 29th. New Year’s Eve and ends on February the 12th, the Lantern Festival. While China is the origin, countries like Vietnam (Tết) and South Korea (Seollal) also celebrate variations of Lunar New Year.
Nowruz, translating to “New Day,” marks the Persian New Year and the first day of spring and is based around the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring Equinox. Originating over 3,000 years ago in Zoroastrianism, it is now celebrated by millions across Iran, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Rituals include cleaning homes (spring cleaning), preparing a Haft-Seen table adorned with symbolic items, and visiting family. The holiday embodies renewal, growth, and harmony with nature and is based on the Solar Hijri Calendar.
In certain parts of India, such as Gujarat and Maharashtra, the festival of Diwali doubles as the New Year. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes are lit with oil lamps, sweets are shared, and prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. The day after Diwali marks the beginning of a new year in the Vikram Samvat calendar, ushering in hope and positivity.
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days. Celebrated over two days, it is a time of reflection, prayer, and renewal. Traditions include the sounding of the shofar (a ram’s horn), eating symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey to symbolise a sweet year, and reciting prayers of repentance. Rosh Hashanah is deeply spiritual, focusing on self-improvement and reconciliation. It is celebrated within Jewish populations World-wide.
Songkran, rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, means “passing” or “approaching” in Sanskrit and aligns with the solar calendar and celebrates renewal. It is most famously known for its exuberant water fights, symbolizing purification and the washing away of bad luck.
If you are interested in studying History or Geography, Oxford Open Learning offer the chance to do so the levels shown below. You can also Contact Us.
Stepping into a world of festive delights is truly magical, and there’s no better place to experience this than at a Christmas market! Adorned with beautiful lights and decorations, there’s something truly enchanting about wandering through a Christmas market on a frosty winter evening, sipping mulled wine and admiring the twinkling lights. While today’s Christmas markets are beloved for their festive atmosphere, delicious treats, and unique gifts, their origins are steeped in centuries of history. Let’s take a closer look at how these beloved winter traditions began and uncover the stories behind some of the world’s most famous Christmas markets.
The tradition of Christmas markets dates back to the Late Middle Ages in German-speaking Europe. The earliest recorded market is believed to be Vienna’s “December Market,” which took place in 1298. Originally, these markets were practical affairs, allowing townsfolk to stock up on provisions for the cold winter months and purchase handmade goods for festive celebrations.
It wasn’t until the 14th century that these markets began to take on a distinctly Christmas-like atmosphere. The “Christkindlmarkt,” or “Christ Child Market,” emerged in Germany, with Dresden’s Striezelmarkt first recorded in 1434. These markets offered holiday treats, festive decorations, and gifts inspired by Christian traditions, becoming a cherished part of Advent celebrations.
The Dresden Striezelmarkt holds the distinction of being the oldest documented Christmas market in the world and is regularly voted the favourite Christmas market in German-speaking countries. Its name derives from “Striezel,” a traditional German cake that evolved into the famous “Stollen.” This sweet, fruit-filled bread remains a centrepiece of the market, with an annual Stollen Festival drawing visitors from across the globe. “Striezel” also means to stroll around the Striezelmarkt (Germany’s oldest Christmas market) during Advent.
Over the centuries, the Striezelmarkt has grown into a sprawling affair, featuring over 200 stalls selling everything from handcrafted wooden ornaments to steaming mugs of Glühwein (mulled wine). The market’s iconic giant Christmas pyramid, a towering wooden structure adorned with spinning figurines, is a nod to traditional German craftsmanship.
Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is another legendary Christmas market, renowned for its long history and distinctive traditions. Officially documented in the 1600s, this market is a feast for the senses, with the scent of roasted almonds and bratwurst filling the air. In the “little city of wood and cloth” (the booths and stalls), you will find beautiful handmade gifts. This tradition dates back from the beginnings of the market. Originally, it was a trading point for merchants, but this evolved to more Christmassy items and gifts because of the Reformation, it became customary to buy children gifts on Christmas Eve rather than New Year’s Eve. As a result, people wanted to buy Christmas gifts a week before – the Christmas Market as we know it was born!
One of its most endearing customs is the selection of the “Christkind,” a young woman chosen to represent the Christ Child. Each year, she delivers an opening prologue and presides over the market, dressed in a shimmering golden robe and crown. This tradition embodies the spirit of Christmas and ensures a magical experience for visitors.
Crossing over into France, Strasbourg’s Christmas market, or Christkindelsmärik, dates back to 1570, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Known as the “Capital of Christmas,” Strasbourg is a city that truly embraces the festive season. Its market spans the city’s historic centre, with the majestic Strasbourg Cathedral providing a stunning backdrop. Hundreds of merchants and craftsmen occupy the 300 chalets set up in the city centre.
Strasbourg’s market is famous for its focus on Alsatian traditions, including delicacies like bredele biscuits and spiced wine. Its beautifully decorated thirty-metre Christmas tree, brought to Place Kléber, is the tallest in Europe, and serves as the crowning jewel of this magical destination. This essential symbol of “Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas” is also the highest decorated Christmas tree in Europe.
In recent decades, the charm of traditional Christmas markets has spread far beyond Mainland Europe. Cities like London, Edinburgh, and Manchester have embraced the trend, incorporating both local traditions and continental influences. For example, London’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park offers a mix of Bavarian-style chalets and modern attractions, while Edinburgh’s market on Princes Street combines Scottish flavours with classic festive fare.
Even further afield, Christmas markets have gained popularity in cities like New York, Chicago, and Tokyo, proving that the festive spirit knows no boundaries.
The enduring appeal of Christmas markets lies in their ability to transport us back in time while celebrating the present. They offer a rare combination of nostalgia, community spirit, and sensory delight. Whether it’s sipping a warm drink in the glow of fairy lights or discovering a unique handcrafted gift, the experience feels timeless and comforting. As you stroll through a market this season, take a moment to reflect on its history. Behind the festive cheer lies a rich tapestry of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange that has stood the test of time.
So, this Christmas, why not visit a market with fresh eyes and a newfound appreciation for the centuries of joy that have made it what it is today? After all, these winter wonderlands are far more than just places to shop—they’re living pieces of history.
If you have any queries for Oxford Open Learning, you can Contact Us via this link.
And with those six words starts one of the most iconic stories ever told.
It is in a snowy winter in London that we first meet Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man who has become bitter with life. He is known for being cold and selfish and profits off his impoverished community, financially benefitting from their labour whilst paying measly wages to his employees—sounds somewhat relevant today, doesn’t it?
Later, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future show Scrooge what he needs to see before it’s too late to save his soul, and we get to witness the mistakes of his past, the emptiness of his present, and the dark future that awaits him.
Few stories capture the spirit of Christmas like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Published on December 19, 1843, it quickly became a hit, selling out its first 6,000 copies within a week and cementing Dickens’ reputation as a storyteller who could move audiences to laughter, tears, and action. Even now, almost 200 years later, it continues to be retold, from the page to the screen. There’s even one cinematic retelling with Michael Caine playing the Scrooge role as seriously as a car crash… alongside a supporting cast of muppets.
So just what inspired Dickens to write the classic tale?
Dickens’ motivation for writing A Christmas Carol was deeply rooted in his own early life. Born into a middle-class family, his fortunes took a sharp turn in 1824 when his father was imprisoned for debt. At just 12 years old, Dickens was sent to work in a blacking factory, pasting labels on pots of shoe polish in grim conditions. The experience left an indelible mark. He later described feeling “utterly neglected and hopeless,” sentiments that would later infuse his depictions of characters like Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family.
While Dickens eventually escaped the clutches of poverty, his exposure to the hardships faced by children and families in Victorian England stayed with him. By the time he wrote A Christmas Carol, he was a man haunted by the plight of the poor, particularly children, and determined to use his voice to inspire change.
The 1840s were a time of economic depression, mass unemployment, and widespread poverty. Industrialisation had drawn families into overcrowded cities, where conditions were squalid, and even children were expected to work to make ends meet. Many laboured in factories, mines, and workhouses, often for up to sixteen—yes, sixteen—hours a day. Life expectancy for these young workers rarely exceeded their mid-20s.
Dickens’ observations of these conditions were eye-opening. These charity-run institutions provided basic education but were poorly funded, overcrowded, and rife with disease. Dickens was horrified, describing the environment as “sickening” and haunted by the sight of boys and girls “with nothing natural to youth about them.” This visit solidified his determination to shine a light on the devastating effects of poverty and neglect.
Dickens’ outrage extended to the workhouses, infamous for their dehumanising conditions and punitive treatment of the poor. Designed to discourage reliance on public assistance, they separated families by gender and forced residents to labour in exchange for meagre sustenance. Dickens’ depiction of Bob Cratchit’s precarious position as Scrooge’s underpaid employee captured the real fear of families being driven to such dire straits.
Initially, Dickens planned to write a pamphlet titled An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child. However, he soon realised that a simple pamphlet wouldn’t deliver the emotional impact he desired. Fiction, he decided, could convey his message with “twenty thousand times the force.”
In just six weeks, Dickens poured his anger, empathy, and storytelling prowess into A Christmas Carol. The novella’s supernatural elements and unforgettable characters, from the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge to the angelic Tiny Tim, allowed Dickens to weave his social commentary into an engaging and accessible tale. At its heart was a call for empathy and action: a reminder that the well-being of society’s most vulnerable is everyone’s responsibility.
One of the most poignant moments in the story comes when the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals two emaciated children hidden beneath his robe: Ignorance and Want. These allegorical figures warn of the consequences of neglecting the poor, especially children, whose futures are shaped by the opportunities—or lack thereof—afforded to them. This chilling scene, often omitted from modern adaptations, underscores Dickens’ belief that societal indifference to poverty was a moral failing.
Though Dickens’ social conscience was a major driving force, his personal circumstances also played a role in the creation of A Christmas Carol. In 1843, his latest novel, Martin Chuzzlewit, was selling poorly, and his publishers were threatening to cut his salary. With a growing family to feed and debts to be repaid, Dickens needed a hit—and fast.
Despite the urgency, Dickens spared no effort in ensuring his novella was a masterpiece. He would often take long walks around London at night, conjuring scenes and dialogue as he roamed the city streets. The story came together quickly, with Dickens completing the 30,000-word manuscript in just over a month. Yet his financial gamble didn’t pay off as expected. To ensure the book met his exacting standards, Dickens paid for the publication himself, demanding luxurious bindings and gilt-edged pages. Priced at the equivalent of £25 today, the book was a commercial success but left Dickens with a fraction of the profits he had hoped for. Still, the novella’s enduring popularity ensured that his financial woes were eventually eased, particularly through public readings that he performed until his death.
Nearly two centuries later, A Christmas Carol remains as relevant as ever. The issues Dickens grappled with—child poverty, income inequality, and the moral obligation to care for the less fortunate—continue to resonate. Scrooge’s transformation from a selfish miser to a compassionate benefactor serves as a timeless reminder that it’s never too late to change and make a difference.
Charles Dickens’ motivations for writing the novella were deeply personal, profoundly empathetic, and undeniably practical. Whether driven by his own experiences of hardship, his desire to spark social reform, or his need to pay the bills, he created a story that transcends its origins to become a universal tale of hope and humanity. As we sit down to Turkey and all the trimmings (while trying to avoid eye contact with the Brussels sprouts), it’s worth remembering the message at the heart of A Christmas Carol: that the true spirit of Christmas lies in kindness.
Many happy returns this festive season, and have a happy new year too!
The blueprint for our modern Christmas, complete with trees, cards, gifts, turkey, decorations, and a grand Christmas Day celebration, was arguably laid down during the Victorian era. It certainly hasn’t always been what we have today. So, what was it like before the Victorians?
The reality is that prior, there was no centralised tradition for celebrating Christmas, and customs often varied according to region, social status, and wealth.
Before the 19th century, Christmas was celebrated as a longer season rather than the 2-3 day event we know today. It lasted 12 days from Christmas Day to January 5th, known as Twelfth Night. In other parts of the country, the festive period extended for an entire month, beginning on St. Nicholas’s Day (6th December), during which gifts were exchanged, and continuing through to Twelfth Night.
For the wealthy, Christmas in the Georgian and Regency eras (1714 to 1830) was a time of continuous celebration, featuring open houses, lavish suppers and extravagant balls. It resembled what we now think of as a social season, much like the one depicted in Bridgerton. Charitable acts were also important, particularly on Saint Thomas’ Day (21st December), when poor widows, especially those affected by the Napoleonic wars, could go ‘thomasing’ knocking on doors to seek alms or food.
On Christmas Eve, both the wealthy and the poor would gather holly and evergreens to bring indoors, a tradition that celebrated the return of longer days. Wreaths and garlands were crafted, and the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe was observed. Christmas Day itself was a time to dispel winter’s gloom. A candle was lit to symbolise warmth and light, and the Yule log (an actual wooden log, not the dessert) was brought in from the woods and lit using a piece from the previous year’s log. Christmas dinner was a sumptuous affair, featuring fowl, mince pies, cheese, and other delicacies, shared with family and friends. The next day, December 26th, Saint Stephen’s Day, was dedicated to charity, when servants and tenants received Christmas boxes of gifts or money, giving rise to the name “Boxing Day.”
The twelfth night marked the end of the Christmas season, celebrated with a party that included singing, dancing, mulled wine, and games like apple bobbing. It was also the day when festive greenery was removed from homes and burned, as it was considered bad luck to keep it indoors after this date.
Just a few decades before the Georgian era, between 1647 and 1660, Christmas was effectively banned in the UK under Commonwealth/Protectorate legislation. This suppression of festive celebrations was highly unpopular, leading to riots in Kent and other parts of the country. Despite the ban, many people reportedly continued to celebrate Christmas in defiance of the law.
Before the Victorian era, Christmas in Britain came in many forms, differing by class and region. While the wealthy enjoyed lavish feasts, balls, and extended party seasons, the poor tended to focus more on receiving charity and communal gatherings but spent most of their time working!
If you are interested in studying History, Oxford Open Learning offer the chance to do so at several IGCSE and A level, listed below. You can also Contact Us.
Trees are up all around, festive lights are everywhere, and Christmas carolers are braving the winter chill to spread a bit of joy with their songs. It’s the most wonderful time of the year—apart from that one time when it wasn’t. Yes, like in any Christmas film where the festive joy is under threat of being no more, there was a moment when Christmas was actually cancelled, allegedly at the hands of Oliver Cromwell.
Back in the 17th century, there was a fair bit of unrest in England which ultimately led to a civil war that Cromwell played a big part in. Years after becoming an MP in 1628, he became a military leader when parliament went to war with King Charles I. After the king was ultimately defeated and executed in 1649, Cromwell formed a new republican government known as the Commonwealth of England. He took the rather humble title of Lord Protector and ruled as a bit of a dictator. Not long after his death his republic collapsed and normal service was resumed in England with the monarchy’s restoration under King Charles II in 1660.
However, before all that drama, Cromwell had a hand in something which while not quite as treasonous, was still rather sinister. He banned Christmas, or so it’s commonly believed. But just how much of a role did he play in the cancelling of the most beloved holiday?
First, a little context is needed. At the time, Puritans were on the rise. English Protestants sought to reform the Church of England by removing Catholic practices in a bid to ‘purify’ (hence the name) religion in England. Puritans believed that people should dress modestly, and prohibited the likes of theatre and games. They also believed that Sunday was the Lord’s day and so should not be a day of rest, but that it should be devoted to religious study. To their credit, they did encourage literacy for both men and women so that everyone could read the bible, so in that sense they were progressive.
With Protestants on the rise throughout Europe, particularly in England in the 1600s, many of them had their eyes on Christmas, and how it was too closely associated with Catholicism as opposed to what was written in the Bible. Parliament was becoming increasingly Puritan, while King Charles I was very much in favour of the Anglican church’s ceremonies.
This came to a head in the 1640s when the country was in a state of upheaval. The King had dissolved parliament for challenging him but parliament reasserted itself with its own mandate, resulting in a bitter civil war across the country. A series of bills were passed, each becoming more restrictive when it came to celebrating Christmas, and it was eventually expunged from the calendar and all celebrations banned. Shops were to remain open, while decorative displays of holly, ivy, rosemary and bay were forbidden. Constables were given power to examine the contents of ovens and to confiscate dishes deemed festive. Military patrols took to city streets to enforce the bans.
Seasonal celebration may have retreated behind closed doors, but, when the mayor of Canterbury put a shopkeeper in the stocks for refusing to open on Christmas Day, the townsfolk rallied. In what became known as the ‘Plum Pudding Riots’, an angry crowd gathered and windows of known Puritans were smashed. The mayor was jostled and felled, his robes torn, and he was obliged to flee. Similar incidents occurred in London, Norwich, Ipswich, and Bury St Edmunds, with the spirit of rebellion spreading to Kentish ports, where sailors mutinied and laid siege to Dover.
A new phase in the Civil War followed and things became even grimmer. King Charles I was executed, Parliamentary rule became absolute, the cause for King and Christmas lapsed into sullen public resentment. For the foreseeable future, there were no Christmases in England and many parts of Europe. It would be 1660 before Cromwell’s republic fell and the monarchy and Christmas restored.
However, is the popular belief that Cromwell was the man behind all this truly justified? Just how much involvement did he have in Christmas’ cancellation? While he may have been the figurehead of the republic, Cromwell had little to do with the banning of Christmas. And while he may have been very much in favour of it, being the proud puritan he was, crucially he was absent from parliament when the key ban was introduced in 1647—at the time he was under threat of arrest by the House of Commons for supporting soldiers’ protests in a dispute over fairer pay.
The story of England’s cancelled Christmas is a fascinating glimpse into a turbulent time when politics, religion and societal change collided. While Oliver Cromwell remains the figure most associated with this festive prohibition, the reality is more complex, with the ban rooted in the Puritan ideals that dominated Parliament during the Civil War.
It’s a reminder of how traditions we hold dear can be reshaped—or even outlawed—by the tides of history.
Thankfully, Christmas proved resilient, returning with the monarchy in 1660 and enduring as a beloved celebration ever since. There’s no chance of Christmas being cancelled this year, so many happy returns and fingers crossed, Santa will leave you all something special under your tree. And have a happy new year as well!
If you are interested in studying History, Oxford Open Learning offer the chance to do so at IGCSE and A level, linked below. You can also Contact Us.
If you have watched the news over the last number of months, you will have seen a lot of coverage of the American election. It was big business in terms of news value with a particularly fierce and eventful battle between the Democrats and the Republicans eventually producing a win for the latter. Indeed, with controversial staff picks still being made by the victor, the media have continued to have a field day.
But let’s think about America historically, of how it came about. The Constitution of the United States of America is a very significant document – one that is famous all over the world and which helped shape the nation we know today. It is a fundamental law of the American political system and, amazingly, the oldest written national constitution in use. One of, if not the main features is simply that it defines the basic rights of American citizens.
In 1787, the Constitution was written in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and you can visit sites linked to this today. It was the product of many debates about various topics, from representations and slavery – the Constitution aimed to make life much fairer for all. It concisely organised, for instance, the country’s political institutions, such as The House of Representatives and the Senate.
If you have heard of the musical Hamilton or had the good fortune to see it, you will know it is based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. He championed a strong central government for America and many things that still happen today can be traced back to his hard work.
Throughout history, various amendments have been made – mainly to keep the Constitution up to date and relevant. In total, 27 amendments have been made. In 1920, for example, women’s suffrage was introduced as the 26th amendment, meaning that they had a right to vote. The most recent amendment was in 1992.
Even though the Constitution has had various criticisms over the years, often that it is ambiguous and unclear, it is an extremely dynamic and flexible document. And this is what helps it to be not only very important to America but also well-known and used as a model all around the world.
So, with everything we have been hearing about the 2024 American election, spare a thought to how the Constitution came about all those years ago – it’s absolutely fascinating how what happened in the past has such a big impact on modern-day life.
If you are interested in studying History, Oxford Open Learning offer the chance to do so at several levels, linked below. You can also Contact Us.