The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-24


usually the preference. In Oxfordshire, England
there peculiar penalty attached to the neglect
OF this ceremony. The maid-servant would request
the man to furnish supply Of ivy for decorating the
house; and II for any reason he did not comply, he
was soon Mortified by the apparlton of pair OF his
bTeeches nailed up to the gateway.
The procession and lighting OF the Yule log is
another time-honored institution though now mostly
disused modified form, sadly shorn OF the pomp
and ceremony which formerly attended it, is still re-
tanned in some sections OF England
The ceremony Of bringing in the Yue-log was
conducted in the following manner:-The party re-
paired to the woods where the log lay, and having
placed themselves in the harness, dragged it in
triumph TO the hall, each wayfarer raising his hat as
it passed Arriving there, they greeted by the
minstrels with song
The log was then rolled upon the ample hearth
and ignited with a coal from the remnant Of the
Yule-lOg OF the preceding year. This done candle
Of mOnstrous size lighted, and then the Christ
mas party made themselves merry with music and
wassail.
The festival OF the winter solstice, as celebrated
by the ancient GOths and SaXons, was termed JUL
or Yule by the latter OF which terms Christmas is
still known in the Scottish dialect. The term is most
probably derived from the Gothic word giuI or hiuL
from which is derived the English ''wheel," and
which has the same significance. JUL, or Yule is
therefore supposed to signify the turning point Of
the year. suppOstiOn which is confirmed by the
1aCt tnat IN the OLD clog almanacs the ue-tlde 10
designated by the device OF wheel.
Another OF the ancient sports OF Christmas was
the procession OF mummers or maskers, who were
accustomed to array themselves in the most out
landsh and fantastic costumes combining all the
oddities OF and brutes, and then make the
round OF the principal houses within their reach, TO
the intense delight Of old and young The ceremony
was not strictly confined to the Christmas season in
old times although it is at present. wherever prac
n IN 10
kept up for three weeks every house in the town
being visited In Scotland, mumming or guising is
performed at New Year, all the other festivi-
ties OF the winter-solstice.
Still another was the Lord of Misrue OF the olden
time. This functionary, in word, was the master
OF the Christmas Revels. We have the following
account Of the custom by Stow:-'Tn the feast OF
Christmas, there was in the Kings house, whereso-
ever he lodged, Lord OF Misrule,' or Master Of
Merry Desports, and the like had ye in the house OF
every nobeman OF honor or gsod worship, were he
spiritual or temporal. The Mayor of London, and
either of the Sherfs, had their several Lords OF
Msrule, contending, without quarrel onense,
who should make the rarest pastime to delight the
behoders These lords beginning their rule at ALL
hallond Eve, continued the same till the morrow
after the Feast Of the Publication, commonly called
Candlemas Day, in which space there were fine and
subtle disguisings, masks, and mnmmeries with
playing at cards for counters, nayles, and points, in
every house, more for pastimes than for gamen
In the University of Cambridge this functionary,
regularly elected from among the Masters Of Arts,
was termed Inlperator or PrGfectuS LudOrunt, and
his duties not only to superntend the diver
sions Of Christmas but of the annual representation
OF the Latin plays by the students we'll A sim-
| lar custom prevailed at Oxford
In the Inns of Court in London, the Lord OF Mis-
rule regned in great spendor, being surrounded by
all the paraphernalla of royalty, including lord
keeper and treasurer, guard of honor and two
before hp
Temple Church on Sunday. His sovereignty termi-
mated on Twelfth-Day. In 1885, this mock-rOyal
sonage expended e2000 out of his own pocket, and
in return received the honor OF knighthood at the
hands OF Charles l.
As an illustration of the outrageous license en-
joyed by these functonaries, subjon an extract
from the "artcles" by which the Right Worshipful
Richard Evelyn, ESQ.,, constituted Owen Flood, his
trumpeter the "Lord OF Misrue OF all good orders
during the twelve days:"-
81 give free leave to the said Owen Flood TO COM
mand all and every person or persons whatsoever.
as well servants as Others, to be at his command
and to do him good service, as though were pre-
| sent myself at their peril. give full power and
bars, dOors, and latches, and to fling up all doors
out OF hinges to come at those who presume to dis
obey his lordshp's commands. God save the King!"
The Lord OF Misrule commenced his reign by ab-
| solving all his subjects from their wisdom,
| manding them to retain just enough sense to know
how to conduct themselves like FOOLS
Christmas Music.
| distinguishing feature of the "Merry Christmas
time is its music. In England there is a class OF
| musicians who are termed "Christmas Waits"
although it is not known whether the word originally
| denoted the music, the performers, or the nstru
ments upon which they played. AS early as the year
140O company of 'waits" was established at Exeter,
| concerning whom Rymer gives long account, CON-
mencing as folows:-
"A wayte, that nightslye from Michemas 10 Shreve
Thorsdaye pethe the watche wthen this courte fower
gayte every dore and oyce we'll for feare
OF pyckeres and pes. He eateth in the halle with
striees and akethe lyysye (aowanos) at nyghte loe
| galone of ale, ETC."
From this account it would appear that, in the
time OF Edward II, the ''waits" were pages OF the
court but In later days they were merely minstrels
| whose strains were heard only at Christmas time in
| England, and in Scotand-Christmas being there
| tabooed-at New Year. In London, at the present
time they perambulate the streets at night for two
or three weeks before Christmas, performing the
popular airs OF the day various wind instruments
Their labors cease Christmas Eve, and soon after
they call upon the inhabitants for their contri-
buttons
| The singing OF Christmas carols is another custom
| which has long prevailed in England The Christmas
carol is as old the festival ITSELF and in the primi-
tive days OF the Church 1t customary for the
bishop surrounded by his clergy to take part in this
simple and beautiful ceremony. In those times the
carol was purely religious, but 1t afterwards became
more secularzed and has been sung in the streets,
and other places.
| We hear no real Christmas carols in own coun-
| try, save once in great while, when sung a hymn
| by some Sunday School in their public Christmas
| exercises
| A specimen OF the secular carol is found in the
| song which in ancient times sung at the bring
ing in OF the bOar's headone OF the great Christmas