CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19456, 21 December 1934, Page 3

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

FESTIVITY OF OLD. PHANTASY THROUGH THE YEARS PICKWICKIAN 'CELEBRATION. (By “ Korotangi.”) Redolent with age, the season of Christmas comes to us enshrouded in an atmosphere of 'Conservatism. There have, of course, been inevitable changes with the passage of the years; but they have been changes in letter only and the spirit of the festivities waxes andl flourishes as of old. Not only are the old ways the new ways but they are also the best. ways. From its transmutation into a 20th century environm'erat the season has lost a great deal of its 'colour and its pageantry and, sifted through the realist eyes of the present generation, it has suffered accordingly. But although we are probably well contented with our own simple celebrations the many brilliant pictures that have been painted' of the Yule fide festivities a century or two’ >ago ''Cannot fail to fascinate us. Carol singing at Christmas is an ancient custom, and perhaps the earliest Impressions of the former seasonal .jollity, with its universal goodwill and its colossal banquets, is given by the illustrious ballad, “Good King Wences«s.” Long ago they were merely religious hymns, expressing joy for the birth of Christ, but, 'in time, a'll sorts of merry tunes composed for the ,season ' became known as carols. Just■such an evolution was experienced by “ Goo'dl King Weniceslas" —a melody known wherever the -story of 'the birth of Christ has been told. And in 'teachins: the lesson of a monarch’s 'humility it gives us incidentally a glimpse of the spirit of Christmas, many centuries ago. Is there not the Yuletide atmosphere in the magnificent copimand of the big-hearted king:- “ Bring- me flesh and bring me wine, Bring me pine logs hither,• , Thou and I will see.'him dine When we hear them thither.” From Polish Origin. But perhaps there is a lack of homeliness about these time-worn verses—though they have been acclimatised from their Polish origin for huudredls of years. But no similar argument could be applied to that merry English epic, “ God Rest You Merry Gentlemen-” Its author seems- to have been tost in the mists of antiquity, but in telling the story of Christ in simple verses, it speaks of a reverent Christian outlook that might have applied to one of .several historical periods. .Throughout there is the note of 'exultation:— 0 tidings or comfort and joy, - For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day. But, if •Christinas 'Carols -such as these breathe the spirit of Christmas its very being is reflected in the graphic verses from the pen of Sir Walter Scott, which be termed “Oid Christmas.” ‘He commences 'thus:—•

Heap on more wood—the wind is chill; But let It whistle as it will, We’ll keep our -Christmas merry still. Then follows a description of the •old Christmas—written .as only could have been written by the Scottish ■laird. The blithe, 1 atmosphere of the .season is caught as he -speaks of its hospitable train of domestic and religious rites, while as he describes the celebrations at the lord’-s house, where the whole countryside is gathered in an orgy of mistletoe and good viands, •the poem provides -a very picture of tho festal season of old'.

Then opened wide the baron’s hall To vassal, tenant, serf and all; Power laid his rod or rule aside And Ceremony doffed his pride. With Sir Walter Scott. But the full force of the poem lies in the vivid description that it presents of the .festal board. The fire," well supplied with huge Jogs, roars up the wide chimney. The huge table in the hall, scrubbed till it ishines, is loaded with the reeking islrloln, the plum-porridge and the Christmas pie served with'all the Scottish .savouries. Around the 'walls, are the worthy trophies of many a chase, grimly frowning upon such festivity.. But from the delightful description of Scott It is not a very far step to join with Dickens in Iris homely account of the Pickwickian 'Christmas. As 'brisk as bees, if not altogether as light as fairies, did the noble four, Pickwick, Snodgrass, Tup man and Winkle, together with Mr Weller, journey to partake of the. warm hospitality of their friendl, Mr Wardle, at ■Ding-ley Dell, Dickens obviously reveres Christmas. To him it is a time of delight and companionship, reawakening a thousand old memories and dormant sympathies. Mundane Reality of 1934.

And through the happy tale of Mr •Pickwick’s misadventures—his episodes on the Ice, his hilarity at the liable, his philosophy a't the wedding —there as this jovial undercurrent which provides us with a new light on the Christmas of the 19th century. It ‘is a story well told and one that sees Dickens at his host as a journalist. lie writes with vigour equal only to his subtlety" and in the happy atmosphere of Wardle’s home, we find one of ‘Lite best descriptions of Christmas festivity ever penned. It is unequalled in its simplicity, its breadth and its incomparable humour. It is something of an anti-climax to conic from the Pickwickian heights ‘to .the mundane reality of the J 334 Christmas. There is change. A few bon-bons will be exploded, one or two paper hats donned; in isolated instances there may he a party or a family gathering. Rut the letter of the thing has undergone -evolution. ■But tlie spirit remains the same. There, is the same jollity, the same hilarity and possibly the .same goodwill; and Christmas remains with us as Ihe peak of the year. It could not be anything else, its reality seems engrained in Ihe human .soul.