Have you ever wondered how the world’s most celebrated playwright viewed the most wonderful time of the year? Join us on a festive journey through time as we explore William Shakespeare’s literary take on Christmas and the holidays. We’ll explore the Bard’s gift to Christmas traditions. We’ll also look at its lasting impact on society. From historical controversies to modern adaptations, we’ll cover it all.
The Ghost of Christmas Past: Elizabethan Holiday Celebrations
To grasp Shakespeare’s view on Christmas, we must first revisit the snowy streets of Elizabethan England. Picture this: the twelve days of Christmas were a lively celebration. They were filled with feasting, music, and theatrical performances.
In Shakespeare’s time, Christmas was a season of contradictions. On one hand, it was a deeply religious occasion, celebrating the birth of Christ. On the other, it was a time of revelry and misrule, where social norms were temporarily upended. This duality is reflected in many of Shakespeare’s works, where the sacred and the profane often dance a delicate minuet.
“Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long”
Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 1
These lines from Hamlet capture the reverence for Christmas in Shakespeare’s era. Yet, the Bard was equally adept at portraying the more boisterous aspects of the season.
Shakespeare’s Christmas Plays: A Festive Quartet
Shakespeare never wrote a play about Christmas, but several works are closely connected to the holiday. Let’s unwrap four of his most “Christmassy” plays:
1. Twelfth Night: A Comedy of Errors and Eros
Twelfth Night, named after the final day of the Christmas season, is Shakespeare’s most festive play. Amid the holiday revelry, this comedy of mistaken identities and love gone wrong perfectly captures the season’s topsy-turvy spirit.
The play opens with Duke Orsino’s famous line:
“If music be the food of love, play on”
This sets the tone for a tale where nothing is as it seems. It mirrors the carnival atmosphere of Elizabethan Twelfth Night celebrations. The character of Sir Toby Belch, with his penchant for cakes and ale, embodies the indulgent spirit of the season.
2. The Winter’s Tale: A Story of Redemption
The Winter’s Tale is not a Christmas play. It features themes of rebirth and reconciliation. These themes resonate with the holiday. The play’s structure mirrors a Christian tale of fall and salvation. It is split between the bitter “winter” of jealousy and the sweet “spring” of redemption.
This play has the famous stage direction “Exit, pursued by a bear.” It adds a fantastical touch, fitting with the magic of Christmas tales.
3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Midwinter Magic
While set in summer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has often been adapted as a Christmas play. Its themes of magic and transformation align perfectly with the holiday season. The play blurs reality and fantasy, creating an enchanted atmosphere.
Puck, with his mischievous nature, resembles later depictions of Christmas elves.
“I am that merry wanderer of the night”
4. Hamlet: Christmas as a Backdrop for Tragedy
In Hamlet, Christmas serves as a poignant backdrop to the unfolding tragedy. The play opens with a reference to the season:
“A little more than kin, and less than kind”
Hamlet speaks this line about his uncle Claudius. It gains more meaning when we consider it’s said during a time of family togetherness.
The Christmas Controversy: Debating the Bard’s Yuletide Intent
Shakespeare’s treatment of Christmas themes has been a subject of scholarly debate for centuries. Some argue his holiday references are incidental. Others see a deeper engagement with Christmas symbolism and themes.
One controversial interpretation suggests that Shakespeare wrote during a time of religious upheaval. He used Christmas themes to critique both Catholic and Protestant extremes subtly. Sir Toby Belch’s excesses in Twelfth Night might critique traditional Catholic celebrations. Then, too, the puritanical Malvolio might represent the killjoy attitude of extreme Protestants.
Another point of contention is Shakespeare’s blending of pagan and Christian elements in his holiday-themed works. This mix, while reflective of the syncretic nature of English Christmas traditions, has led to debates about Shakespeare’s religious views.
Shakespeare’s Christmas in the Modern World: From Stage to Screen
The Bard’s holiday elements have proven remarkably adaptable, finding new life in modern interpretations:
- Kenneth Branagh’s In the Bleak Midwinter: This 1995 film tells the story of a struggling theatre company putting on a production of Hamlet at Christmas. It beautifully interweaves Shakespeare’s text with holiday themes.
- Shakespeare Retold: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: This 2005 BBC adaptation sets the play during a holiday resort’s Christmas party, proving the versatility of Shakespeare’s themes.
- Twelfth Night at the Globe: The Globe Theatre in London often stages Twelfth Night during the Christmas season, emphasizing its festive elements.
These adaptations show the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s holiday themes. They allow new generations to experience the magic of a Shakespearean Christmas.
The Ghost of Christmas Present: Shakespeare’s Influence on Modern Holidays
Shakespeare’s works have left an indelible mark on our Christmas celebrations:
- Language: Many phrases we use during the holidays have Shakespearean origins. “Break the ice” (The Taming of the Shrew) is often heard at Christmas parties!
- Storytelling: Dickens popularized the tradition of Christmas ghost stories. It has roots in Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural in his holiday-adjacent plays.
- Theatrical Traditions: The pantomime, a staple of British Christmas entertainment, owes much to the comedic structures found in Shakespeare’s plays.
- Festive Feasting: The indulgent character of Falstaff has influenced our perception of holiday excess and joviality.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Keeping Shakespeare’s Holiday Spirit Alive
As we look to the future, how can we continue celebrating Shakespeare’s contribution to our holiday traditions?
- Read a Scene: Why not start a tradition of reading a scene from a Shakespeare play on Christmas Eve?
- Attend a Performance: Many theatres offer Shakespeare productions during the holiday season. Make it a part of your celebrations!
- Shakespeare-Themed Decorations: Get creative with quotes from the Bard’s holiday-themed works in your Christmas décor.
- Join a Discussion: Many online forums host discussions about Shakespeare’s works. Why not join one focused on his holiday themes?
Shakespeare didn’t write about Father Christmas. He also left us no play titled A Yuletide Comedy. But his works are woven into our holiday celebrations. The Bard’s words continue to ring out clear as Christmas bells across the centuries. They resonate from the raucous revelry of Twelfth Night to the wintry backdrop of Hamlet.
So this holiday season, as you gather ’round the fire, why not raise a glass to old Will? After all, as he reminds us in Love’s Labour’s Lost:
“At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth”
Merry Christmas, and to all a good night!
