Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-12-25

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The ''Yule log" was an immense log of wood "hici
had been kept dry for Christmas 1t was dragged In
nighM fall and placed upon the fire, and this was the sigma
for the sports Of the evening TO Begin The lord OF msrue
on whom devolved the duly of catering fun, having PRO
yided divers uncouth kinds of musical instruments, sum
moned all people with SOUND Of ddes, bgPpes, drums anf
cymbas, and the sport commenced in earnest Ae served
in wooden bowls circulated freely, Christmas pies were
plentiful, and unlimited allowance potent liquids SCOT
produced state ofinloxicaon during which scenes were
acted that required all the contents of the sacerdota Chst
mas boxes to absove. One person. noted for quckness II
repartee dressed fool, whose business was
increase the merment by exavagant speeches and ges
tures A boas head, stuck around with rosemary, with
an orange thrust in its mouth, anceny the fist dish
served Christmas day, and carried up the prnc
pal table in the hail. with great and soemniy, accom-
panied in the houses of The higher mobiles, with flourish Of
trumpes For this indispensable ceremony there was
CAROL which, for the pleasure of those who love such anti
auities, is handed down TO unmnated.
''The boars head in hand bring !,
With garlands gay and rosemary;
pray you all sing merrily
Qui estis in conyivio
''The boar's head ! understand,
Is the chief service in this land;
TO be wherever it be found,
Servite cantco,' SC.
Afterwards carols were sung by choirs of rude voiced
chorslers, accompanied with obstreperous Instruments
The singing of carols was one of the principal diversions of
christians from the oldest times, and is matter of regret,
that few of great age preserved to u.s. The oldest
carol have describes in doggere rhyme, the longing OF
the Virgin Mary for the fruit on the cherry tree, and the
refusal of Joseph gather it, account of his jealousy
After relating Nary's humble request 10 Joseph to pluck
the fruit for her, and JosephS somewhat sury repy-the
carol makes Jesus while yet unborn speak out to his moth
e bidding her go the and it shall bow down 10 her,
eco to the tree, Mary, and it shall bow to thee,
And the highest branch of all shall bow down Marys knee
And she shall gather cherries by by two by three
Now you may see, Joseph, those cherries for me-
oh your cherries Mary oh eat your cherries now
Oh your cherries, Mary, that grow upon the bough"
| As Joseph a-waking he heard an angel sing,
sThs night shall be born our heavenly King
He neither shall be born in housen nor in hall,
| Nor in the place of Paradise, but in an ox's stall.
He neither shall be clothed in purple or in pail,
| But all in fair linen babies all.
! He neither shall be rocked in silver nor in gold,
| But in wooden cradle that rocks on the mould
He neither shall christencd in white wine, red,
But in the fair water with which were chrstened'
Then Mary took her young and set him on her Knee
q pray thee now dear child tell how this world shall be-
'The world shall be like stones in the street,
For the sun and the shall bow down at thy feet
And upon a Wednesday my VOW will make
And upon Good Friday my death ] will take,
And upon the third day my uprising shall be,
And the sun and the shall rise up with me-"
This will serve to give some idea ofhe style OF ca
rolls in those days.
Further sports incident to the period mentioned by
IT, url,v far
for money not being allowed at Christmas chess, draughts,
and the performance ofJac puddngs ddes and musicians
who were entertained with beer and Christmas pies, sing
ing wassa songs scrambng for nuts and apples dancing
he hobby horse round standards decked with evergreens
in the street. This dance OF man with the broad
rure Of horse between his legs, and bow and arrow In
his hand and six others with rein deer heads upon their
shoulders who dance most grotesuey-a collected mon
ey from the spectators Another pastime noticed by wri
ers on antiquities of which Christmas was The chief time,
was 1lunming. These amusemenis, so called, be-
cause their performers disguised in Masks some as
BEARS others as unicorns. They early The morning
of Christmas day, bearing presents TO their friends and
neehbors Those who could not procure masks, rubbed
their faces with SCOT, or painted them. 1he chief aim Of
the mummers to surprise by the oddIty OF the mask
and the snguary Of the dress These sports were carried
on till 'Tweliih Night" which was celebrated by further
easng to close,he sports. On this night it was custom
ary to make cake with bean concealed in 1t. and ano
er with pea The cakes then equally divided, anG
he who got the piece with the bean, pronounced the
King of the night-;he lady of the pea was Queen.
The first act of the new monarch TO dub some one
fool OF the evening" whose business it 10 keep he table
in roar of laughter by his verbal and practical jokes. No
one drank until the king the example, for which, every
one was on the watch and when he lifted the cup his
Ips, the place was in an uproar with shouts of"the King
drinksn According TO the Twelfth Night uIe each party
had to supper, his character I'LL midnight lhe following
verses by Herrick are illustrative Of this practice, his
time:
CHOW, now, mrh comes with the cake lul oil lumS,
Where bean is the King Of the sport here,
Besides we must know the pea also
Must reyel queen in the court here.
seBesn then to chusc, this night as ye use,
Who shall 70: the present delight here,
Be King by the lot, and who shall not
Be twelfth day queen for the night here
(which known let make JOY sops with the cake,
And let not man be seen here,
Who unurgcd will not drink, from the base to the brink,
health to the King and Qncen here.
oNext crown the bowl full with gentle lambs wool,
And sugar, nutmeg and ginger,
With store of ale too and this ye must do
To make the wassail q swinger.
ssGive then TO the King and Queen wassailing
And though with ale yc be met here
Yet part ye from hence as free from oheace'
AS when yc innocent met here
By "gente lambs wool" the poet meant old ale, socaeu
m its foaming the cup which with toasted bread
aid as he says sugar. nutmeg and ginger in large oo"l
called The wassa bowl, passed round to the compa
nv. and each was required TO drink from it.
1t is good that there should be season in which every
man feels bound to put all The kindness of his nature
At present, the observance of Christians is becoming yearly
more discontinued still should look, perhaps without re-
cret upon the gradual decline ofcusoms whose dsuse is