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Article OLDEN HOLIDAY CUSTOMS. ← Page 10 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
garland is made of hoops , gaily covered Avith floAvers , and is carried about the toAvn with dances , shouting , and music , accompanied by a large doU , attached to a staff , and also decorated with floAvers , but which conveys no allusion to the minds of the revellers . This was celebrated Avith great pomp previous to the Reformation , but declined afterwards , an order having been given to effect its separation from claim on the corporation support . It partly regained favour at the Restoration , but never recovered the HOAV it received from the Commonwealth .
Fanaticism , both of pulpit ancl press , attacked it ; in 1661 was published by Thos . Hall , B . D ., a scarce tract , entitled "Funebria Florae , " in which May-day games are assailed , under the form of a dialogue , representing the indictment of the goddess Flora . A few words about Maypoles : —
"And hark , the bagpipe summons on the green ( The jocund bagpipe that awaketh sport ) The blithesome lasses , as the morning sheen , Around the flower-e .-o jone . Z Maypole quick resort , The gods of pleasure here have fixed their court ; Quick on the wing the flying moments seize , Nor build up ample schemes , for life is short—Short as the whisper of the passing breeze . "
Of course the stream of Puritan vehemence was directed against this popular sport , as well as the other games of the season . An edict of the Long Parliament , in 1644 , runs thus : — " And because the profanation of the Lord ' s Day hath been heretofore greatly occasioned by Maypoles ( a heathenish vanity generally abused to superstitious Avickedness ) , the Lords
and Commons do further order and ordain , that all and singular Maypoles that are or shall be erected , shall be taken down and removed by the constables , borsholders , tything men , petty constables , and churchwardens of the parishes where the same be . The said officers to be fined five shillings weekly till the said Maypoles be taken down . " They did not fall , however , unlamented . The author of " Palmodia" thought that
" Happy the age and harmlesae were the dayes ( For then true love and amity were found ) When every village did a Maypole raise , And Whitsun ales and May-games did abound ; And all the lusty yonkers in a rout With merry lasses danced the rod about ; Then friendshito the banquet bid the guests
p , And poor men fared the better for their feasts—Alas ! poor Maypoles ! what should be the cause That you were almost banished from the earth , Who never were rebellious to the laws ? Your greatest crime was honest , harmless mirth ! "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
garland is made of hoops , gaily covered Avith floAvers , and is carried about the toAvn with dances , shouting , and music , accompanied by a large doU , attached to a staff , and also decorated with floAvers , but which conveys no allusion to the minds of the revellers . This was celebrated Avith great pomp previous to the Reformation , but declined afterwards , an order having been given to effect its separation from claim on the corporation support . It partly regained favour at the Restoration , but never recovered the HOAV it received from the Commonwealth .
Fanaticism , both of pulpit ancl press , attacked it ; in 1661 was published by Thos . Hall , B . D ., a scarce tract , entitled "Funebria Florae , " in which May-day games are assailed , under the form of a dialogue , representing the indictment of the goddess Flora . A few words about Maypoles : —
"And hark , the bagpipe summons on the green ( The jocund bagpipe that awaketh sport ) The blithesome lasses , as the morning sheen , Around the flower-e .-o jone . Z Maypole quick resort , The gods of pleasure here have fixed their court ; Quick on the wing the flying moments seize , Nor build up ample schemes , for life is short—Short as the whisper of the passing breeze . "
Of course the stream of Puritan vehemence was directed against this popular sport , as well as the other games of the season . An edict of the Long Parliament , in 1644 , runs thus : — " And because the profanation of the Lord ' s Day hath been heretofore greatly occasioned by Maypoles ( a heathenish vanity generally abused to superstitious Avickedness ) , the Lords
and Commons do further order and ordain , that all and singular Maypoles that are or shall be erected , shall be taken down and removed by the constables , borsholders , tything men , petty constables , and churchwardens of the parishes where the same be . The said officers to be fined five shillings weekly till the said Maypoles be taken down . " They did not fall , however , unlamented . The author of " Palmodia" thought that
" Happy the age and harmlesae were the dayes ( For then true love and amity were found ) When every village did a Maypole raise , And Whitsun ales and May-games did abound ; And all the lusty yonkers in a rout With merry lasses danced the rod about ; Then friendshito the banquet bid the guests
p , And poor men fared the better for their feasts—Alas ! poor Maypoles ! what should be the cause That you were almost banished from the earth , Who never were rebellious to the laws ? Your greatest crime was honest , harmless mirth ! "