OLD CHRISTMAS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 10

OLD CHRISTMAS.

[ DISAPPEARING CUSTOMS | © : - .. <3

Eacli Christmas nr, it' comes -'round brings before us more plainly the decay of ancient customs, and year by year some ceremony dies out till, in the present day, we hardly retain any of the old modes of celebrating the festival. In some oat of the way villages and quiet, cornel's . oi' tho Old Country, traces, at nav 'rate, remain of what was the general style of keeping Yuletide in the early part of last century. Observances such as. the Yule-log and mistletoe aro certainly the' remnants of paganism, but none the less dear 011 this account- to Christian England. ■

Associated with Christmas there were many strange customs beginning before the actual festival, and continuing fill some time afterwards. On St. Thomas's Day (December 21} "Mumping" was practised in sonio districts. "Mumping" comes from a word meaning to mutter or mumble, and means begging. The Mumpers wero originally old and toothless men and women who went round tho town -demanding gratuities, which wero freely given. It is known as "going a Thoinasing" in some parts and "going a goodhig" brothers where it is still done. 1 In Kent, for example, the latter is its appellation, lu one of tho hoprgrowing districts of that opunty tho old widows assembled iia lately' as 1897—and/ may do so stillon St. Thomas's Day and walked round the parish, calling ;it- tho houses of the gentlemen and farmers with a request to "remember the goodoniu." Gift*,of money wero bestowed, and this was equally divided at tiio end of tho expedition amongst tho old ladies. Some writers think tho term "Ooodoning" i-s derived from "goody," a name for an old widow, whilst- others trace it- hack to Woden, who was the deity. who presided over Yuletide in Saxon times,

"Hoodening" is, another Ilontissb custom. The youths of the village, provided themselves with a roughly-cut wooden figure of a harse's head with a movable mouth, which opened and shut by means of a string, displaying when open rows of hob-nails for ieetli. It had a flowing mane, and was worn on tho head of ono of ths party, who perambulated the entire neighbourhood, followed by a crowd, and causing, great amusement to the inhabitants. la Gloucestershire they hail "Bull Hoedening," when a number of villagers carried round the v,-assail bawl, accompanied by a man personating a bull by crouching on tho ground,.his body hidden by sacking and his head by a real bull's face, hair, and hirns complete. He was called "the Broad," and each verso of tho song sung by the party begins, "Bere's health to old Broad and to his right eye."

Another remnant of the- .indent revels is "Mumming." The young men dross themselves in fantastic garments, and givo a species of theatrical entertainment at the houses of their rich neighbours. Different counties liavo plays of their own, which vary slightly in the titles of the characters, hut have similar plots. In the well-known Berkshire play the first character to appear is Molly, who is always a bi« l niau dressed in a woman's gown, shay!, and bonuet, carrying a broom. Tho voico is' always an imitation of a woman's to which it b-aars no resemblance. The other characters are King Georgo, dressed as a knight with a helmet and sword, and having his clot-h-os cov-ored with stripes of coloured paper; Bean Slasher, a French officer; a Doctor., in a; tail coat.ami knee breeches; Jack Vinncy. a jester -wearing a tall fool's cap; Happy .Jack, dressed in rags, and carrying his numerous children (dolls) on his back; Beehebub, with a long white be-rnl like Father Christmas. The play begins by the entrance of Molly, sweeping all before her with a broom, and saying: "A room, a room, I do presume, for- mo .and my brave men; for we come this Christinas timo T</. mnko a little rhyme. And liere we' coise at Christmas time, Welcome or welcome not, Hoping old Vather Christmas Will never ha forgot, "And if ,ve won't believe what I have h/id to say, Walk in. King Gearge, and cfcar the way." King George then enters and shouts aloud that ho is ready to kill any foreigner who will fight- with him and have his body mado into niiisco pics. Tho Frenchman accepts tho challenge,,, and the fight begins. King Georgo is wounded in tho leg, whereupon Molly summons tho doctor, who administers a pill which cures the wound and enables the King to renow the contest, when he brings down his enemy, too far gone to ho restored by iho doctor. Jack Viitney comes to the rescue, and tho French man recovers sufficiently to go off diuicingl Happy Jack then appears reciting— "1 be poor old Happy Jack, With wife and family at my backs Out of nine I have but five. And half of them be starved alive. lionst beef, plum puddin-f, .mil mince pie. Who likes them hfre better than 1? Tho roads be dirty, my shoos be bad. So please put something into my bag." Molly then calls on Beelzebub, who enters, and begins to play his fiddlo, and thus tho play ends. Sometimes a Turkish knight takes tho placo .of tho Frenchman, and the King is called "An Afrieky King" whilst Molly is known as "Queen Mary," 111 one village tho Hector himself coaches tho performers, and tho entcifaiiunent takes placo in tho village school, and is very woll done. These mummers are called Christmas Bhymcrs in the north of Ireland, and a.ro usually boys who blacken their faces aiid put on ridiculous costumes. They all enter together, and each speaks in turn very quickly. .Beelzebub mtrodices himself thus: "Hero come I Beekebub, Over my shoulder I carry my elub. In my 'hand my dripping pan., And 1 think myself a jolly ohl man.'" Tho performance is concluded by tho demand for gratuities as follows "Hero conio 1, Little Devil ftont, I If you don't pive tis m&ncy li'l sweep you all out." In Yorkshire tho mummers only perform a short sword dance. Then there is tho Blether Head band at Bradford, I which consists of moil dressed as nigger minstrols, in very fantastic costumes,who play fifes, concertinas, kettledrums, and other instruments through the streets. In Yorkshire, also, tho young girls carry round "Vessel Boxes" (a box containing two dolls to represent tho Virgin and Child) and sing. , ; God rest you, merry Let nothing you dismay, :■= : y.wyys 1 For remember, Christ, our Was born on ( hri.<tii:a.-i Day.", '.v Or another equally popular^carol.jjJ.'Tlio Fivo Jovs of Mary '. A good many customs" arc. still kept up in Cornwall. ' In a■■ remote . district. tho children are sean'•■dancingground painted candles placed.m;a .box;of.;saud on Christmas 13ye, and churcii, towers' aro ilhimiiuted. ■; Christmas aro still eaten in. that county, tnough since the Hanoverian period J.'phim pudding" has become th<' dish "pax ,cxci'llenco" for Deeeniber 25.J/Jy. -rf. 801 l rilining is another^ interesting' custom still preserved iivj-parts --(ii'. die country. Naar the laststroke'of twelve sounded on Christinas live, tho ago of fho year, is'tolled/1 11s is called tho "Old l.ad s 1.. 11. .. There is an old carol.orr ; the subject:be- ; ginning: ■ ' /S' "Toll! toll! because-thus-emls the;jn^nt. And empire old rihl-o An empire of .Hiiiiuestioned.;,ri > Klit',^is;.;< , j O'er' preicnt;niuL(y.fr.'''|W;=t.j^ Stretching far,-from" ItollitiK over every Hfrast.' f l'.n.li nation, (onirun,. aiuL'

It ends in osdta'Uph;-. , pvor/tlio;i)im : ibf:;

the■ Childj'who''conquered'Satan. 'Maiiy :t muffled peal Is runt: on December 27, in memory of tiib* Uoly. and at;'a village -■ liciti- : Evesham thu muffled pealiisbfollowedi-by joy. bells to comnicmora'toytltevdeliveiauco ■ of. tbo Holy ... ■ 'I'lnr. Year r -is ."now ■ nshcr.'ii in hi a i>;itlnif-.lir..service and tin? rintjin^oti'jofyjbells j*bul - there aro still;a-ioiv'.rof/UlieVtild'.'vitrs;, kept up in remote. districts. ~- In, a;;.. Yorkshire villagli the youiig*meii and through tho .village, and.markHlitS'datej of; Use; rm«nH*gatcS.'ty , (lQors?j shut ters..*and wagon£\vith t |Y,habitants'-thiiik.;it- most lucky'to have' their- houses'marked ■ in :' ; ,this way;' : ;aiid! oncouraco the habit. lis Lancashire'' iho WssMilers-'fjgoACi'ound.vcarryiniji bunches-;- "of •. evergreens;,; bung.:, wit'-i. oranges, - aivpios..^'and :co!6iirc'cl f >. ; .ii !j?joii,-i; singing the following-'carol .: "

"Hore ,ue come .■!-. ' Among the leaves fojgrcep;;:.. <,%[U v'V Here we come a-singing;^?£i : ("'£?< So fair to fi? ' l-V,r it is =■- Strangers travel far and near;.. So G«S bless vim and seial you".-, :: : - A happy new, year." . , ■■ "■ Till quite reeently-a gang of men used to go round.at Oldham ."agganowing," and sing an old ditty:— "We're come to give you" warning,**/•• ■It's X-ow Year's Day/morning,-, With a hey ami a..H0w,.-.:-. '■■'■ ' And an aggan agganow."|.J.vi''' 1 * ■ It sounds weird,".:but-no' doubt had its origin in the .Scotch Hogmanay. Tho keeping ,of Plough'. Monday, (generally the first Monday in the New Tear), has almost become a tradition, though it is still observed in- ono or. two counties. In Cambridgeshire bands of-young men ornamented with scarves and ribbons drag ploughs through the streets. Tho custom also prevails in Huntingdonshire, whore, .they go round some villages with a decorated plough, repeating : ....:.

"Rsmember us poor eld plough boys, A-pionshiiif we wast g0,., , Hail, rain, blow, or snow. "■' A-ploughing wo must go. This day's festivities ended the Christ- - mas season, .and oven in olden days-the holidays were over and tho business of life began onco more.