1861
Crowds flock to the Free Trade Hall to watch a performance by Herr Schulze. ‘A play of facial muscles’ where Schulze will throw and catch coins with his face, and use shadows to impersonate other people. The waxworks exhibition in the lobby on your way out is a chamber of horrors theme, and across the road, at Peter Street Circus, don’t miss The Empress of Pigeon Trainers.

1874
The Literature and Philosophical Society’s winter entertainment programme is being held at The Manchester Aquarium. The building will be illuminated every night, inside is an exhibition of microscopic illustrations, and the issue of the large, elusive octopus has been addressed with a new tank where it ‘cannot hide’.

1885
The Mechanics Institute holds its Feast of Fools. The Lord of Misrule (also known as the Abbot of Unreason and whose job it is to oversee partying) wears a crown of peacock feathers. He brings his mummers with him: Father Christmas, the King of Egypt, St George, and “a skilful leech”. They fight a large green dragon whilst you eat.

Top tip! Holding a party of your own and want to impress? Kangaroo-tail soup is all the rage by winter 1900, and banana mania has the city in its grips, so expect a queue at Smithfield Markets.

1910
Members of the Manchester Literary Club, dressed as fools and demons, bring out a boar head and wassail bowl as The Boar’s Head Song plays them in. They stop on the staircase of the Grand Hotel for a photo, nearest to the camera is their own Lord of Misrule, he pulls a face that asks: “Are you ready for revelry?”

With thanks to theskyliner.org for the wintery stories.

THE LORD OF MISRULE IS THOUGHT TO BE CONNECTED TO THE LEADER OF SATURNALIA, THE ROMAN CUSTOM OF WINTER MISCHIEF AND MIRTH, AND OUR INSPIRATION FOR NOMALIA.