The origins of our English Christmas lie in distant European history, combining the pagan traditions of the Roman and Scandinavian winter festivals.  In the 4thC AD the Christian Church began to celebrate the birth of Christ, and pagan and religious traditions blended, changing with the social and political landscape. This lecture explores the resultant rich tapestry of music, art and folk customs which interweave to create the festival that most touches everyone in our society.  

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Roger Askew  MA BMus

Roger was a chorister at Wells Cathedral School and a choral scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated with an honours degree in English.  He combined a teaching career with professional singing in London, and after obtaining a further degree in Music became Director of Music at Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College in Edinburgh. After retiring in 2003 he returned to the south of England.  He is President Emeritus of The Stoke Poges Society and Chairman of Windsor and Maidenhead Decorative and Fine Arts Society.