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Article OLDEN HOLIDAY CUSTOMS ← Page 7 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs
Queen's College , Oxford , it is Avell knoAvn that this observance is still continued , the dish in question being brought in Avith much ceremony , at the same time that is sung the old Latin rhyme " Caput apri defero . " Festivities used to be marked at Ramsgate by a procession , accompanied by what Avas called the hoden . This hoden was a
fictitious horse ' s head , to which a cloth was attached , and a person beneath made the jaws of the head snap continuously by means of strings properly contrived . Much revelry , noise , and ringing of handbells , Avere added on this occasion , and the Avhole formed Avhat Avas termed " going a hodening . " This practice is also prevalent on Christmas Eve in the Isle of Thanet ; and is
believed to be a relic of a festival instituted originally in commemoration of the landing of the Saxons in Kent . We must not leave this season Avithout noticing the ancient wassail-boAvI . Health-drinking seems to have been in use from a distant period . The Roman gallants drank as many cups to the health of their mistresses as there were letters in their names ; thus Martial says : — " Six cups to Ncevia ' s health go quickly round ; And he with seven the fair Justinas crown'd .
The Plighlanders chink healths with much ceremony , and are especially careful that the bottle shall pass round with the sun . The use of the expression " I pledge you , " is supposed to have arisen after the treacherous murder of her son-in-law , while drinking , by Elfrida—thus to express a pledge that no eAdl is meditated upon the drinker , and as a means of
perpetuating the odium consequent upon such a deed of unparalleled atrocity . The ancient Britons expressed their pledge by the words " Wass-baile , " equivalent to our " Good-health ; " hence the origin of the Avord Wassail-Bowl , Avhich may be pleasingly illustrated by the folloAving lines , in allusion to the well-known historical circumstance of Rowena presenting the cup to the stranger prince : —
" ' Health , my lord King , the fair Howena said ; ' Health , ' cried the chieftain to the Saxon maid , Then gaily rose ; and midst the concourse wide , Kissed her hale lips , and placed her by his side . At the soft scene such gentle thoughts abound , That health and kisses ' mongst the guests go round ; From this the social custom took its rise We still retain , and must for ever prize . "
Herrick , speaking of the Wassail-Bowl , breaks forth : — " Neat crown the bowl full With gentle lambs' wool ; Add sugar , nutmeg , and ginger ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs
Queen's College , Oxford , it is Avell knoAvn that this observance is still continued , the dish in question being brought in Avith much ceremony , at the same time that is sung the old Latin rhyme " Caput apri defero . " Festivities used to be marked at Ramsgate by a procession , accompanied by what Avas called the hoden . This hoden was a
fictitious horse ' s head , to which a cloth was attached , and a person beneath made the jaws of the head snap continuously by means of strings properly contrived . Much revelry , noise , and ringing of handbells , Avere added on this occasion , and the Avhole formed Avhat Avas termed " going a hodening . " This practice is also prevalent on Christmas Eve in the Isle of Thanet ; and is
believed to be a relic of a festival instituted originally in commemoration of the landing of the Saxons in Kent . We must not leave this season Avithout noticing the ancient wassail-boAvI . Health-drinking seems to have been in use from a distant period . The Roman gallants drank as many cups to the health of their mistresses as there were letters in their names ; thus Martial says : — " Six cups to Ncevia ' s health go quickly round ; And he with seven the fair Justinas crown'd .
The Plighlanders chink healths with much ceremony , and are especially careful that the bottle shall pass round with the sun . The use of the expression " I pledge you , " is supposed to have arisen after the treacherous murder of her son-in-law , while drinking , by Elfrida—thus to express a pledge that no eAdl is meditated upon the drinker , and as a means of
perpetuating the odium consequent upon such a deed of unparalleled atrocity . The ancient Britons expressed their pledge by the words " Wass-baile , " equivalent to our " Good-health ; " hence the origin of the Avord Wassail-Bowl , Avhich may be pleasingly illustrated by the folloAving lines , in allusion to the well-known historical circumstance of Rowena presenting the cup to the stranger prince : —
" ' Health , my lord King , the fair Howena said ; ' Health , ' cried the chieftain to the Saxon maid , Then gaily rose ; and midst the concourse wide , Kissed her hale lips , and placed her by his side . At the soft scene such gentle thoughts abound , That health and kisses ' mongst the guests go round ; From this the social custom took its rise We still retain , and must for ever prize . "
Herrick , speaking of the Wassail-Bowl , breaks forth : — " Neat crown the bowl full With gentle lambs' wool ; Add sugar , nutmeg , and ginger ,