 |
Edinburgh, New Year in, 325-6
Eiresione, 270
Encina, Juan del, 149
England, Christmas poetry in, 47-51, 76-86; Midnight Mass in, 99; possible survivals of the Christmas crib in, 118, 274; the Nativity in the miracle cycles, 128-38; "souling" in, 192-4; Hallowe'en in, 195-8; Guy Fawkes Day in, 198-9; animal masks in, 199-201; 394 Martinmas in, 203; St. Clement's Day in, 211-2; St. Catherine's Day in, 212-3; St. Andrew's Day in, 213-4; St. Thomas's Day in, 225-6; Christmas Eve superstitions in, 234; Yule log in, 257-8; Yule candle in, 259; pyramids and Christmas-trees in, 266-7, 270; the Holy Thorn in, 268-9; evergreen decorations in, 272-6; Christmas boxes in, 279; Christmas fare in, 283-6; sacrificial survivals and Christmas games in, 292-3; mummers and sword-dancers in, 297-301; Feast of Fools in, 305; Boy Bishop in, 220, 306-8; St. Stephen's Day in, 292, 311-4; Holy Innocents' Day in, 315; New Year's Day in, 321-9, 332; Epiphany customs in, 337-8, 345-8; Candlemas in, 350, 353-5; Rock Day in, 351; Plough Monday in, 352
Ephraem Syrus, 31, 239
Epiphanius, 21
Epiphany, early history of the festival, 20-2; in the Roman Church, 101-2; in the Greek Church, 102-4; Blessing of the Waters at, 102-4, 244, 246, 344; Italian religious ceremonies at, 116-7; in drama, 125-8; old German name for, 243; folk customs on, 293; Twelfth Night cakes and kings, 337-41; expulsion of evils, 341-2; the Befana and the Magi, 343-4; wassailing, 345-7; "Haxey Hood," 347-8; farewells to Christmas, 349-50
Erzgebirge, Christmas plays in, 144, 232; St. John's tree in, 269; pfeffern in, 316
Eschenloh, berchten at, 342
Esthonians, All Souls' Day among, 191
Ethelred, laws of, 21
Etzendorf, St. Martin's rod at, 207-8
Evans, Sir Arthur, 253-4
Eves, importance of for festival customs, 196
Expulsion rites, 104, 181-2, 217, 327-8, 341-2, 344
Fabriano, Gentile da, 148
Fare, Christmas, 283-91
Feasting, connected with sacrifice, 178-9, 284; at Martinmas, 202-4; at Christmas, 283-91; at New Year, 321-3; at Epiphany, 337-41
Feien, 231
Feilberg, Dr. H. F., 6, 236, 313-4
Festivals, origin and purpose of, 17-8; relation of pagan and Christian, 19-27, 169-74
Fire, not given out at Christmas or New Year, 170-1, 257-8; bonfires, 182, 198-9, 204-5, 327, 346-50; new fire lit, 198; Christmas log and ancestor-worship, 251-4; the Yule log and candle in western Europe, 254-60; Candlemas fires and lights, 352-4
"First-foots," 208, 252, 323-6
Fish eaten on Christmas Eve, 287
Flagellants, 146
Flamma, Galvano, 147-8
Fletcher, Giles, 82-3
Florence, Nativity plays at, 147; Befana at, 343
Fools, Feast of, 180, 302-6
Football, 349
Fowler, Dr. W. Warde, 167
France, Christmas poetry in, 55-65; Midnight Mass in, 96-8; Christmas drama in, 124-7, 138-43; All Souls' Eve in, 191-2; Christmas Eve superstitions in, 234-5; Christmas log in, 254-6; Christmas-tree in, 267; Harvest May in, 271; presents brought by le petit Jesus, 278; Christmas cakes in, 287-8; Feast of Fools in, 302-6; Boy Bishop in, 308; Innocents' Day in, 316; New Year in, 322-3; aguillanneuf in, 329-30; Epiphany in, 339-42, 344, 349-50; Candlemas candles in, 353
Francis, St. (of Assisi), and Christmas, 36-8, 105-6, 157, 289
Frazer, Dr. J. G., 6, 167, 180, 182, 199, 276, 288, 324
Frick, Frau, 241
Frigg, 241
Friuli, All Souls' Day in, 194
Frumenty, 285
Games, Christmas, 293-4 395
Gaude, Frau, 241-2
Gautier, Theophile, 64
Gay, 196
Geese-dancers, 299
Genealogy, chanting of the, 93
George, St., in mummers' plays, 299-301
Gerhardt, Paul, 73-4
Germanicus, 202
Germany, Christmas established in, 21; Christmas poetry in Catholic, 42-7; Protestant hymns in, 70-6; Christmas services in, 98-9; the crib and Kindelwiegen in, 107-12; Christmas drama in, 143-6; "star-singing" in, 152; Roman customs in, 171; pre-Christian New Year in, 171-4; soul-cakes in, 194; the Schimmel and other animal masks in, 199-201; Martinmas customs in, 202-8; St. Andrew's Eve in, 214-6; St. Nicholas in, 218-9, 229-32; St. Thomas's Eve in, 225; Christmas Eve in, 229, 237; Twelve Days superstitions in, 240-3; Frau Berchta, etc., in, 241-3; werewolves in, 246; Christmas log in, 256; Christmas-tree in, 263-7, 359; Harvest May in, 271; Christmas presents in, 277-9; Christmas fare in, 286-9; sacrificial relics in, 292; St. Stephen's Day in, 312, 315-6; St. John's Day in, 314-6; Holy Innocents' Day in, 316; New Year in, 322, 332
Gilmorton, "Christmas Vase" at, 118
Glastonbury thorns, 268-9
"Gloria in excelsis," 91, 94
Goethe, 266
Goliards, 49, 128
Gomme, Sir Laurence, 257-8, 354
Goose, Martinmas, 203; Christmas, 284
Gozzoli, Benozzo, 148
Grampus, 219
Greece, Epiphany ceremonies in, 102-3, 244-5, 344; winter festivals of Dionysus in, 169, 245; Kallikantzaroi in, 244-7, 257; Christmas log in, 257, 344; rhamna in Chios, 270; "Christ's Loaves" in, 290; folk-plays in, 300-1; New Year in, 331, 333
Greek Church, Epiphany in, 22, 102-4; Christmas in, 22, 99-101; Advent in, 90
Gregorie, 315
Gregory III., 107
Gregory the Great, letter to Mellitus, 179, 203
Guernsey, Christmas superstitions in, 234, 240; oguinane in, 330
Guisers, 297-8
Guy Fawkes Day, 182, 198-9
Habergaiss, 201
Habersack, 201
Hakon the Good, 21, 172
Hallowe'en, 182, 195-8
Hampstead, Guy Fawkes Day at, 199
Hans Trapp, 230
Hardy, Mr. Thomas, 48, 234
Harke, Frau, 241
Harrison, Miss Jane, 21, 176-7, 325
"Haxey Hood," 347-8
Herbert, George, 81
Herefordshire, Hallowe'en in, 197; pyramids in, 266; Holy Thorn in, 269; New Year water in, 332; Epiphany and New Year ceremonies in, 346
Herod plays, 126-7, 129, 141, 153
Herrick, 81-2, 257, 338, 345, 354-5
Hertfordshire, pyramids in, 266
Hindu New Year, 322
Hoefler, Dr., 288
Hogmanay, 328-30
Holda, Frau, 241-2
Holland, the "star" in, 152; Martinmas in, 204-5; Rommelpot in, 217; St. Nicholas in, 219; St. Thomas's Day in, 225
Holly, 272, 275-6
Holy Innocents' Day, 127, 302, 306-8, 315-7
Horn-cakes, 202, 204
Hornchurch, boar's head at, 348
Horn-dance, 201
Horse, as a sacrificial animal, 200; hobby-horse, hodening, and the Schimmel, 199-201; customs on St. Stephen's Day, 311-4 396
Howison, 234
Hubert, St., his Day, 202
Hunt, Leigh, 337-8
Huysmans, J. K., 93
Hymns, Latin, 31-4, 42
Iceland, "Yule host" in, 240
Image, Prof. Selwyn, 85
"In dulci jubilo," 44-5
Incense used for purification, 183, 225, 244-5, 327-8
Ireland, Christmas carols in, 69-70; All Souls' Eve in, 192; Hallowe'en customs in, 197-8; Martinmas slaughter in, 203-4; "hunting of the wren" in, 292; Holy Innocents' Day in, 315; Epiphany in, 350
Italy, Christmas poetry in, 36-42, 67; presepio in, 105-7, 112-6, 359; Christmas drama in, 146-8, 152; All Souls' in, 192, 194; Martinmas in, 204; Christmas log in, 256; Santa Lucia in, 278; Christmas fare in, 287, 289-91; Epiphany in, 343
Ivy, 272, 275-6
Jacopone da Todi, 36, 39-42, 146
James, St., Gospel of, 124
Jerome, St., 181
Jerusalem, Christmas at, 22, 94-5
John, St., Evangelist, his Day, 302, 314-5
Johnson, Lionel, 85
Johnson, Richard, 301
Jonson, Ben, 298
Julebuk, 202
Julian the Apostate, 23
Julklapp, 278-9
Kalends of January, the Roman festival, 24, 165, 167-71, 200, 269; made a fast, 101, 170-1. See also New Year's Day
Kallikantzaroi, 244-7
Kindelwiegen, 108-11
King of the Bean, 180, 338-41
"Kissing-bunch," 274
Kissling, K. G., 266
Klapperbock, 201
Klaubauf, 219
Kloepfelnaechte, 216-7
Knecht Ruprecht, 220, 231-2
Kore, 21
Krampus, 219
Labruguiere, Epiphany in, 342
Lake, Prof. K., 20, 24
La Monnoye, 62-3
Lancashire, Hallowe'en in, 198
Latin Christmas poetry, 31-4, 42, 63-4, 68-9
Lawson, Mr. J. C., 247, 301
Lead-pouring, 215, 237, 332
Leather, Mrs., 269, 346
Le Moigne, Lucas, 56-8
Libanius, 168-9, 269
Liberius, Pope, 107, 352-3
Lima, Christmas Eve at, 98
Lithuania, feast of the dead in, 195; New Year's Eve in, 332
Log customs. See Yule log
Lombardy, Christmas log in, 256
London, Greek Epiphany ceremonies in, 103; Italian Christmas in, 116-7, 291; Christmas in, under Puritans, 185; German Christmas in, 265; Boy Bishop in, 306-7; New Year in, 322, 327
Lord Mayor's day, 202
Lord of Misrule, 298
Lorraine, cake customs in, 287, 339-40
Lucia, St., her festival, 221-3, 268
Lucian, 166-7
Ludlow, Guy Fawkes Day at, 199
Lullabies, 51, 67-9, 83-4, 109-10
Luther, Martin, 70-3, 265
Lyme Regis, Candlemas at, 354
Macedonia, Christmas Eve in, 217; New Year's Eve in, 226, 330, 332; Kallikantzaroi in, 245; folk-play in, 300; Epiphany in, 344
Macee, Claude, 141
Madrid, 97-8, 153, 343
Magi in drama, 125-6, 128-9, 151-3; as present-bringers, 343
Magic, 163
Man, Isle of, carol-singing in, 99; Hollantide in, 189, 198, 321; 397 Fynnodderee in, 246; "hunting of the wren" in, 292-3
Mana, 176-7
Mannhardt, W., 252-3, 313-4
Marguerite of Navarre, 141
Marseilles, "pastorals" at, 141
Martin of Braga, 272
Martin I., Pope, 203
Martinengo-Cesaresco, Countess, 106, 112, 142
Martinmas, an old winter festival, 173, 182, 200, 202-3; its feasting customs, 202-4; its bonfires, 204-5; St. Martin as gift-bringer, and his relation to St. Nicholas, 205-8, 218-9, 277-8
Masking customs, 169-71, 175-6, 199-202, 206, 219, 230-2, 245, 297-302, 304-305, 352
Mass, Midnight, 94-9; the three Christmas Masses, 94-6
Mechlin, Martinmas at, 206
Mellitus, Abbot, 179
Mexico, Christmas drama in, 154
Michaelmas, 173
Milan, Epiphany play at, 147-8
Milton, 82
Mince-pies, 284
Minnesingers, 36
"Misterio de los Reyes Magos," 128
Mistletoe, 272-4, 276
Mistral, Frederic, 255
Mithra, 23
Modranicht, 181
Monasticism and Christmas, 34-5
Mont-St.-Michel, Epiphany king at, 340
Montenegro, Christmas log customs in, 252
Morgan, Lady, 114-5
Morris, William, 85
Morris-dancers, 299-301
Mouthe, "De fructu" at, 288
Mummers' plays, 297-302
Munich, Bavarian National Museum at, 107-8; Christmas-tree at, 267; St. Stephen's Day at, 312
Murillo, 65
Mythology, in relation to ritual, 164-5, 176
Naogeorgus, 111, 217, 353
Naples, zampognari at, 112; presepio at, 113-4; Christmas plays at, 150; Epiphany at, 343
Natalis Invicti, 23-4, 165
New Year's Day, in Roman Empire, 24, 167-71, 276-7; opposed in character to Christmas, 25-6; Teutonic and Celtic, 25, 171-3, 189, 202-4; Slav, 173; January 1 made a fast, 101, 170-1; customs attracted to January 1, 173, 189, 200, 321; fire not given out, 170-1, 257-8; charms, omens, and other customs, 182, 321-34; presents, 168-71, 276-7; mistletoe connected with, 276
Nicea, Council of, 22
Nicholas, St., his Day related to Martinmas, 173, 207-8, 277-8; as patron of boys, 218, 220, of sailors, 218, 221; his festival, 218-21; on Christmas Eve, 229-32
Noel, origin of the name, 22; the French carol, 55-65
Normandy, "star-singing" in, 151; Innocents' Day in, 316; Epiphany in, 349-50
Northamptonshire, St. Catherine's and St. Andrew's Days in, 213-4; Dyzemas in, 315
Northumberland, holly in, 275
Norway, Christmas established in, 21; "star-singing" in, 151; pre-Christian Yule festival in, 172; animal masks in, 202; Christmas Eve superstitions in, 235-6; Yule candles in, 259-60
Notker, 32
Nottinghamshire, Hallowe'en customs in, 196; Christmas cake and wassail-bowl in, 285
Nuremberg, Epiphany at, 342
Nuts, customs with, 195-6, 207
"O's," Great, 92
Oak as a sacred tree, 254
Oberufer, Christmas play at, 143, 272
Ocana, F. de, 65-6
Oesel, "Yule Boar" in, 288
Old Hob, 199-200 398
Otfrid of Weissenburg, 42
Oxford, boars head at, 284
Palmer, Mr. F. H. E., 104
Parcae, 181
Paris, Christmas in, 98; All Souls' Eve in, 191; St. Catherine's Day in, 213; Christmas-tree in, 267; New Year in, 277; Feast of Fools in, 302-3
Paschal, Francoise, 61-2
Pasquier, Etienne, 339
Pearson, Dr. Karl, 161-2
Pellegrin, Abbe, 63
Pelzmaerte, 206-8, 217
Perchta, 181, 241-4, 342
Perun, 254
Peterborough, St. Catherine's Day at, 213
Philocalian Calendar, 20
Pifferari, 112
Pillersee, Advent mummeries at, 218
Pliny, 273
Plough Monday, 300
Plum-pudding, 284-5
Plygain, 99
Poland, the "star" in, 152; puppet-shows in, 153; werewolves in, 246; Christmas straw in, 276; Christmas wafers in, 291
Polaznik, 231, 252, 323-4
Presents, at the Roman Kalends, 168-71, 276-7; on All Souls' Eve, 192; at Martinmas, 205-8; on St. Nicholas's Day, 218-20; at Christmas, 183, 230, 277-9; at New Year and other seasons, 277-8; at Epiphany, 343
Presepio. See Crib
"Prophetae," 127
Protestantism, effects of, on Christmas, 27, 70-8, 111, 138, 141, 185-6, 229-30
Provence, remains of Christmas drama in, 141, 154; Christmas log in, 255; Magi in, 344
Prudentius, 32
Puppet-plays, 153 f.
Purification, feast of the. See Candlemas
Puritans, their attitude towards Christmas, 77, 180, 184-5, 298
Pyramids, 266
Quainton, blossoming thorn at, 268
"Raging host," 240, 242
Ragusa, Christmas log customs at, 252
Ramsgate, hodening at, 200-1
Rauchnaechte, 225, 327-8
Rhys, Sir John, 189, 321, 325-6
Ripon, St. Clement's Day at, 212; Yule candles at, 259; Candlemas at, 354
Risano, Christmas log customs at, 252
Rolle, Richard, 48
Rome, Christmas established in, 20-1; pagan winter festivals in, 23-4, 165-71; Christmas services and customs in, 95-6, 112-6, 289-90; mediaeval New Year quete in, 331
Rossetti, Christina, 85
Rouen, religious plays at, 124-5, 138-40
Roumania, the "star" in, 152; Christmas drama in, 153; St. Andrew's Eve in, 215-6; Christmas songs in, 238; Christmas fare in, 287, 291; New Year in, 330-1; Epiphany in, 342
Russia, Epiphany ceremonies in, 104, 246; the "star" in, 152; Christmas Eve in, 232-3, 237; fire superstitions in, 253; Christmas fare in, 287, 291; Christmas games in, 294; mummers in, 302; New Year in, 333
Saboly, 62
Sacrifice, theories of, 174-8; connected with festivals, 178-9; survivals of, 199, 283-7, 292-4, 328, 347-9
Salers, Christmas king at, 340
Samhain, 172, 204
Sant' Andrea della Valle, Rome, 102
Santa Klaus, 220
Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 95-6, 107, 114-5
Saturnalia, 24, 113, 165-7, 180, 359
Schiller, 266
Schimmel and Schimmelreiter, 199-200, 206, 231
Schoolboys' festival, 223-4. See also Boy Bishop
Scotland, Christmas carols in, 70; Hallowe'en customs in, 197-8; sowens eaten in, 285; "first-foot" in, 325-6; other New Year customs in, 326-9, 332-3; Candlemas in, 354 399
Sedulius, Coelius, 32
Sequences, 32-3
Serao, Matilde, 113
Serbs, Christmas customs of, 251-4, 341
Shakespeare, 239, 298
Shepherds in Christmas drama, 123-4, 132-7, 139-43
Shropshire, soul-cakes in, 192-3; Guy Fawkes Day at Ludlow, 199; Twelve Days superstitions in, 240-1, 258; Christmas Brand in, 258; Christmas decorations in, 275-6, 355; "wigs" in, 285; cattle specially fed at Christmas, 289; morris-dancers in, 299; New Year in, 324; Candlemas in, 355
Sicily, Midnight Mass in, 98; Christmas novena in, 112-3; Christmas procession at Messina, 113; Christmas plays in, 150; All Souls' Eve in, 192; Martinmas in, 204; St. Lucia's Eve in, 222; presents in, 278; Candlemas candles in, 353
Sidgwick, Mr. F., 6, 77-8
Sidgwick, Mrs. Alfred, 264
Silesia, Schimmel in, 200; Martinmas in, 206; Christmas Eve in, 232; animals specially fed at Christmas, 289
Slav New Year, 172-3; Christmas songs and customs, 237-8, 251-4, 290, 341. See also Bohemia, Crivoscia, Poland, Russia
Smith, W. Robertson, 164-5, 175-6, 178-9
Somersetshire wassailing, 345
Soul cakes, 192-4
South America, Christmas in, 98
Southwell, 79-80
Sowens eaten, 285, 325
Spain, Christmas poetry in, 65-7; Midnight Mass in, 97-8, 117; the crib in, 117; Christmas drama in, 128, 148-51, 153; turron in, 291; Epiphany in, 343-4
Spervogel, 42
Spinning, during Twelve Days, 240-3
Staffordshire, St. Clement's Day in, 211-2
"Star-singing," 151-2
"Stella," 125-7, 129
Stephen, St., his festival, 292, 302, 311-6
Stephens, Dean, 35
Stow's "Survay," 272
Strasburg, early Christmas-trees at, 265-6
Strenae, 168, 277-8
Stubbes, Philip, 184, 298
Styles, Old and New, 268-9
Styria, Habergaiss in, 201; Perchta in, 243; St. John's wine in, 315
Sun, the, December 25 as festival of, 23; Yule not connected with, 171-2; sun-charms, 182, 198, 252, 254
Suso, 44
Sussex, squirrel-hunting in, 214; tipteerers in, 298; wassailing fruit-trees in, 345
Swabia, Pelzmaerte in, 206-7, 217
Sweden, Christmas service in, 99; "star-singing" in, 151; animal masks in, 202; St. Lucia's Day in, 221-4; Christmas Eve superstitions in, 235-6; Yule log in, 257; Yule candles in, 259-60; Christmas-trees in, 267, 270; Yule straw in, 276; Christmas presents in, 278-9; pig's head eaten in, 286; dances in, 293-4; St. Stephen's Day in, 312-3, 315; "St. Knut's Day" in, 351
Swinburne, 84-5
Swine as sacrificial animal, 284, 286
Switzerland, St. Nicholas in, 218-9; Christmas-tree in, 267; birds fed at Christmas, 289
Sword-dance, 294, 299-301
Sylvesterabend, 274, 322
Tacitus, 200, 299
Tate, Nahum, 84
Tauler, 43
Teme valley, "first-footing" in, 324
Tenby, Plygain at, 99; St. Clement's Day at, 212
Tersteegen, Gerhard, 75-6
Tertullian, 269
Teutonic New Year, 171-3, 189, 202-4
Thomas of Celano, 38
Thomas, Mr. N. W., 293
Thomas, St., his festival, 223-6
"Thomassin'," 226
Thurston, Mr. Edgar, 322
Tieck, 266 400
Tille, Dr. A., 5, 110, 169, 172-3, 231-2, 268
Tipteerers, 298
Tolstoy's "War and Peace," 302
Tomte Gubbe, 236
Tonquin, feast of the dead in, 195
Totemism, 175-8
Tours, Council of, 21, 101, 239
Towneley plays, 128, 134-7
Trees, sacred, 177-8, 254, 269-71; flowering at Christmas, 268-9; Christian symbols, 271-2
Trest, Epiphany at, 344
Trolls on Christmas Eve, 235-6
Troppau, Christmas Eve at, 232
Troubadours, 36
Tuebingen, cradle-rocking at, 111
Tuscany, Christmas log in, 256
Tutilo of St. Gall, 123
Twelfth Night. See Epiphany
Twelve Days, declared a festal tide, 21, 239; variously reckoned, 239; supernatural visitors on, 239-47
Tylor, Dr. E. B., 191
Tynan, Katharine, 85
Tyrol, Midnight Mass in, 97; the crib in, 107-8; cradle-rocking in, 111; Christmas drama in, 143; "star-singing" in, 152; All Souls in, 191-2, 194; Kloepfelnaechte in, 218; St. Nicholas in, 220; St. Lucia in, 223; Christmas Eve in, 236, 346; Berchta in, 243-4; customs with fruit-trees in, 268; Christmas pie in, 290, 345-6; St. Stephen's Day in, 311-2; St. John's Day in, 314; Epiphany in, 337; Carnival in, 349; Purification candles in, 353
Ubeda, J. L. de, 65
Uist, South, "breast-strip" in, 328
United States, Santa Klaus in, 220; New Year in, 323
Usedom, 201
Usener, H., 20, 107
Valdivielso, J. de, 65
Vampires, 215-6, 245-6
Vaughan, Henry, 81
Vega, Lope de, 149-50
Vegetation-cults, 177-8
Venetia, Martinmas in, 204, 207
Vessel-cup, 118
Villazopeque, 148-9
Vosges mountains, All Souls' Eve in, 191
Wales, Christmas carols in, 69; Plygain in, 99; soul-cakes in, 193-4; Hallowe'en in, 189, 196-8; the "Mari Llwyd" in, 201; "new water" carol in, 333-4; Christmas football in, 349
Warnsdorf, St. Nicholas play at, 220
Wassail-bowl, 193, 285-6
Water, New Year, 332-4
Watts, Isaac, 83-4
Weather, ideas about, 203, 332
Weihnacht, origin of the name, 20
Werewolves, 246
Wesley, Charles, 84
Westermarck, Dr. E., 176
Westphalia, St. Thomas's Day in, 225
Whipping customs, 207-8, 315-7, 330
"Wild hunt," 239-40
Wine, Martinmas, 204; St. John's and St. Stephen's, 314-5
"Wish hounds," 240
Wither, George, 83
Woden, 200, 206, 208, 231, 240
Women, their clothes worn by men at folk-festivals, 178, 301, 304; unlucky at New Year, 324-5
Woolwich, St. Clement's and St. Catherine's Days at, 212
Worcestershire. St. Clement's Day in, 212; New Year in, 324
Wormesley, Holy Thorn at, 269
Wren, hunting of, 292-3
Wylie, Miss I. A. R., 263
"Yeth hounds," 240
York Minster, mistletoe at, 273; Boy Bishop at, 307
York plays, 128, 131-3
Yorkshire, possible survival of the crib in, 118; frumenty, ale posset, and Yule cakes in, 285; "lucky bird" in, 325
Ypres, St. Martin at, 206
Yule, origin of the name, 25, 171-2
"Yule Boar," 288
Yule log, 180, 245, 251-8, 344, 354
Zacharias, Pope, 171
FOOTNOTES
[1] For an explanation of the small numerals in the text see Preface.
[Transcriber's Note: In this edition the numerals are enclosed in {curly brackets}, so they will not be confused with footnotes.]
[2] "Christianity," as here used, will stand for the system of orthodoxy which had been fixed in its main outlines when the festival of Christmas took its rise. The relation of the orthodox creed to historical fact need not concern us here, nor need we for the purposes of this study attempt to distinguish between the Christianity of Jesus and ecclesiastical accretions around his teaching.
[3] Whether the Nativity had previously been celebrated at Rome on January 6 is a matter of controversy; the affirmative view was maintained by Usener in his monograph on Christmas,{6} the negative by Monsignor Duchesne.{7} A very minute, cautious, and balanced study of both arguments is to be found in Professor Kirsopp Lake's article on Christmas in Hastings's "Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics,"{8} and a short article was contributed by the same writer to The Guardian, December 29, 1911. Professor Lake, on the whole, inclines to Usener's view. The early history of the festival is also treated by Father Cyril Martindale in "The Catholic Encyclopaedia" (article "Christmas").
[4] Usener says 354, Duchesne 336.
[5] The eastern father, Epiphanius (fourth century), gives a strange account of a heathen, or perhaps in reality a Gnostic, rite held at Alexandria on the night of January 5-6. In the temple of Kore—the Maiden—he tells us, worshippers spent the night in singing and flute-playing, and at cock-crow brought up from a subterranean sanctuary a wooden image seated naked on a litter. It had the sign of the cross upon it in gold in five places—the forehead, the hands, and the knees. This image was carried seven times round the central hall of the temple with flute-playing, drumming, and hymns, and then taken back to the underground chamber. In explanation of these strange actions it was said: "To-day, at this hour, hath Kore (the Maiden) borne the AEon."{15} Can there be a connection between this festival and the Eleusinian mysteries? In the latter there was a nocturnal celebration with many lights burning, and the cry went forth, "Holy Brimo (the Maiden) hath borne a sacred child, Brimos."{16} The details given by Miss Harrison in her "Prolegomena" of the worship of the child Dionysus{17} are of extraordinary interest, and a minute comparison of this cult with that of the Christ Child might lead to remarkable results.
[6] Mithraism resembled Christianity in its monotheistic tendencies, its sacraments, its comparatively high morality, its doctrine of an Intercessor and Redeemer, and its vivid belief in a future life and judgment to come. Moreover Sunday was its holy-day dedicated to the Sun.
[7] This is the explanation adopted by most scholars (cf. Chambers, "M. S.," i., 241-2). Duchesne suggests as an explanation of the choice of December 25 the fact that a tradition fixed the Passion of Christ on March 25. The same date, he thinks, would have been assigned to His Conception in order to make the years of His life complete, and the Birth would come naturally nine months after the Conception. He, however, "would not venture to say, in regard to the 25th of December, that the coincidence of the Sol novus exercised no direct or indirect influence on the ecclesiastical decision arrived at in regard to the matter."{25} Professor Lake also, in his article in Hastings's "Encyclopaedia," seeks to account for the selection of December 25 without any deliberate competition with the Natalis Invicti. He points out that the Birth of Christ was fixed at the vernal equinox by certain early chronologists, on the strength of an elaborate and fantastic calculation based on Scriptural data, and connecting the Incarnation with the Creation, and that when the Incarnation came to be viewed as beginning at the Conception instead of the Birth, the latter would naturally be placed nine months later.
[8] Cf. chap. xviii. of Dr. Yrjoe Hirn's "The Sacred Shrine" (London, 1912). Dr. Hirn finds a solitary anticipation of the Franciscan treatment of the Nativity in the Christmas hymns of the fourth-century eastern poet, Ephraem Syrus.
[9] No. 55 in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (Ordinary Edition).
[10] No. 56 in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (Ordinary Edition).
[11]
"Come rejoicing, Faithful men, with rapture singing Alleluya! Monarch's Monarch, From a holy maiden springing, Mighty wonder!
Angel of the Counsel here, Sun from star, he doth appear, Born of maiden: He a sun who knows no night, She a star whose paler light Fadeth never."
(Translation in "The English Hymnal," No. 22.)
[12]
"Lords, by Christmas and the host Of this mansion hear my toast— Drink it well— Each must drain his cup of wine, And I the first will toss off mine: Thus I advise. Here then I bid you all Wassail, Cursed be he who will not say, Drinkhail!"
(Translation by F. Douce.)
[13] It is difficult to be sure of the authenticity of the verse attributed to Jacopone. Many of the poems in Tresatti's edition, from which the quotations in the text are taken, may be the work of his followers.
[14]
"Come and look upon her child Nestling in the hay! See his fair arms opened wide, On her lap to play! And she tucks him by her side, Cloaks him as she may! Gives her paps unto his mouth, Where his lips are laid.
* * * * *
She with left hand cradling Rocked and hushed her boy, And with holy lullabies Quieted her toy.... Little angels all around Danced, and carols flung; Making verselets sweet and true, Still of love they sung."
(Translation by John Addington Symonds in "The Renaissance in Italy. Italian Literature" [1898 Edn.], Part I., 468.)
[15] "In the worthy stable of the sweet baby the angels are singing round the little one; they sing and cry out, the beloved angels, quite reverent, timid and shy round the little baby Prince of the Elect who lies naked among the prickly hay.... The Divine Verb, which is highest knowledge, this day seems as if He knew nothing of anything. Look at Him on the hay, crying and kicking as if He were not at all a divine man."
(Translation by Vernon Lee in "Renaissance Fancies and Studies," 34.)
[16]
"Sweep hearth and floor; Be all your vessel's store Shining and clean. Then bring the little guest And give Him of your best Of meat and drink. Yet more Ye owe than meat. One gift at your King's feet Lay now. I mean A heart full to the brim Of love, and all for Him, And from all envy clean."
(Translation by Miss Anne Macdonell, in "Sons of Francis," 372.)
[17]
"Full of beauty stood the Mother, By the Manger, blest o'er other, Where her little One she lays. For her inmost soul's elation, In its fervid jubilation, Thrills with ecstasy of praise."
(Translation by J. M. Neale.)
[18]
"A spotless Rose is blowing, Sprung from a tender root, Of ancient seers' foreshowing, Of Jesse promised fruit; Its fairest bud unfolds to light Amid the cold, cold winter, And in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing, Whereof Isaiah said, Is from its sweet root springing In Mary, purest Maid; For through our God's great love and might The Blessed Babe she bare us In a cold, cold winter's night."
(Translation by C. Winkworth, "Christian Singers," 85.)
[19] The tune is often used in England for Neale's carol, "Good Christian men, rejoice."
[20] "When Jesus Christ was born, then was it cold; in a little crib He was laid. There stood an ass and an ox which breathed over the Holy Child quite openly. He who has a pure heart need have no care."
[21] "Dearest mother, take care of the Child; it is freezing hard, wrap Him up quickly. And you, old father, tuck the little one up, or the cold and the wind will give Him no rest. Now we must take our leave, O divine Child, remember us, pardon our sins. We are heartily glad that Thou art come; no one else could have helped us."
[22] "The Child is laid in the crib, so hearty and so rare! My little Hans would be nothing by His side, were he finer than he is. Coal-black as cherries are His eyes, the rest of Him is white as chalk. His pretty hands are right tender and delicate, I touched Him carefully. Then He gave me a smile and a deep sigh too. If you were mine, thought I, you'd grow a merry boy. At home in the kitchen I'd comfortably house you; out here in the stable the cold wind comes in at every corner."
[23] Richard Rolle, poet, mystic, and wandering preacher, in many ways reminds us of Jacopone da Todi. Though he has left no Christmas verses, some lovely words of his show how deeply he felt the wonder and pathos of Bethlehem: "Jhesu es thy name. A! A! that wondryrfull name! A! that delittabyll name! This es the name that es above all names.... I yede [went] abowte be Covaytyse of riches and I fand noghte Jhesu. I satt in companyes of Worldly myrthe and I fand noghte Jhesu.... Therefore I turnede by anothire waye, and I rane a-bowte be Poverte, and I fande Jhesu pure borne in the worlde, laid in a crybe and lappid in clathis."{28}
[24] "When midnight sounded I leapt from my bed to the floor, and I saw a beautiful angel who sang a thousand times sweeter than a nightingale. The watch-dogs of the neighbourhood all came up. Never had they seen such a sight, and they suddenly began to bark. The shepherds under the straw were sleeping like logs: when they heard the sound of the barking they thought it was the wolves. They were reasonable folk; they came without waiting to be asked. They found in a little stable the Light, even the Truth."
[25] "Within a poor manger and covered with hay lies Jesus of Nazareth. In the hay lies stretched the Eternal Son of God; to deliver from hell man whom He had created, and to kill sin, our Jesus of Nazareth is content with the hay. He rests between two animals who warm Him from the cold, He who remedies our ills with His great power; His kingdom and seigniory are the world and the calm heaven, and now He sleeps in the hay. He counts it good to bear the cold and fare thus, having no robe to protect or cover Him, and to give us life He suffered cold in the hay, our Jesus of Nazareth."
[26] "In a porch, full of cobwebs, between the mule and the ox, the Saviour of souls is born.... In the porch at Bethlehem are star, sun, and moon: the Virgin and St. Joseph and the Child who lies in the cradle. In Bethlehem they touch fire, from the porch the flame issues; it is a star of heaven which has fallen into the straw. I am a poor gipsy who come hither from Egypt, and bring to God's Child a cock. I am a poor Galician who come from Galicia, and bring to God's Child linen for a shift. To the new-born Child all bring a gift; I am little and have nothing; I bring him my heart."
[27]
"Sleep, oh sleep, dear Baby mine, King Divine; Sleep, my Child, in sleep recline; Lullaby, mine Infant fair, Heaven's King, All glittering, Full of grace as lilies rare.
Close thine eyelids, O my treasure, Loved past measure, Of my soul, the Lord, the pleasure; Lullaby, O regal Child, On the hay My joy I lay; Love celestial, meek and mild.
Why dost weep, my Babe? alas! Cold winds that pass Vex, or is't the little ass? Lullaby, O Paradise; Of my heart Thou Saviour art; On thy face I press a kiss."{20}
(Translation by Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco.)
[28] A Bas-Quercy bird-carol of this kind is printed by Mr. H. J. L. J. Masse in his delightful "Book of Old Carols,"{26} a collection of the words and music of Christmas songs in many languages—English, Latin, German, Flemish, Basque, Swedish, Catalan, Provencal, and French of various periods and dialects.
[29]
"I come from heaven to tell The best nowells that ever befell; To you thir tidings true I bring, And I will of them say and sing.
This day to you is born ane child, Of Mary meek and virgin mild, That blessed bairn, benign and kind, Sall you rejoice, baith heart and mind.
My soul and life, stand up and see What lies in ane crib of tree [wood]. What Babe is that, so gude and fair? It is Christ, Goddis Son and Heir.
O God! that made all creature, How art Thou now become so puir, That on the hay and stray will lie, Among the asses, oxen, and kye?
O, my dear heart, young Jesus sweet, Prepare Thy cradle in my spreit, And I sall rock Thee in my heart, And never mair from Thee depart
But I sall praise Thee ever moir, With sangis sweet unto Thy gloir; The knees of my heart sall I bow, And sing that richt Balulalow."{30}
[30]
"Now blessed be Thou, Christ Jesu, Thou art man born, this is true; The angels made a merry noise, Yet have we more cause to rejoice, Kirieleyson.
The blessed Son of God only, In a crib full poor did lie, With our poor flesh and our poor blood, Was clothed that everlasting Good. Kirieleyson.
He that made heaven and earth of nought, In our flesh hath our health brought, For our sake made He Himself full small, That reigneth Lord and King over all. Kirieleyson."{32}
[31]
"All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, Far and near, Sweetest angel voices; 'Christ is born,' their choirs are singing, Till the air Everywhere Now with joy is ringing.
Hark! a voice from yonder manger, Soft and sweet, Doth entreat, 'Flee from woe and danger; Brethren, come, from all doth grieve you You are freed, All you need I will surely give you.'
Blessed Saviour, let me find Thee! Keep Thou me Close to Thee, Call me not behind Thee! Life of life, my heart Thou stillest, Calm I rest On Thy breast, All this void Thou fillest."{34}
[32]
"Triumph, ye heavens! rejoice ye with high adoration! Sing to the Lord, to the Saviour, in glad exultation! Angels, give ear! God unto man hath drawn near, Bringing to lost ones salvation.
* * * * *
King of the Glory! what grace in Thy humiliation! Thou wert a child! who of old wert the Lord of creation. Thee will I own, Thee would I follow, alone, Heir of Thy wondrous salvation.
Faithful Immanuel! let me Thy glories be telling, Come, O my Saviour, be born, in mine inmost heart dwelling, In me abide. Make me with Thee unified, Where the life-fountain is welling."{36}
[33] A few of the best traditional pieces have been published by Mr. F. Sidgwick in one of his charming "Watergate Booklets" under the title of "Popular Carols." The two next quotations are from this source.
[34] Browning's great poem, "Christmas Eve," is philosophical rather than devotional, and hardly comes within the scope of this chapter.
[35] The first mention of a season corresponding to Advent is at the Council of Tours, about 567, when a fast for monks in December is vaguely indicated. At the Council of Macon (581) it is enjoined that from Martinmas the second, fourth, and sixth days of the week should be fasting days; and at the close of the sixth century Rome, under Gregory the Great, adopted the rule of the four Sundays in Advent. In the next century it became prevalent in the West. In the Greek Church, forty days of fasting are observed before Christmas; this custom appears to have been established in the thirteenth century. In the Roman Church the practice as to fasting varies: in the British Isles Wednesday and Friday are observed, but in some countries no distinction is made between Advent and ordinary weeks of the year.{2}
[36] Anthony Beck, Bishop of Durham, bequeathed to his cathedral a Christmas candlestick of silver-gilt, on the base of which was an image of St. Mary with her Son lying in the crib.
[37] "Joseph, dear nephew mine, help me to rock the Child." "Gladly, dear aunt, will I help thee to rock thy Child." (Note the curious words of relationship; Joseph and Mary were both of the seed of David.)
[38] "Let us rock the Child and bow our hearts before the crib! Let us delight our spirits and bless the Child: sweet little Jesu! sweet little Jesu!... Let us greet His little hands and feet, His little heart of fire, and reverence Him humbly as our Lord and God! Sweet little Jesu! sweet little Jesu!"
[39] Turning for a moment from Sicilian domestic celebrations to a public and communal action, I may mention a strange ceremony that takes place at Messina in the dead of night; at two o'clock on Christmas morning a naked Bambino is carried in procession from the church of Santa Lucia to the cathedral and back.{65}
[40] Or on the Sunday following the Octave, if the Octave itself is a week-day.
[41] Tempting as it is to connect these dolls with the crib, it is possible that their origin should be sought rather in anthropomorphic representations of the spirits of vegetation, and that they are of the same nature as the images carried about with garlands in May and at other seasons.{77}
[42] Though no texts are extant of religious plays in English acted at Christmastide, there are occasional records of such performances:—at Tintinhull for instance in 1451 and at Dublin in 1528, while at Aberdeen a processional "Nativity" was performed at Candlemas. And the "Stella," whether in English or Latin it is uncertain, is found at various places between 1462 and 1579.{10}
[43] Lodging.
[44] Once.
[45] Scarcely.
[46] Horses. Hous of haras = stable.
[47] Dwell.
[48] Darkness.
[49] Being.
[50] Wonderful.
[51] Worship.
[52] Shedder.
[53] Wrap.
[54] Crippled.
[55] Overreached.
[56] Deprive of.
[57] Curse.
[58] Strong in lordliness.
[59] Wizard.
[60] Shame.
[61] Noble being.
[62] Cursed.
[63] Warlock.
[64] Sorrow.
[65] Grows merry.
[66] Promise.
[67] Noble.
[68] Child.
[69] Baby.
[70] Head.
[71] Face.
[72] Hand.
[73] Besides the Nativity plays in the four great cycles there exists a "Shearmen and Tailors' Play" which undoubtedly belongs to Coventry, unlike the "Ludus Coventriae," whose connection with that town is, to say the least, highly doubtful. It opens with a prologue by the prophet Isaiah, and in a small space presents the events connected with the Incarnation from the Annunciation to the Murder of the Innocents. The Nativity and shepherd scenes have less character and interest than those in the great cycles, and need not be dealt with here.{18}
[74]
"Riepl. What a noise there is. Everything seems so strange to me! Joergl. Have the heavens fallen to-day; are the angels flying over our field? R. They are leaping J. Down from above. R. I couldn't do the thing; 'twould break my neck and legs."
[75]
"J. My child, canst find no lodging? Must Thou bear such frost and cold? R. Thou liest in cold swaddling-clothes! Come, put a garment about Him! J. Cover His feet up; wrap Him up delicately!"
[76] "Three eggs and some butter we bring, too; deign to accept it! A fowl to make some broth if Thy mother can cook it—put some dripping in, and 'twill be good. Because we've nothing else—we are but poor shepherds—accept our goodwill."
[77]
"J. The best of health to thee ever, my little dear; when thou wantest anything, come to me. J. God keep thee ever! R. Grow up fine and tall soon! J. I'll take thee into service when thou'rt big enough."
[78] Jacopone da Todi, whose Christmas songs we have already considered, was probably connected with the movement.
[79] An interesting and pathetic Christmas example is given by Signor D'Ancona in his "Origini del Teatro in Italia."{35}
[80] Though the ox and ass are not mentioned by St. Luke, it is an easy transition to them from the idea of the manger. Early Christian writers found a Scriptural sanction for them in two passages in the prophets: Isaiah i. 3, "The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib," and Habakkuk iii. 2 (a mistranslation), "In the midst of two beasts shall Thou be known."
[81] With this may be compared the fair still held in Rome in the Piazza Navona just before Christmas, at which booths are hung with little clay figures for use in presepi (see p. 113). One cannot help being reminded too, though probably there is no direct connection, of the biscuits in human shapes to be seen in German markets and shops at Christmas, and of the paste images which English bakers used to make at this season.{10}
[82] Among the Scandinavians, who were late in their conversion, a pre-Christian Yule feast seems to have been held in the ninth century, but it appears to have taken place not in December but about the middle of January, and to have been transferred to December 25 by the Christian king Hakon the Good of Norway (940-63).{28}
[83] It is only right to mention here Professor G. Bilfinger's monograph "Das germanische Julfest" (Stuttgart, 1901), where it is maintained that the only festivals from which the Christmas customs of the Teutonic peoples have sprung are the January Kalends of the Roman Empire and the Christian feast of the Nativity. Bilfinger holds that there is no evidence either of a November beginning-of-winter festival or of an ancient Teutonic midwinter feast. Bilfinger's is the most systematic of existing treatises on Christmas origins, but the considerations brought forward in Tille's "Yule and Christmas" in favour of the November festival are not lightly to be set aside, and while recognizing that its celebration must be regarded rather as a probable hypothesis than an established fact, I shall here follow in general the suggestions of Tille and try to show the contributions of this northern New Year feast to Christmas customs.
[84] Accounts of such maskings are to be found in innumerable books of travel. In Folk-Lore, June 30, 1911, Professor Edward Westermarck gives a particularly full and interesting description of Moroccan customs of this sort. He describes at length various masquerades in the skins and heads of beasts, accompanied often by the dressing-up of men as women and by gross obscenities.
[85] Another suggested explanation connects the change of clothes with rites of initiation at the passage from boyhood to manhood. "Manhood, among primitive peoples, seems to be envisaged as ceasing to be a woman.... Man is born of woman, reared of woman. When he passes to manhood, he ceases to be a woman-thing, and begins to exercise functions other and alien. That moment is one naturally of extreme peril; he at once emphasizes it and disguises it. He wears woman's clothes." From initiation rites, according to this theory, the custom spread to other occasions when it was desirable to "change the luck."
[86] According to Sir John Rhys, in the Isle of Man Hollantide (November 1, Old Style, therefore November 12) is still to-day the beginning of a new year. But the ordinary calendar is gaining ground, and some of the associations of the old New Year's Day are being transferred to January 1, the Roman date. "In Wales this must have been decidedly helped by the influence of Roman rule and Roman ideas; but even there the adjuncts of the Winter Calends have never been wholly transferred to the Calends of January."{4}
[87] In Burne and Jackson's "Shropshire Folk-Lore" (p. 305 f.) there are details about cakes and other doles given to the poor at funerals. These probably had the same origin as the November "soul-cakes."
[88] Cf. pp. 191-2 and 235-6 of this volume.
[89] The prominence of "Eves" in festival customs is a point specially to be noticed; it is often to them rather than to the actual feast days that old practices cling. This is perhaps connected with the ancient Celtic and Teutonic habit of reckoning by nights instead of days—a trace of this is left in our word "fortnight"—but it must be remembered that the Church encouraged the same tendency by her solemn services on the Eves of festivals, and that the Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening.
[90] Attempts are being made to suppress the November carnival at Hampstead, and perhaps the 1911 celebration may prove to have been the last.
[91] "Raise the glass at Martinmas, drink wine all through the year."
[92] It is interesting to note that in the Italian province of Venetia, as well as in more northerly regions, Martinmas is especially a children's feast. In the sweetshops are sold little sugar images of the saint on horseback with a long sword, and in Venice itself children go about singing, playing on tambourines, and begging for money.{93}
[93] "At St. Andrew's Mass winter is certain."
[94] This custom may be compared with the Scotch eating of sowans in bed on Christmas morning (see Chapter XII.).
[95] In a legend of the saint she is said to have plucked out her own eyes when their beauty caused a prince to seek to ravish her away from her convent.{54}
[96] The bath-house in the old-fashioned Swedish farm is a separate building to which everyone repairs on Christmas Eve, but which is, or was, seldom used except on this one night of the year.{23}
[97] Sometimes Christmas is reckoned as one of the Twelve Days, sometimes not. In the former case, of course, the Epiphany is the thirteenth day. In England we call the Epiphany Twelfth Day, in Germany it is generally called Thirteenth; in Belgium and Holland it is Thirteenth; in Sweden it varies, but is usually Thirteenth. Sometimes then the Twelve Days are spoken of, sometimes the Thirteen. "The Twelve Nights," in accordance with the old Teutonic mode of reckoning by nights, is a natural and correct term.{39}
[98] Those who wish to pursue further the study of the Kallikantzaroi should read the elaborate and fascinating, if not altogether convincing, theories of Mr. J. C. Lawson in his "Modern Greek Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion." He distinguishes two classes of Kallikantzaroi, one of which he identifies with ordinary werewolves, while the other is the type of hairy, clawed demons above described. He sets forth a most ingenious hypothesis connecting them with the Centaurs.
[99] It is to be borne in mind that the oak was a sacred tree among the heathen Slavs; it was connected with the thunder-god Perun, the counterpart of Jupiter, and a fire of oak burned night and day in his honour. The neighbours of the Slavs, the Lithuanians, had the same god, whom they called Perkunas; they too kept up a perpetual oak-fire in his honour, and in time of drought they used to pour beer on the flames, praying to Perkunas to send showers.{10} The libations of wine on the Yule log may conceivably have had a similar purpose.
[100] Kindling.
[101] The custom referred to in the last sentence may be compared with the Danish St. Thomas's Day practice (see Chapter VIII.).
[102] At Wormesley in Herefordshire there is a Holy Thorn which is still believed to blossom exactly at twelve o'clock on Twelfth Night. "The blossoms are thought to open at midnight, and drop off about an hour afterwards. A piece of thorn gathered at this hour brings luck, if kept for the rest of the year." As recently as 1908 about forty people went to see the thorn blossom at this time (see E. M. Leather, "The Folk-Lore of Herefordshire" [London, 1912], 17).
[103] Compare the struggle for the "Haxey hood," described in Chapter XVI., p. 347.
[104] This may be compared with the ancient Greek Eiresione, "a portable May-pole, a branch hung about with wool, acorns, figs, cakes, fruits of all sorts and sometimes wine-jars."{35}
[105] It by no means necessarily follows, of course, that they were exclusively Roman in origin.
[106] In Welsh it has also the name of "the tree of pure gold," a rather surprising title for a plant with green leaves and white berries. Dr. Frazer has sought to explain this name by the theory that in a roundabout way the sun's golden fire was believed to be an emanation from the mistletoe, in which the life of the oak, whence fire was kindled, was held to reside.{47}
[107] In the neighbourhood of Reichenberg children hang up their stockings at the windows on St. Andrew's Eve, and in the morning find them filled with apples and nuts{64}—a parallel to Martinmas and St. Nicholas customs, at a date intermediate between the two festivals.
[108] "He has more to do than the ovens in England at Christmas."
[109] The following quotation from an ancient account book is tersely suggestive of the English Christmas:—
s. d. "Item payd to the preacher vi ii Item payd to the minstrell xii o Item payd to the coke xv o"
[110] In County Louth, Ireland, boys used to carry about a thorn-bush decked with streamers of coloured paper and with a wren tied to one of the branches.{47}
[111] Dancing is, as everyone knows, a common and indeed a central feature of primitive festivals; and such dancing is wont to take a dramatic form, to be mimetic, whether re-enacting some past event or pre-doing something with magical intent to produce it.{10} The Greek tragedy itself probably sprang from a primitive dance of a dramatic and magical character, centred in a death and re-birth.{11}
[112] In Thessaly and Macedonia at Carnival time folk-plays of a somewhat similar character are performed, including a quarrel, a death, and a miraculous restoration to life—evidently originating in magical ritual intended to promote the fertility of vegetation.{12} Parallels can be found in the Carnival customs of other countries.
[113] A remarkably clear instance of the transference of customs from Hollantide Eve (Hallowe'en) to the modern New Year is given by Sir John Rhys. Certain methods of prognostication described by him are practised by some people in the Isle of Man on the one day and by some on the other, and the Roman date is gaining ground.{1}
[114] See p. 252.
[115] "Ope thy purse, and shut it then."
[116] It is probable that some customs practised at the Epiphany belong in reality to Christmas Day, Old Style.
[117] Pasqua is there used for great festivals in general, not only for Easter.
[118] The custom of "burning the bush," still surviving here and there in Herefordshire, shows a certain resemblance to this. The "bush," a globe made of hawthorn, hangs throughout the year in the farmhouse kitchen, with the mistletoe. Early on New Year's Day it "is carried to the earliest sown wheat field, where a large fire is lighted, of straw and bushes, in which it is burnt. While it is burning, a new one is made; in making it, the ends of the branches are scorched in the fire." Burning straw is carried over twelve ridges of the field, and then follow cider-drinking and cheering. (See Leather, "Folk-Lore of Herefordshire," 91 f.) |
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