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Article OLDEN HOLIDAY CUSTOMS. ← Page 2 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
age feels not the slightest compunction in suspending his misletoe or hoRy at its accustomed season , no matter to what Druidical or other Pagan ceremonials it may be referred , although he would doubtless strenuously oppose the re-erection of the Maypole in the Strand , or ( though from no stronger conviction of its heathen soiu-ce , or intrinsic unworthiness ) the celebration of harvest and its accompanying doings , on the summit of
Cornhffl . The elements of change whieh all society contains within itself , mainly effect the decline of old customs . To this we must submit , however , the lover of the antique , or the admirer of poetic sentiment , may regret the loss of his favourite ceremonials as theyone by onedie away to exist onlin the annals
, , y of the past . Bacon , upon this point , speaks very decidedly : — " Custom is the law of fools—a frowarcl retention of custom is as turbulent a thing as innovation ; ancl they that reverence too much old times are a scorn to the new . "
But although then- performance is no more , their interest remains for us , ancl is perhaps strengthened by their desuetude . Were apology required for our subject , we may easily assure ourselves , too , of its importance as well as its interest . Old customs , to the casual observer merely quaint , supply in many cases the absence of historical record , or confirm that wdiich we
possess , by showing the connexion of races , illustrating national character and tendencies , ancl moral ancl social condition , or by helping to connect the religion , philosophy , or folly of one age , Avith that of the succeeding . Indeed , in early ages , they were the means adopted to transmit the knowledge of remarkable events from generation to generation . Even such customs as
are so remote as to be untraceable , and do not exhibit historical connection , are useful in observing the manifestation of human intellect . This is equally true of such as are , or are not , in use .
The bone dug up by the geologist unfolds to his scrutinizing inquiry the structure ancl functions of the living animal . We may here extract a passage from a work entitled the Sketchbook , published thirty years ago : — " These customs resemble those picturesque morsels of Gothic architecture ivhich we see crumbling in various parts of the country , partly dilapidated by
the waste of ages and partly lost in the additions and alterations of later days . Poetry , however , still clings with cherishing fondness about the rural game and holiday revel from which it has derived so many of its themes—as the ivy winds its rich foliage round the Gothic arch and mouldering tower , gratefully repaying their support by clasping together their tottering remains , and , as it were , embalming them in verdure . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
age feels not the slightest compunction in suspending his misletoe or hoRy at its accustomed season , no matter to what Druidical or other Pagan ceremonials it may be referred , although he would doubtless strenuously oppose the re-erection of the Maypole in the Strand , or ( though from no stronger conviction of its heathen soiu-ce , or intrinsic unworthiness ) the celebration of harvest and its accompanying doings , on the summit of
Cornhffl . The elements of change whieh all society contains within itself , mainly effect the decline of old customs . To this we must submit , however , the lover of the antique , or the admirer of poetic sentiment , may regret the loss of his favourite ceremonials as theyone by onedie away to exist onlin the annals
, , y of the past . Bacon , upon this point , speaks very decidedly : — " Custom is the law of fools—a frowarcl retention of custom is as turbulent a thing as innovation ; ancl they that reverence too much old times are a scorn to the new . "
But although then- performance is no more , their interest remains for us , ancl is perhaps strengthened by their desuetude . Were apology required for our subject , we may easily assure ourselves , too , of its importance as well as its interest . Old customs , to the casual observer merely quaint , supply in many cases the absence of historical record , or confirm that wdiich we
possess , by showing the connexion of races , illustrating national character and tendencies , ancl moral ancl social condition , or by helping to connect the religion , philosophy , or folly of one age , Avith that of the succeeding . Indeed , in early ages , they were the means adopted to transmit the knowledge of remarkable events from generation to generation . Even such customs as
are so remote as to be untraceable , and do not exhibit historical connection , are useful in observing the manifestation of human intellect . This is equally true of such as are , or are not , in use .
The bone dug up by the geologist unfolds to his scrutinizing inquiry the structure ancl functions of the living animal . We may here extract a passage from a work entitled the Sketchbook , published thirty years ago : — " These customs resemble those picturesque morsels of Gothic architecture ivhich we see crumbling in various parts of the country , partly dilapidated by
the waste of ages and partly lost in the additions and alterations of later days . Poetry , however , still clings with cherishing fondness about the rural game and holiday revel from which it has derived so many of its themes—as the ivy winds its rich foliage round the Gothic arch and mouldering tower , gratefully repaying their support by clasping together their tottering remains , and , as it were , embalming them in verdure . "