DECK THE HALLS WITH FEASTS AND BALLS

Still, the most extravagant displays of excess during the holiday season took place during the seemingly endless rounds of banquets, balls, and sporting events staged to entertain the throngs of guests and on-lookers throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas. This was the court at its most visible - commoners could catch an all-too-rare glimpse of the royal family as they processed to the tournament grounds in their finest fur-lined attire. If they were lucky, the poor could also dine as kings - or least on scraps from the king's great table. Generous, rich scraps they were, too! Not only were as many as 24 courses offered at each banquet, but it was expected that the royal kitchens would cook far more than needed for these grand feasts - not only to impress the company, but for the express purpose of feeding the needy when the night's merriment had drawn to a close.

In turn, the town folk frequently favored the court with glad tidings of their own. Carolers, jugglers, mummers, magicians, actors, musicians, poets and bards would throng the halls and add their talents to the evening's entertainment. Usually the court found such past times highly amusing, but not always. The prudish Henry VI was downright furious when a group of local lasses, hired by a mischievous young lord, bared their bosoms and proceeded to dance provocatively before the king and his men. "Fie, fie, for shame!" were Henry's parting shots as he dashed to his privy chambers.

Such hum-bug reactions were far from the norm, however. Despite the important behind-the-scene machinations and political networking that invariably took place, most monarchs found time to rejuvenate their spirits during the celebrations. Even with matters of state weighing on her mind, Elizabeth typically enjoyed the Twelve Days of Christmas to the utmost, usually at Whitehall or Hampton Court. Although the queen preferred to spend Christmas Day in prayer, she gave reign to her playful side for the balance of the holidays. For many years, Lord Robert Dudley was in charge of Elizabeth's holiday entertainment, a task he undertook with great relish. Legendary balls, masquerades, hunts, theatricals, and banquets were staged round-the-clock for the queen and her courtiers. (This chap would have given Martha Stewart a run for her money). It is of little surprise, therefore, that Elizabeth's "Sweet Robin" would choose Christmas of 1565 to publicly propose to the queen. It is no less surprising that Elizabeth merrily turned him down.