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Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA; Tel: 020 7739 9893
‘Bruss’ in Edwardian room and replica Edwardian crackers
Conjure up the true spirit of Christmas Past with a visit to the Geffrye’s intriguing annual exhibition. Every year, the museum’s period rooms are decorated in authentic festive style, giving visitors a vivid and evocative impression of Christmas celebrations in English homes over the past four centuries.
This year’s accompanying programme of events will focus on 20th century festivities, highlighting the main developments and changes in the domestic celebration of Christmas. The switch from home-crafted to shop-bought decorations, the increasing popularity of Santa Claus and the growing prominence of children during the season will all be explored in talks, events and through the displays.
Try a variety of printing techniques and use special and recycled papers to create a stylish range of Christmas cards.
Saturday 1 December, 1.30 – 4.30pm. Tickets £20 in advance, includes materials.
Make your own traditional Christmas decorations – with a contemporary twist.
Saturday 8 December, 1.30 – 4.30pm. Tickets £25, includes short talk, workshop and all materials.
An informal talk in the Edwardian room exploring how the Victorian Christmas was transformed during the early 20th century into our modern celebration.
Saturday 8 December, 11.30am and repeated at 3.00pm. Free.
Acclaimed vocal group Bocca Aperta returns to the Geffrye with a moving recital of a capella Christmas music.
Thursday 13 December, concert begins at 8.00pm, museum opens at 7.30pm. Tickets £12.50 in advance (includes a glass of sherry or port and a mince pie).
Free workshops for young people aged 5-16. Admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Create unique Christmas crackers with special surprises hidden inside.
Saturday 1 December, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2.00 - 4.00pm.
Create puppets of your favourite Twelfth Night characters.
Saturday 5 January, 10.30am–12.30pm and 2.00-4.00pm.
Listen to a story of the baking of a Twelfth Night cake and other tales.
Sunday 6 January, 12.30, 1.30 and 2.30pm
Bake delicious seasonal favourites: spiced biscuits, gingerbread men, cakes and pieces.
Saturday 1 December, 2.00–4.00pm. Tickets £3 in advance, includes all ingredients.
Experience Christmas Past by candlelight, enjoy festive music performed by Pegasus, one of London’s leading chamber choirs, listen to a seasonal room talk or bring children to a Christmas decoration-making workshop. Seasonal fare will be available in the restaurant and visitors can hunt for unusual gifts in the shop. A fun-filled evening for all ages.
Thursday 6 December, 5.00 - 8.00pm. Free admission and events.
Join us in the Geffrye’s annual Twelfth Night celebrations. Festivities include the burning of the holly and the ivy, stories about Epiphany, carol singing, and a taste of mulled wine and Twelfth Night cake. Please note that this event takes place in the garden, so wrap up warm.
Sunday 6 January 2008, 4.00 - 5.00pm. Free admission.
Notes to Editors
1. For further details or transparencies, please contact Nancy Loader, Press Officer, on 020 7739 9893 or nloader@geffrye-museum.org.uk.
2. The Christmas Past exhibition is now in its eighteenth year, and on-going original research into the history of Christmas adds a new dimension to the displays each year. A well-illustrated book has been written to tell the history of Christmas in English homes and is available in the museum's shop.
3. The Geffrye’s main displays are arranged as a chronological sequence of period rooms showing English urban middle-class interiors from 1600-2000. This contextual presentation enables the museum to interpret its collections of decorative and fine arts within a social historical framework, exploring home life and style – and the way urbanites lived – over four centuries.
4. Admission: FREE
Address: 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2.
Tel: 020 7739 9893. Web Address: www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
Travel: Buses 149, 242, 243, 67, 394
Tube Liverpool St, then bus 149 or 242/Old St (exit 2), then bus 243
Open: Tue–Sat, 10am-5pm, Sun & Bank Hol Mon, 12noon–5pm
Closed: Mons (except Bank Hols), 24, 25, 26, Dec 07, 1 Jan 08
09 October 2007
View press releases for: September 2008 [3] January 2008 [1] November 2007 [1] October 2007 [1] September 2007 [1] June 2007 [3] March 2007 [1] November 2006 [1] September 2006 [1] June 2006 [1] May 2006 [2] February 2006 [3] January 2006 [2] July 2005 [2] April 2005 [1] March 2005 [1] December 2004 [1] November 2004 [2] September 2004 [1] August 2004 [2] June 2004 [3] April 2004 [1] March 2004 [1] January 2004 [1] September 2003 [2] July 2003 [4]
