As the year draws to its close, we bring you the last contribution of 2024 from local historian Susan Yates, - chair of Thurrock Local History Society.

Here she reflects on the traditions of Christmas.

I SUPPOSE everyone at this time of year remembers Christmas past and I am no exception. 

Almost everyone these days has a Christmas tree, artificial or real, but during the two world wars Germanic traditions like having a pine tree in your home were strictly taboo. 

I remember my nan showing me the last Christmas card she ever received from her eldest son, Fred, who was in the RAF based in the West country. His plane went down somewhere over the Bay of Biscay on 27^th December 1942 and he was declared missing presumed dead. She told me once that though she thought of him every day she always felt sad that he wasn't here with the rest of the family at Christmas.

It is funny how people are nicer to each other at this time of year.

It is also strange when you think we are celebrating the birth of Christ and yet no-one is actually sure when he was born but people would pretend to be Christian and then in December become pagan for the festival celebrating the sun's return to the earth on 25^th December, In order to stop this they made Christmas the same day.

Traditions are funny. 

Someone has an idea and suddenly everyone does it. 

We all eat mince pies at Christmas, except for me. They originated back in the 13^th century, brought back by the Crusaders. More than half a million are eaten in the UK over the festive season. 

They were originally a savory pie shaped like a manger and known as crib cakes. It is said they were on the menu for the coronation banquet of Henry V in 1413.  By Victorian times the pies had become smaller and sweeter.

The tradition of eating turkey at Christmas began in Britain in the 1500's when the Spanish conquistadors brought turkeys to Europe from Mexico. Henry VIII increased its popularity by eating it instead of goose. 

They were considered a luxury item until 1800s. The British Royal family switched to them in 1850. It is thought that their popularity increased due to their size which meant they could feed a large gathering. This trend was spread around the world via the British Empire. 

Naturally one cannot have Christmas lunch without Christmas pudding. 

This originated in the 14th century in England as a savory porridge called frumenty. It began life as a starter but after growing sweeter and richer became a dessert. There are a number of traditions surrounding Christmas pudding including being stirred by all members of the family whilst making a wish.

Another such tradition involved putting a silver sixpence in the mix to bring good luck to whoever found it in their portion. I think the recipient would need good luck to avoid choking on it.

After lunch we all pull our Christmas crackers. 

These were invented by a London based baker confectioner called Thomas Smith born 1823 and died 1869. He had a shop in Goswell Road, Clerkenwell in the 1840's. On a trip to Paris he discovered the French bonbon (a sugared almond sweet) wrapped in tissue paper and it gave him the idea for Christmas crackers.

After lunch as you sit by your Christmas tree remember this originated in Central Europe and the Baltic States as early as the 16^th century and was used by the Lutherans in Germany.

Another tradition is football on Boxing Day although up to 1965 it was played on Christmas Day itself.  

On 27^th December 1920 a match was arranged at Goodison Park the home ground of Everton FC between Dick Kerr Ladies, a works team featuring the legendary Lily Par, and St. Helen's Ladies. 

The match had an attendance of over 53,000 with 14,000 locked out unable to get in. 

This was more than the men's team ever got so the Football Association decided in December 1921 that in order to protect the men's game, women were banned from playing on any pitch the men played on. 

The FA at the time said "the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged." The ban was not lifted until 1971!

I always feel sorry for those who have birthdays on or near the festive season as they miss out on presents a lot of the time and of course there are those who spend Christmas on their own with no gifts, no company and no-one to wish them a merry festive season. 

Especially the children as Christmas is really a time of year for them. Perhaps we should spend a little less on our family and friends and give a little more to those less fortunate.

Compliments of the season.