"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! We command that the peace of our lady the Queen be well kept by night and day but that all manner of whores, thieves, dice players and other unthrifty folk be welcome to the city, whether they come late or early, at the reverence of the High Feast of Yule till the Twelve Days be past. God save the Queen!"
On 21st December the Sheriff of York gave the annual 'Yulegirthol proclamation' beneath the Micklegate Bar...
The crowd then set off in a properly Early Modern fashion to get the party started and make a bit of noise on the longest night.
I'm sure the costumes and regalia will turn out to be an early 20th century 'reinvention' of tradition, but the celebration of 'Yule and Yule's Wife' in York have a proper historical basis. This link from the Borthwick Archives in York gives some fascinating primary sources for the conflicts that arose in the 16th century over what was clearly a suitably rowdy time! (Have to say there were still plenty of 'unthrifty folk' thoroughly enjoying York City centre that night 🤣)