Christmas Echoes (with an illustration) [pp. 727-729]

1872.]
CiTf~iST~A S ECffO~#S.
727
Masques or the quaint verse of Wither, in
stead of the stately pages of Raleigh and
Clarendon.
Many of these picturesque observances
were derived from the festivals of the ancient
world. The Roman Saturnalia, which occurred at the winter solstice, was a season of
universal rejoicing that the shortest days of
the year were over, and that the sun, now
heralding the approach of spring and summer,
was wheelh~g his upward circuit through the
heavens. In fact, this celebration was nothing
more than a worship of the sun, which, as the
sonree of light and heat, was the object of
adoration to a large part of the pagan world.
Under various names this divinity was worshipped by the ancient Romans, Persians,
Phoenicians, and Scandinavians. The fires that
blazed in the rude huts and on the bleak hills
of the North in honor of Odin and Thor, were
kindled by the same sentiment of reverence
that inspired similar observances in sunnier
climes.
To trace the Christmas customs of modern
days to the usages of the ancient world would
require a volume, but some of them can be
glanced at here. The monarch of the Christmas festival, the Lord of Mfsrule, or Abbot
of Unreason, as he was felicitously called, was
the legitimate successor of the ruler or king
who presided over the sports of the Roman
Saturnalia. The hymns to Saturn were representations of the modern carol, and the
interchange of gifts at this season is a custom
which has come down to us from classic
times. And the license which characterized
these celebrations in the England of long ago
has its counterpart in an ante - Christian
epoch. This adoption of pagan customs by
the Church excited the ire of the stern old
Pnritans, who, in their indignation against
what they deemed its ah uses, abolished the
Christmas festival.
Among the most interesting observances
of an old-fashioned Christmas was the burning of the Yule-log which still blazes in many
English homes at this season. Its name is
derived from the Scandinavian feast of Juni,
when, at the winter-solstice, bonfires were
kindled in honor of the god Thor. When the
big log was drawn from its forest-home to the
huge fireplace in the old baronial hall, there
were great rejoicings, for its cheery blaze was
believed to burn up ancient feuds and animosities, and kindle the fires of affection and
good - avill among all classes. The ancient
minstrels welcomed its entrance with their
sweetest strains, and the merry-making that
accompanied it still lives in the joyous verse
of the old poets. This Yule log, or clog, as it
was called, was of great size. lluge trees
avere often used for this purpose, and, during
the Civil War in England, a house was burnt
down by setting fire to one of these votive
offerings. The Yule-log was lighted at Christmas-eve, but the blazing fire, with its accompanying festivities, was often kept up till the
2d of February-Candlemas. Around the festive hearth were gathered a merry company
who feasted with boisterous hilarity. The
wassail-bowl, flowing with spiced liquors, was
the object of livdy interest to the rollicking
crowd who thought to drown all care, animos.
ity, and sorrow, in its steaming flood. As no
records are preserved of the headaches and
heart-burnings which would naturally follow
these deep potations, it is difficult to say bow
far the result justified their anticipations,
though we are inclined to believe it would
have furnhbed a strong argument in favor
of the temperance movement.
Among the dishes that decked a Christmas-table in feudal ilmes,the most important
was the hoar's head. It was carried into the
banqueting-hall on a platter of gold or silver,
to the sound of merry minstrelsy, while a
stave in English and Latin, sung by the hearer
of the cherished trophy, celebrated its savory
charms. Garnished with bays and rosemary,
with an orange between its foaming tusks, and
a sauce ofmustard, thick around it, the "brawner's head" was a toothsome object to the
not over-delicate palates of those days. According to tradition, this custom originated
at (?ueen's College, Oxford, in commemoration of the valor of a student. While walking
in Shotover Forest, reading his Aristotle, a
wild4~oar rushed at the collegian with his
mouth wide open. Nothing daunted, the
Oxonian, exclaiming" Gr~cum cat," rammed
the philosopher's ethics down hi~ assailant's
throat, and, having choked the savage with
the sage, went back in triumph to his hall.
The office of boar's-head bearer was of great
importance. llenry II., as llolinshed tells us,
performed this service at the table of the
young prince, his son.
The next dish of importance at a Christmas-feast in the olden time was the peacock.
Great care was used in preparing this gay and
festive fowl, the skin, with the plumage ad.
bering, being nicely removed before the stuffing and roasting processes commenced. When
those avere over, he was cloth~d once more in
his natural covering, and in this comfortable
condition was brought upon the tahle with
his beak gilt. It was considered a great
privilege to serve this bird, only ladies distinguished for birth or beauty being permitted
to bear it through the banquet-hall. Other
bir~s in great profusion were present at these
feasts, but the turkey was conspicuous by his
731]absence, the benighted Europeans not being
favored with his company till early in the sixteenth century. Mince-pies were also in high
favor, hut that delicacy as well as plum-porrid ge-the progenitor of plum-pudding-was
regarded by our Puritan ancestors as popish,
idolatrous, and treasonable. Sir Roger de
Coverley thought there was some hope for a
dissenter when he saw him enjoy his porridge
at the ball on Christmas-day.
Among the beautiful customs which have
come down to us from the olden time is that
of decking our houses and churches with
evergreens at Christmas. In the Roman
Saturnalia, temples and dwellings were ornamented with green boughs, and this practice,
indeed, is almost as universal as humanity.
The banging up of the mistletoe is a relic of
the days of the Druids. On their sacred anniversary, the ancient Britons gathered the
mystic parasite, which, besides its claim to
religious veneration, was believed to possess
wonderful curative powers. Their barbarous
ceremonial, with its sacrifices of bulls, and
often of human beings, has happily passed
away; but one interesting reminder of those
observances still lingers in modern homes.
Few of the merry youths and maidens who
give or take the kiss under the mistletoe-spray
suspended from wall or ceiling on Christmasday, dream that they are perpetuating a cus.
tom of the painted savages who inhabited
England before its conquest by tlae Romans.
But, perhaps, the must charming of all the
accompaniments of the season in the olden
time were the Christmas carols. The first
Christmas carol, as Milton and Jeremy Taylor
have said, was sung by the angels on the
plains of Bethlehem. This custom has prevailed in most Christian countries, and is perpetuated in England and on the Continent.
Calabrian minstrels still leave their mountains,
during the last days preceding Christmas, for
Naples and Rome, saluting with their wild
music the shrines of the Virgin nauther, to
cheer her until the birth-time of the i'ifant
Jesus, now near at hand. The first Christmas
carols were hymns in honor of the Nativity.
They afterward assumed a`note secular character, mM~y of them being songs of revelry
accompanying the festivities of the season.
There is a beautiful custom still prevalent in
Devonshire, of the choristers of the village
church singing their carols on Christmas-eve
before the houses of rich and poor. Still
more impressive is the sound on Christmas
morning in Yorkshire, of the volces of little
children chanting the quaint ballads which
breathe the very spirit of the olden time.
Another characteristic diversion of these
days was afforded by the mum mets, the jovial
masqueraders who have long since put off
their motley garments. They were worthy
followers of the Lord of Misrule, whose mad
pranks, if performed in our day, would bring
his lordship befoi~e a police-court. But, while
these ancient diversions can never be restored,
there is much in their spirit worthy of per.
petuation. The overflowing hospitality; the
kindly feeling among all classes; the pleasant
family gatherings; the beautiful and touching
ceremonials, whose classic associations received fresh significance from modern uses
and the very extravagance of drollery in which
grave statesmen and lawyers did not think it
beneath their dignity to indulge, were redolent of a geniality and heartiness that invest
with unfading interest the Christmas of the
olden time.
ALzxANaEn YoUNG.
CHRISTMAS ECHOES.
WITH AN ILLUsTaATIoN.
II, sweet bells, chiming everywhere
Waking the keen, blue, frosty skies!
Oh, glad day, beaming crystal fair,
Crowning the year that dies!
O'er bird-forgotten vale and glen
Your happy song sounds once again,
Breathing of "Peace, good-will to men Good-will to men."
Echoed along the hurrying years,
The seif-saixie words that angels hymned
Fall softly on our listening ears!
And Bethlehena's star, undimmed,
Gleams o'er the lone and gleomy waste,
And guides the feet of those who haste
Where, lowly, like a star displaced,
The Babe is seen.