CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 10 December 1936, Page 18

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

SURVIVALS OF OLDEN DAYS. MUMMINGS AND MERRYMAKINGS. ’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; ’Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale; A Christmas gambol oft would cheer A poor man’s heart for half the year. Sir Walter Scott’s lilies well sum up the Christmas spirit in England—a spirit that was not only living when he wrote but had long prevailed. Christmas (writes Alichael Compton in' the London Times) was the time when rich and poor held high revel together. Every great house gave a feast, to which the poorest labourer was made welcome. Gigantic joints of beef and pork were provided, with mountainous puddings to follow; and there was :io stint of strong ale. Music, games, and dancing succeeded the feasting, and sometimes presents were distributed. Hospitality took forms, at times, which seem barbarous to our modern ideas. At a great house in the North of England it was the custom to throw mutton-chops out of the window for 'the poor to pick up. Charles .James lox protested against the custom, saying that it was treating Englishmen like savages, THE LORD OF MISRULE.

At one period of our history, noblemen and other wealthy persons were so determined that the festival should be elaborately celebrated that they appointed a "Lord of Misrule,” who had charge of all tiie maskings, mummeries, and other diversions. He was given absolute power during bis period ol office, and went about with bis own treasurer, lord keeper, bodyguard, heralds. and trumpeters. Each of the Inns of Court had its Lord of Misrule; there was one to hold sway in the Lord Alayor’s mansion and one in the King's palace.

The custom of decorating houses and Jiurclies at Christmas with such greenery as may be obtained is an ancient one; and in the Aiiddle Ages it was .arried still farther, for posts were set up in the streets and wreathed with aolly and ivy. Everybody danced; and chose sufficiently gilted sang and played all kinds of instruments.

Some of the quaint observances of ilil are still found in various parts oi the country. In North Warns the boys on Christmas Eve carry about a hoard on which are lighted candles stuck in ■lay. This is called the “Star”—evilently ail allusion to the Star of Bethlehem. Other parts cling to the ceremony called “Alari Lwyil.” A person dressed in a long robe and crowned with a horse’s skull is escorted about co the various houses, outside which halts are made while carols are sung. Those inside sing in reply, and presently the door is opened and refreshment's are handed round.

It is probable that this ceremony las a pagan origin, for the use of a lorse’s skull has never been satisfactorily explained. THE “BOY BISHOP.” There are traces of paganism, too, in the Christmas mummings which used to be common in Cornwall and other .western counties, as well as in Sussex and Oxfordshire, and even now linger in remote villages. The mummers, in grotesque costumes hung with fluttering ribbons, purport to represent such characters as Saint George, a soldier, a Turkish knight, Father Christmas, and a quack doctor. The dialogue has been handed down by oral tradition through the centuries.

At Berdcn, in Essex, the medieval ceremony of electing a “Boy Bishop” was gone through as lately as 1929, and presumably still survives. One of the youngest of the clioir-boys, chosen by his fellow choristers, is duly enthroned, like a real bishop, wearing full vestments and carrying a crosier; he forms an interesting link with the dim past.

A common door-to-door ceremony is wassailing, which survives to-day from very ancient times. The word itself is Anglo-Saxon, coming from “AVas had,” meaning “Be healthy.” Alodern wassailers carry round a large vessel full of wanned spiced beer, also cake and apples. At the homes visited there is singing and drinking from the wassailbowl, and the cake and apples are distributed. In some remote parts there is a custom of taking about “the crib”—a rude representation of the manger in which Christ was born —-and singing carols. The use of the manger at Christmas time in church is said to have been instituted by Saint Francis of Assissi. AVhether the country lads who carry about “the crib” have ever heard of the good saint is doubtful. Several of our Christmas customs are by no means venerable. The popular Christmas tree only came to England in 1840 or thereabouts. It was introduced by the Prince Consort, and the first to be set up in this country was in Buckingham Palace. But there is one Christmas custom which goes back to immemorial times, and that is the pleasant one of giving Christmas boxes.