Tudor holiday dinner will delight audiences for 78th year
By Emily Connor
At first, a wild boar, an English scholar and an English student might not seem to have much in common with the Memorial Union. But these characters in an old English legend are responsible for creating one of theWisconsin Union’s most popular holiday traditions. Just as planned, from Nov 30 to Dec. 6, the Tudor Holiday Dinner and Concert series will return to Memorial Union’s Great Hall for another holiday season.
The Tudor Dinner series is a deeply rooted Wisconsin Union tradition dating back to 1933 when a group of Madison community singers agreed to sing a holiday program at the Wisconsin Union. The theme of the concert and dinner was a “boar’s head feast,” which was a popular tradition at the University of Rochester. The dinner’s theme was taken from an old English legend about a young Oxford University student who saved a scholar under attack from a wild boar by throwing a book by Aristotle on the boar’s head. The boar was then paraded around town and an enormous feast was held.
Despite what might seem like a rather silly legend today, the story provided the proper theme–celebrating both academia and the holidays–for the Wisconsin Union.
“The Tudor Dinner Concerts are a great tradition and people really enjoy the music and dining experience,” said catering manager Steve Lucas. “It’s something patrons really look forward to and anticipate for the holiday season.”
And the beloved traditions of the Tudor Dinners continue. The concerts still take place in the Great Hall. Now, the Philharmonic Chorus of Madison enchants crowds with their old English carols instead of the community chorus. Guests enjoy cocktails in the Main Lounge area of the Memorial Union while “strolling minstrels” entertain the crowd. After about an hour, bells sound and guests move to the Great Hall to enjoy a lavish dinner and full musical performance. Perhaps the most iconic tradition is the presentation of the symbolic boar’s head, which signifies the beginning of the feast.
Guests receive programs containing lyrics to all of the chorus’ carols as well as a detailed history of the Tudors tradition. After over 75 years, guests continue to come back each winter to celebrate the holidays with the Wisconsin Union. “Each year, we may make minor tweaks or changes, but guests continually tell us they love the tradition of the Tudors Dinners,” said Steve. “From the famous flaming figgy pudding to the carols the chorus sings, it’s one of the Wisconsin Union’s favorite holiday events.”
Anyone can attend the Tudor Dinner Concerts, but Union members do receive specially discounted ticket prices.Since the dinners are a popular event, most of the shows sell out.
You can contact the Wisconsin Union Theater at 608-265-ARTS for tickets or order them online. For more information, visit the Tudor Dinners page on the Wisconsin Union website.
Photo by Jeff Miller and courtesy of UW Communications.
