On Christmas in Shakespeare

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Abstract

first scene of <i>Hamlet</i>. A character who has seen the Ghost of Hamlet’s father speaks seven lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter (blank verse) that begin: “Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes / Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated.”</p><p id="f8f9">These lines describe the mysteries of a season “So hallow’d” that, people say, “The bird of dawning singeth all night long.” Though not a free-standing poem, the lines work well on their own. So they could make a good alternative to an annual reading of <i>The Polar Express</i> or “A Visit from St. Nicholas” for households with older children. They rank among the greatest poetry written about Christmas.</p><p id=

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"7415"><b><i>You might also like my article on leaders in Shakespeare:</i></b></p><div id="7a1c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/on-leaders-in-shakespeare-4f046a764f8c"> <div> <div> <h2>On Leaders in Shakespeare</h2> <div><h3>“Great leaders are those who can see what’s coming”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*5any_nnhMjygKT6cC8gLtg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

His greatest play mentions the holiday. But — woe is me! — you may have missed it.

Cush Jumbo, a rare female Hamlet, in 2021 Credit: BBC

Want to stump the poetry-lovers or former English majors at your holiday table? Try this question on them: Where in one of Shakespeare’s plays can you find a reference to Christmas?

The answer: In the first scene of Hamlet. A character who has seen the Ghost of Hamlet’s father speaks seven lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter (blank verse) that begin: “Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes / Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated.”

These lines describe the mysteries of a season “So hallow’d” that, people say, “The bird of dawning singeth all night long.” Though not a free-standing poem, the lines work well on their own. So they could make a good alternative to an annual reading of The Polar Express or “A Visit from St. Nicholas” for households with older children. They rank among the greatest poetry written about Christmas.

You might also like my article on leaders in Shakespeare:

QUOTE OF THE DAY

On Christmas in Shakespeare

His greatest play mentions the holiday. But — woe is me! — you may have missed it.

On Leaders in Shakespeare

“Great leaders are those who can see what’s coming”