-
Articles/Ads
Article OLDEN HOLIDAY CUSTOMS. ← Page 4 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
held revels at this season , at ivhich they elected temporary sovereigns , who may have given rise to our Twelfth-night king and queen . A similar custom has since prevailed in most parts of Europe , and is still perpetuated in France and Germany . It is quaintly alluded to in Herrick ' s " Hesperides : " —
"__> Tow , now the time comes With the cake full of plums , When bean ' s the king and tho sport here ; Besides we must know The pea also Must revel as queen of the court here . "
In Gloucestershire , the farmer and servants assemble in a field on the vigil of this day , when a large cake , having a central hole , is provided . This , with much observance , is placed on the horn of an ox , who is then tickled , in order that in casting about his head , he may hurl the cake to a distance . Should it fall behind the animalthe omen is favourable to the mistress
, of the farm : if before , to the bailiff himself . Cumbrian rustics celebrate Twelfth-nights by a supper , consisting of lobscouse—a dish of fried beef , potatoes , and onions—and a liquor , termed " pousoudie , " composed of ale , sugar , and nutmeg , with roasted apples—in short , the anciently admired beverage , "lamb ' swool . "
At Brough , in Westmoreland , a holly , or ash tree , with a burning torch attached to each branch , is , or used to be , paraded through the town on this night , accompanied by bands of music . It is not improbably derived from a procession of boughs for altar decorations , in commemoration of the offerings of the Magi . Some suppose that the king-choosing at this season has
reference to these three ancient Eastern kings , traditionally known as Melchior , Gaspar , and Balthasar . In days of chivalry , advantage was taken of this period for the celebration of tournaments and other entertainments . According to an old ivork , the first Monday after Twelfthday was called Plough Monday : — " because on that day they
doe first begin to plough ; and it is called Plowlick Monday by the husbandmen in Norfolk . " On this point may be noticed that Tarquinius Priscus instituted , among the ancients , the Compitalia , which belong to the month of January , and formed a period of rest for the servants , when the labours of ploughing were over , at which time they celebrated them by themselves .
Following the calendar , we next notice Shrovetide , at which season two distinct customs appeared . One , a sport of great barbarity , does not noiv characterize Shrovetide—the other , a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Olden Holiday Customs.
held revels at this season , at ivhich they elected temporary sovereigns , who may have given rise to our Twelfth-night king and queen . A similar custom has since prevailed in most parts of Europe , and is still perpetuated in France and Germany . It is quaintly alluded to in Herrick ' s " Hesperides : " —
"__> Tow , now the time comes With the cake full of plums , When bean ' s the king and tho sport here ; Besides we must know The pea also Must revel as queen of the court here . "
In Gloucestershire , the farmer and servants assemble in a field on the vigil of this day , when a large cake , having a central hole , is provided . This , with much observance , is placed on the horn of an ox , who is then tickled , in order that in casting about his head , he may hurl the cake to a distance . Should it fall behind the animalthe omen is favourable to the mistress
, of the farm : if before , to the bailiff himself . Cumbrian rustics celebrate Twelfth-nights by a supper , consisting of lobscouse—a dish of fried beef , potatoes , and onions—and a liquor , termed " pousoudie , " composed of ale , sugar , and nutmeg , with roasted apples—in short , the anciently admired beverage , "lamb ' swool . "
At Brough , in Westmoreland , a holly , or ash tree , with a burning torch attached to each branch , is , or used to be , paraded through the town on this night , accompanied by bands of music . It is not improbably derived from a procession of boughs for altar decorations , in commemoration of the offerings of the Magi . Some suppose that the king-choosing at this season has
reference to these three ancient Eastern kings , traditionally known as Melchior , Gaspar , and Balthasar . In days of chivalry , advantage was taken of this period for the celebration of tournaments and other entertainments . According to an old ivork , the first Monday after Twelfthday was called Plough Monday : — " because on that day they
doe first begin to plough ; and it is called Plowlick Monday by the husbandmen in Norfolk . " On this point may be noticed that Tarquinius Priscus instituted , among the ancients , the Compitalia , which belong to the month of January , and formed a period of rest for the servants , when the labours of ploughing were over , at which time they celebrated them by themselves .
Following the calendar , we next notice Shrovetide , at which season two distinct customs appeared . One , a sport of great barbarity , does not noiv characterize Shrovetide—the other , a