Quaint Christmas Customs.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 75, 21 December 1907, Page 17

Quaint Christmas Customs.

•;Ghristmas customs arid, characteristic's/Are '.matters about, which collectors'of' folklore'arfd antiquarians have written-often and much. They form a subj'ecfso.'big that - it isilrtrd to decide where to start, and, when the start is made, whore to leave off, so manv are the associations'- • with Athijft Pgrkif festival in diflercnt- ages and hi different'localities. To-day we trim up houses/and places of worship; shops are transformed into bazaars, with a marvellous stock of toys and presentation bric-a-brac; the establishments 'of • butchorr, and poulterers becomo positively appal jing spectacles to the eyes of severe*vegetariaiif; the railways are-gorged .-wifclr-traffic; and officials, driven to their wit's ends, and •the General Post Office-finds -it-has to double or treble its staff, because every citizencss who respects the traditions of her day arid generation deems it her' bounden duty to send printed and illustrated expressions v of goodwill to everybody with whom she is upon speaking terms. The men folk also despatch Christmas cards,: hut. send-far fewer and pay far more money for what they fin send, than their fair friends, who purchase at their favourite .drapers in a, wholesale,.fashion, a'rjd obtain .quite a magnificent collectioli of suclj missives at something 1 ' thrcc-farihings peibox; ' Christmas magazines 0110" Can' hardly reckon, as appertaining to December 2a; they ara most of them stale by that time, so early, are they issuedr-^-OuiHorefathers had different ways of observing Christmas, hut, like the people of this period, much of their festivity took : the of good fare. Who is. there when the Christmas pudding comes on, and is'' asked the stereotyped question, "Hot.or cold?" who.A'ninlis of. the-.evolution of the .popular article? To most people a Christmas pudding.-Jias no- history further back -than the .grocer's .aiirj .thq'butcher's shops'from; which its ingredient's a thing-with a short life, and' much of it spent, in.hot water.- All of- this only shows how little people jsnow of the common objects of life. Fancy a statement--of this jiincl marlf 'in the dim'and distant'paSt. r - '"Plum'porridge —a sort of soup with plumbs which is not at all inferior to the pjo.'i-- The quotation suggests a mishap which the most careful housekeepers, sometimes experience when - a pudding string 'breaks'*an'd r-th'q v £oiitents't of the basin, with' the water, form something akin to the plum pudding of early history. Plum pottage used-to—-tie- served with the first, course at the Christmas dinner. - "It was," says Chambers's Book of Days, "made by boiling beef or mutton with broth, thickened with brown hread; whoiij-lialt-lioiletl, raisins, currants, prunes, cloves, mace, and ginger were added, and wben the mess was thoroughlyboile-l it .was sent to table. In the "Taller" we are t'old that no man of the most rigid virtue, gives Voffence by an excess in plum ; pudding or plum porridge because they are the first parts of' the dinner.,. Fastidious palates' might 'to-day suggest another reason. In a cookery book published| a ccntury'ago -plum pottage,;was,;placed with,•the soups, and "Poor Robin"---was possibly familiar with a weaker variety, for in his Almanacin 1750 it-appears as "Plum broth." There is a modern custom in respect to plum puddings one would liko, explained. Why; 15 it that artists invariably draw," and' pa inters paint, them as spheres rather than as preserving the shape of the basjn .-.or .rooulcl ~111, which they are boiled? -Surely this'is a survival now unjustified? Our forefathers were, however, great 011 Christmas pies. There! is 3 "Receipt fit- to make'a ino6st : chbyc'e , 'paaste of gamys to.be eten at ye Feste of Clirystmasse" dating from.-.yery. Jong. ago, and the Salte.rs Company, in whose books the details were specified, tried the. tlish and, .found the pie admirable. The cook'was dirccted'to'tako a pheasant, a hare and a capon, two partridges,- two pigeons, -two rabbits, all 'boned and put into paste in the shape of a bird, with the livers and , hearts, two. -mutton kidneys, force-meat and egg-balls,' seasoning, spice,, catsup, and pickTedymushroonis'^.tbis is to be filled .in-with gravy ..made from the various bones.- . Theso > Christmas-pics-sometimes of vast proportions; a dip into one of them must have heen.alm.ost as much of a lottery as the'bran pie of the. bazaar. Think, of this example,..for instance, details of-which were published'-in the "Newcastle Chronicle" of. January 6, 1770'"Monday last was brought from Howick to^Bera-ick"'to be shipped • for Londoh'ior Sir JHeriry' Grey bart., a pie, tho contents whereof are as foillows, viz,.; Two bushels of .flour, ,201 lis. of butter, 4- geese,' 4 - ttirKies v 2 rabbits, 4. wild' ducks, 2 woodcocks, 6 snipes, and 4 partridges; 2 neats'.tongues,' 2[ curlews, 1 blackbirds, and 6 pigeons. It is supposed a verygreat curiosity. V' as mado by. Mrs. DorothyPatterson, housekeeper at Ebwick."" "It"if nearly .nine' feet -in circumference; at, bottoin ■' weighs about twelve stones, "will take two men "to present it to table';, it .is neatly fitted with a case and four,'sfnall Tyheels -to' facilitate its use to eviry guest' that' iircliiifes' to partake of its contents at table.." . Mince pies 'date back from tog-agOj^iiQriDg'beei

popular in 1596, and Mr. Timbs informs us that- "the eatingof mince pies at Christmas w.u formerly a test. of..orthodoxy against recusants." To-day one's orthodoxy is determined by olio's digestion in this matter. The cnsttuii of, guarding Christinas-pio-on tho night before Christmas is I ;.' a singular one, and is immortalised in rhyme—. \JCom'e guard this night tli"«j Christmas pieThat the' thief, though ne'er so sly, With his flesh hooks don',t come nigh, - To catch it. "■ The hoar's head, too, played an important part in the Christmas hill fare •■when prepared on a big scale. With;,'an Eastern question in ap acute state it would'he unpardon•rihlp turkey introduced to tho notice of our ancestors mop? than 350 years ago, and probably consiirpcd nowadays-in largor numbers than ever. • Ik-eft mutton, and pork.vib^ed-pie's- of the best, . ;>;• ; . Pig, veal, goofe, and capon and-, turkie well drest. This fcomprcheiisive and poetical bil.K' : of faro was due to Tusser, who in loS"-' ! ' While -the. turkey,has .retained its/popularity, lamgone ■"AJ ho ts <tllen> who lias tested the merits of the dish which tho city of Gjoncestor./Used afc each Christmas to send to. the Sovereign. The housewife : who left - her cotikefy : for Chri'stniasJday.V'iii'ust have li'od little opinion of Chrrsllttas as''a holiday. JTo keep, her up . to. .proper, s.elise of her duty to tradition ,ii lids 'society,' in' one-part of AVorcestershire the bellman used to go rOund early 'on"the morning of | the 2oth,. and'after a greeting '.Good-morning, masters .sitd mistresses, I wish yon a merry ChristmaS," he sang tho following advice;— ' * [;

Arise, piistresses, aVisoj' And make your tarts and pies, , ' '- 1 '-""-And let your maids lie still, For if they should r-ise'iand'spoil,.yottr -pies . '2 , . "" You'd think it very ill.-!. .' ' , .. are sleeping'jn your, bed, 'v. - Ij™e cold wintry nights'imust troad, V Fast. tVelve"O'clock, ebo;! ■'/ ' \ is .alv 'dbyioUs;suggestion in ,'VH'p referi once 4o'; the-'bellman-V hard fpt that sjinpathy . l , .C'<*W°W:'Pfe : refrMhmentjpight noti be out ;of;,place.'; and'a.siniiJar desire, on clears, was' a good mqliy of t.be; quaint Chwstnia-s-. ; Sometimes- .tkei'-treats : 'q\iite general. "(At West Hatch, fn Jord of the plaoe.'.iised to present eypry Iliplisehold with a 'lib. loaf, -1 ilb sJo f -Hec f, -* ; 1 § I bs.' of'pork, and. the sanio evening provide supper, inhabitants.--A somewhat'similar custom* was followed at Y.irmbiiih',;.in' Norfolk, where the. prior ai\d • 'monks were the'authors ofi'the bounty,'taking. tho, form-of a breakfast, to the l:to!rnsfoik.... In later years the Ijean and Chapter kept-up the observances or he responsibility, fell on- the farmer who held'Jhe church lands. ■ In'.'the -'end Christmas harmony was., rudely, upset- by' ail.'agriculturist Vhoss antiquarian t'sj-nipathies: fftfe not strong .enough to lead :;hi&i.'t6 go.;:t6 r ;th9. customary expense,. The but- itlie town, folk;- declined t-o part'with their rights, and- the far;.mei paid over a sum of money.in lieu of the i 1 repast. The, custom .fell into .disuse. after- J wards. Mummers, .played '/a. prominent. part "in; the ;o]den Christmas. They' used; to /go, from house to. house and 'perform .something "in.thenatyre'of' a play, having, very', slight pretensions. > One • personage, for" instance,would lead off as follows: —j-' 1': '' .' l am St. George, the noble champion- '' ' ' hold', i : . . ' ; And "with my, glittering. swor3:- » ; „■>, I-ve won three crowns of-gold, - ivv'* ' It's I who .fought'the.'fiery. Dragon, ,•• , !>'Aiid. brought".it: to thejslaughter s- : ' And so I won fair.Sahra, ; • «v.. ."y The King-of Egypt's daughter.-' i , -' Seven have . L won-, but; Imarried jionej-' And bear-.my-. glory all'.alone, . \ ■ ..With' my sword?m iny.hand, ' f ' . -/> ~ '''Who dare against me Jstaira?,..•' •' • ! ' .I_ swear I'll cut'him-do r wn-,- - . i ' | L.iWith-'my. victorious; brand. ■ ; . A : having been 'fmind''tor fiieet'.this vainglorious warrior -'there jis .mire' 4'-speech-making; a iwalk, 'round,' shake hands,-and fight, and. St. George is, .again ■ victorious. But he is- stricken with remorse at. seeing his foe : slain on the ' ground ind calls,'for'.a doctor.. The doctor appears, there is .more :dgg_gercl ;.i')the} dead man iis brought hack to -life by a draught'.from a magical, bottle, and the. playjj -all Jbut the collection 1 - '--themost'necessary'act'ofTill. At.Tenbyt-hey used to. have annually a very elaborate version of tliis form of "muSiiiiefy. J '''Tif'Wales also another curious custom, was followed. A horse's skull was obtained .and dressed upwith ribands. It was placed on a pole and carried by a-man concealed under, a white cloth. ; There-was a contrivance, for opening and shutting - the jaws withva : snap. The offort was made to catch hold of. people with the, jaws, and if caught the release was not' .obtained until,a fine was.paid. The horse's Cheat] figure#' iiifsoniewhat|i;siniilar observances 'in'^everal^parts,'of tho'couutry. ; The Lord off Misrule-.was a of, ceremonies .in the Christmas, revels iiflmportant centres. Stow says—"There was in the King's house, or wheresoever he be lodged, a Lprd .of Misrule, or Master of the Merry Disports, and the like had ye in the house of every noblenian. of. hijjiaur • and good worship, were he spirjtnal^orjtpmppraT.^The Lord Mayor.of London" and "Sheriffs iiad their. 'Lords of Misrule, and at Oxford anil Cambridge Univer* sities- these- functionaries, as . may be imagined; had plenty of hilarious subjects.- '■ The powers with which these personages were invested were sometimes' singularly large.Chambers's Book of Days mentions that tho father of Evelyn, whose diary gives so much interesting .information of his own time, was Deputy-Lieutenant for Surrey and Sussex, Jajidjappointecl Owen Flood io .be Lord of Misrule for twelve days. Listen to the-terms of tho investment to this singular office: "I' give, free leave to the said Owen Flood, to command all and every person or persona whatsoever, as well as servants as others!"to be at his command whensoever he shall :sound his trumpet'Or music, and to do him'good service, as though I were present myself,/at their perils. ... . . I give full power, and authority to' his lordship to break up all locks, bolts, bars, door latches, and to fling up ajj doorsVout oft hinges, and'to cane at thoso;'wlift presume 'to'rlisobey his Ibrdship's commands. God save the .King." Chambers's, refers to the.clown of the pantomimo to-day as a reproduction under, a modern form of the extravagances of the Lord of Misrule. The licence and disorder associated' with this oflicial enemy-of'law and order— (his lordship, not. the clown)—and his supporters were gravely denounced by the Puritans, to whom Christ-mas observance was altogether an abomination. There are some curious entries in the diaryi of John Evelyn with regard to Christmas Day during tiie time the Puritans were in power. "ChristmasJ)ay, but no sermons anywhere, no chiiroh'' permitted to bo open, so Oh-, served it at liome." This was in In 1657 Evelyn mentions that he. attended service on. Christmas Day, hut the soldiers surprised the communicants' and ' took ' some prisoners, hut let others go. ' "As we- received the sacrament." adds the. old writer, "t-hoy held their muskets against us as if they would have shot us at the altar." The communion was finished under these distracting conditions. >The -modem love of . Christ]n.a,s7ceJehf.atioii}is'.So genuine and deep-' rooted that , the refusal of the Puritans to acknowledge the festival will scarcely be forgiven them, no matter how apologetic their biographers. Possibly their objections to 'Gliristmas--'observance,:maycdia"thought less .severely, of -wheit.it. is. suggest eel, thoy would 'hWe'"' ; jumped—fi'guratively;' ; of u 'course—oa ;thps(s;_Bhivering,'-,exemplary of- discord—the wiits. "■ is~.Eo carols/ tfiey w ; oVilci have pone of them. In several parts'of Oxfordshire, if a man neglected or refused to get'in a supply of ivy to decorate the house tho maids stola a pair.of 'his breeches and nailed them to the gato of the yard, or highway. In other places tho penalty of such noglcct was tW' olFonder was debarred the privileges of the mistletoe. In Kendall, Westmorland, Dyer states that if a. man was' found, at work" in Christmas'week his fellow tradesmen laid violent hands on him and carried him off to , tho, public -house, wlicro -He had to treat them. Of tho legion of Christmas customs ,none jsjnqre,familiar than the*habit.of.sond■ing* in -accounts • at. that • period,' and careful householdep are .compelled .to,act on..the ad'yie'o;'of"Eliza Cook—r . -Old Christmas has a-trick,-we find, ' 'i .'••• .Of ,bringirigf bills of every kind, ="i"SO' oro u wo drain-the festive cup--. . - • -We'll look within and reckon u» . t ■' . -'The-'debts-'-.we owe,' ' * "' ■