How did some Christmas traditions develop, when in reality, many of the places, times, and jobs of the story do not fit? Shepherding in December, no. Boar? Goose? Turkey? All unlikely, especially since they were locally unavailable or the preparation of them was arduous and disgusting. All the finery - glasses, fabrics, dining utensils, each meant hard hours in sweatshops, poorly paid, and unsafe. These, and many other, intrinsic elements have their history explored.