Why did Queen Elizabeth I order everyone in England to eat goose at christmas?
She did not! The story was the invention of early 19th century antiquarian writers, who attempted to provide a veneer of history for the new “custom” of eating goose or turkey at Christmas. In the earliest versions Elizabeth commanded that geese were eaten at Michaelmas, but such traditional holidays were fading and Christmas was newly fashionable. The 19th century historian, E. Cobham Brewer exploded the story in his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable – “The popular tradition is that Queen Elizabeth, on her way to Tilbury Fort (September 29th, 1588), dined at the ancient seat of Sir Neville Umfreyville, where, among other things, two fine geese were provided for dinner. The queen, having eaten heartily, called for a bumper of Burgundy; and gave as a toast, “Destruction to the Spanish Armada!” Scarcely had she spoken when a messenger announced the destruction of the fleet by a storm. The queen demanded a second bumper, and said, “Henceforth shall a goose commemorate this great victory.” Th
