Armagh Palace Stables - Christmas Through The Ages

Armagh Palace Stables was the P2 classroom today and here we were transported back in time to the Victorian era and World War 2 and how Christmas was celebrated back then. We met the cook who explained the Christmas traditions of “bringing Christmas home” and she explained the role of the “town crier” who helped share the countdown to this special season. She let us help to roll the pastry for mince pies and showed us holly and ivy which was used to decorate homes back then and that a candle placed in the window was a welcoming sign to those who needed a warm fire, shelter or food. Next stop was a Christmas snow globe craft where we had creative and busy children before we met Donald the American soldier. He shared toys which he would offer his friend Timmy for Christmas and we joined in many actions and chants. Our last job was to tiptoe in to an exhausted Santa who was napping on the job and wake him up! He didn’t mind though and we were surprised at how much he knew about Annaclone. He told us how the reindeer watch the speed bumps around our school and have to be careful where they land! Meeting Santa and sharing our wish lists has definitely got us into the Christmas spirit!