CHRISTMAS AND SEXUAL POLITICS

The 23^rd December instituted a few Christmas perennials (each in their way very performative) including:

Moore

 "A Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in the Troy, New York, Sentinel on 23^rd December, 1823, having been sent there by a friend of Clement Clarke Moore, and was reprinted frequently thereafter with no name attached. Although generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, the claim has also been made that Henry Livingston, Jr wrote it. Only later did Moore acknowledge his authorship, and the poem was included in an 1844 anthology of his works. Moore had written it for his children, and being a scholar and professor, did not wish at first to be connected with the poem, but his children insisted that it be included in the anthology.

According to legend, A Visit was composed by Moore on a snowy winter's day during a shopping trip on a sleigh. His inspiration for the character of Saint Nicholas was a local Dutch handyman as well as the historical Saint Nicholas. While Moore originated many of the features that are still associated with Santa Claus today, he borrowed other aspects such as the names of the reindeer.

Humperdinck

Wette

Hansel and Gretel (German: Hänsel und Gretel) is an opera by nineteenth-century composer Englebert Humperdinck, who described it as a Märchenoper (fairy tale opera). The opera was first performed in Weimar on 23^rd December 1893, conducted by Richard Strauss. It has been associated with Christmas since its earliest performances and today it is still most often performed at Christmas time. The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brother’s fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". It is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the "Abendsegen" ("Evening Benediction") from act 2. The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hansel and Gretel". After several revisions, the musical sketches and the songs were turned into a full-scale opera.

The 23rd December also marked the sexual revolution:

The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It became law when it received Royal Assent on 23^rd December 1919. The basic purpose of the Act was, as stated in its long title, "... to amend the Law with respect to disqualification on account of sex", which it achieved in four short sections and one schedule. Its broad aim was achieved by section 1, which stated that:

A person shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage from the exercise of any public function, or from being appointed to or holding any civil or judicial office or post, or from entering or assuming or carrying on any civil profession or vocation, or for admission to any incorporated society (whether incorporated by Royal Charter or otherwise), [and a person shall not be exempted by sex or marriage from the liability to serve as a juror].

The King who gave the Royal assent was George V.  So far as kings go he was not a bad sort. He apparently was faithful to his wife and never had a mistress. There are two quotes attributed to him. When it was suggested that the workers involved in the General Strike
 of 1926 were revolutionaries, he remarked, “Try living on their wages before you judge them” and of his son Edward who became Edward VIII for a few months, “After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in twelve months”.