NEWS

Old English Christmas comes to Tech

Dec 6, 2013 | General News, Liberal Arts

What was it like to celebrate Christmas in the days of England’s King Henry VIII?
Hear it from His Majesty himself, as portrayed by Southeastern Louisiana University history professor William B. Robison, when he appears at Louisiana Tech’s Stone Theatre at 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 17.
In “Tudor Christmas: Yule, Misrule, Wassail and Wonder,” Robison’s portrayal of the fun-loving monarch will discuss religious observances of his day; seasonal food and drink; and such courtly and popular customs as the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Yule Log, the Lords of Misrule, Boy Bishops, New Year’s gifts, Twelfth Night, and Plough Monday.
Best known for his six wives, two of whom he had beheaded, King Henry, who reigned in England from 1509 until his death in 1547, was nonetheless an educated and accomplished ruler.  He also enjoyed good food, good music and good times.
A specialist in English and early modern European history, Robison received his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University.  A member of the Southeastern faculty since 1983, he is an award-winning teacher and he currently serves as head of the department of history and political science.
Among Robison’s publications are the “Historical Dictionary of Stuart England” (1996) and the “Historical Dictionary of Late Medieval England” (2002).  In collaboration with Southeastern English professor Sue Parrill, he recently published “The Tudors on Film and Television” (2013).  Robison lectures widely on a variety of topics and is also a producer of documentary films.
“Tudor Christmas” is sponsored jointly by Louisiana Tech’s College of Liberal Arts, department of history, School of Literature and Language, and School of Performing Arts.
Stone Theatre is located in the drama wing of the Howard Center for the Performing Arts on the Ruston campus. The event is free and open to the public.