Christmas in Monmouthshire

"Sing a mournful song of Christmas, we have no Christmas now" stated the Monmouthshire Merlin of 1836. In the early 19th century Christmas was almost non existent, then in 1848, the London Illustrated News printed a picture of Queen Victoria and her family around their Christmas tree. The popularity of Christmas would soar again, but why had it fallen out of favour in the first place? What was Plygain, the Mari Llwyd, and Watch Night? How did the rich of Monmouthshire celebrate? What did the poor do at Christmas? How did people decorate their homes? What did they do for entertainment? Discover the answers to this and much more in Christmas in Monmouthshire.