English Christmas and Football: A Strange Tradition
- In England, Christmas is a time when indulgence is encouraged - the TV, the food, family time, and, of course, football. The Premier League is designed for competition,...
- Italy only recently began hosting games on Boxing Day, starting in 2017.
- The English Football Association (FA) was officially founded in 1863.
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The Enduring Tradition of Christmas Football in England
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In England, Christmas is a time when indulgence is encouraged – the TV, the food, family time, and, of course, football. The Premier League is designed for competition, with teams frequently enough playing two matches a week during the Christmas period, from Boxing Day to New Year’s day. This contrasts sharply with many European countries,where Christmas brings a two-week winter break,allowing players and fans to rest.
Italy only recently began hosting games on Boxing Day, starting in 2017. However, in England, football has always been intertwined with the festive season. This tradition isn’t a product of modern television or the Premier league; it has far deeper roots, stretching back to the Middle Ages, the working class, and the very streets that once served as football fields.
Before the Premier League: The Origins of English Football
The English Football Association (FA) was officially founded in 1863. But long before that, the British had been playing ball games during festivals for centuries. Records from around 1170 describe a game called “Medieval football,” also known as mob football.
These early games were chaotic: no defined pitch, no set number of players, and no boundary lines. Entire villages participated, with the whole community acting as a single team. these games were typically held around Christmas and Easter, not for points or trophies, but as a celebration of community spirit.
Some of these traditions still survive today, such as the Orkney Ba Game played on Christmas Day and the Royal Shrovetide in Ashbourne.
Holiday = football Day
Historically, religious holidays and Bank Holidays have always been prime times for football. During the victorian era, football flourished on Christmas Day as a public activity for the working class. this continued with Boxing Day, often featuring two games in two days. For many workers, this might have been the only chance all year to watch football without taking time off work.
The Bank Holiday Act of 1871 further solidified this connection, officially designating Boxing Day as a holiday. Football clubs quickly recognized the opportunity, knowing that holidays meant larger crowds at the stadium.
A Historical Example: Liverpool’s Grueling Christmas Schedule of 1913
In 1913, Liverpool played three games in three days:
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Liverpool vs. Manchester City | 4-2 (Win) |
| Boxing Day | Hyde vs. Liverpool | 0-1 (Loss) |
| December 27th | Liverpool
|