The Kirkby Lonsdale public were invited to see Christmas through a scientific lens at a free evening of festive talks hosted by Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology. Held at The Methodist Church, the event brought together different disciplines from across the faculty to explore how science shapes some familiar season’s traditions.

‘Have Yourself a Scientific Christmas’, featured three engaging and family-friendly lectures to demonstrate how scientific thinking can offer new perspectives on everyday experiences, from festive songs to seasonal treats.

The evening was opened by Dr Dan Fretwell, Lecturer in Security and Protection Services, who explored the mathematics behind the Christmas classic song The Twelve Days of Christmas. By analysing the structure of the song, he showed how quickly the number of gifts adds up and considered whether receiving one present a day for a year might be the better option. Using mathematical methods discovered by the German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, Dan showed how simple calculations can offer clear answers to this festive dilemma.

Dr Nick Fletcher, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, explored the science behind one of the festive season’s favourite treats – chocolate! His talk covered the history of chocolate from the Mayans to the present day and explained how its chemical structure influences both flavour and texture. This explains why the same brand of chocolate can taste different when produced for different countries, as variations in formulation are used to achieve the ideal of a ‘melt in the mouth, not in the hand’ texture. The session also included a live tasting, with volunteers from the audience invited to sample different chocolates, and plenty of opportunities for everyone to test the ideas discussed during the interval.

Closing the event, Dr Katie Alcock, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, examined why young children believe in Santa Claus and other magical figures, and why this belief fades with age. Drawing on her research in developmental psychology, the talk explored how children learn to separate fantasy from reality and why Christmas provides a particularly good topic for understanding imagination and learning in early childhood.

Diane Nowell, who approached the faculty to put on the lecture said of the event: “We would like to thank everyone who helped make the evening such a success, from the speakers to the organisers behind the scenes. Lancaster University’s support made it possible to host a truly enjoyable and thought-provoking event for the Kirkby Lonsdale community.”

‘Have Yourself a Scientific Christmas’ allowed the attendees the chance to explore familiar traditions in new and unexpected ways, demonstrating science has a role not only in laboratories and lecture theatres, but also in songs, stories and Christmas treats.