7. The Holly and the Ivy is a favourite carol

The custom of decorating houses with evergreens predates Christianity.

This Tetradrachm of Mithradates VI, Pergamum has a stag grazing left, star and crescent to left, all within ivy-wreath, and holly.

This is a coin from LORRAINE, struck by Charles II, Gros, with helmet over shield, rev. sword between holly leaves,

8. Victorian silver threepence

Another tradition is putting silver coins in Christmas puddings. You had to be careful not to break a tooth when you bit into the pudding. Perhaps it was a way of getting children to eat slowly. Good luck with that!

On 25th December 1925 the Western Gazette reported that the Royal Mint normally issued more coins at Christmas. In previous years silver threepences were popular but that had declined because they turn a "bilious" (sickly) colour when cooked! Before 1920 coins contained 92.5% silver. Perhaps the colour change related to the reduced bullion content.

9. Good King Wenceslas Last Looked Out

Good King Wenceslas features in a popular carol and also on this coin from Czechoslovakia which a gold Dukat, 1933 The legend is based a story about the Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907-935), who was not a king. In 1853, hymnwriter John Mason Neale wrote the lyrics in collaboration with his music editor Thomas Helmore to fit the melody of the 13th-century spring carol "Tempus adest floridum", which they had found in a 1582 Finnish song collection.

10. Shopping

Everyone likes Christmas shopping. Well, some do! Christmas Clubs were a way of saving up money over the year to pay for goodies. 1 ½d Christmas Club token from E Harris Bee Hive Stores Hednesford, Cannock Chase. Edwin Harris owned the grocery shop in the 1870s.

11. Donkey

Donkeys feature in the bible story and Mary probably travelled on one when she was pregnant. This is a two pence coin from St Helena

12. Turkey USA coin

2015 USA Quarter 25 cents America the Beautiful series. Kisatchie National Parks Louisiana. Reverse with turkey in flight. Turkey as a main meal remains popular for Christmas lunch. It has taken the place of goose and then chicken. Chicken was for many years a treat as it was expensive for everyday use.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
2024 ADVENT COIN CALENDAR, PART ONE(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n48a22.html)