OLD CUSTOMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18278, 20 December 1922, Page 8 (Supplement)

OLD CUSTOMS.

Probably few people nowadays, even in London know what " Mumping " means;, but in many parts of England, and especially in villages and rural districts, it is still the custom fo women and boys to go round the neighbou-aood on St. Thomas' Day, December 21, collecting money for Christmas cheer. In return for gifts from generous donors, they are expected to leave in each house at which they call a sprig of holly or mistletoe.

This custom is believed to date from the far-off days of the Druids, who used to send their students and acolytes from house to house during Yuletide with sprigs of mistletoe and holly as peace offerings.

The custom is variously carTed in different districts " Mumping," " A-gooding," " A-Thomasing." fiut whatever be its local name, ths object and method are similar.

A fortune-telling Christmas-pudding should hold a button for the old bachelor, a silver thimble fcr the old maid, a rirg for marriage, a nut with its kernel for wealth, and a silver com for good luck.

Pantomimes were first introduced into England early in the eighteenth centurv, and tit.- chief attraction they then held ■\\;>- ili'j harlequin and his "frolic antics." Tin- clown had no place in the first pant mimes. lb; was introduced F-mie 60 years later. The first really British pantomime was ,l Harlequin Dr. Faiistus," produced at Drury Lane. The greatest change that has come about in the observance of Christmas Is that Christmas Eve has practically disappeared. Yet our forefathers paid a greater attention almost to the " Eve " than to the " Day." Then the Yule log was kindled, candles were lighted, and all rejoicing begun. The literature of the Christmas of the Middle Ages and the days of " Merrie England " teams with references to the " Eve."

Queen's College, Oxford, still keeps up another interesting Yuletide custom. On the evening of Christmas Day a procession wends its way from the kitchen to the dining, bajl, headed by the cook, who carries on a charger a boar's head, either roast or boiled. The head is decked with a garland of laurel and is conveyed to the high table to the strains of an old carol which is sung by those takinp part in the procession. This carol begins;

The boar's head in hand beaT I, Bedecked with bays and rosemary, And I pray you, maaters, merry bal

The quaint custom is said to commemorate the gallant deed of a student who, while studying a Greek author near Shotover, was suddenly attacked by a wild boar, which rushed out of a wood. The savage brute ran open-mouthed at the student, who awaited the onslaught with remarkable coolness. When the animal came near he thrust his Greek bunk down its throat, and choked it.