Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-24

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS.
The Games that Were Wont to Amuse
Cur Eorefathers Century Ago.
Some of the Christmas games which
were played in England century and
half ago have become quite obsolete,
but many retain their hold upon popu-
lar affection. A description of Christ.
mas eve in Dovonshire runs thus:
The members of the household-mas-
ter, family and servants-seat themselves
on the settles beside the fire, and all
meet on terms of equality, the ordinary
straiat characterizing the intercourse of
of master and servant being for the &C.
casion wholly laid aside. Sports of
various kinds take place, such as Jump
ing in sacks, diving in pail of water for
apples, and jumping for cakes and treacle;
that is to say endeavoring by springs
(the hands being tied behind the back
to catch with the mouth cake thickly
spread with treacle, and suspended from
the ceiling" Another authority says:
"The time of year being cold and frosty,
the diversions are within doors, either
in exercises or by the Preside. Dancing
is one of the chief exercises; or else
there is match at Blind Mans Buff;
or Puss in the Corner The next game
is Questions and Commando when the
commander may oblige his subjects to
answer any lawful question and make
the same obey him instantly under PEN
atty of being smutted (having the face
blackened) or paying such forfeit as
may be laid on the aggressor. Most of
the other diversions are cards and dice"
The standard English game of the season,
however, is "Snapdragon." A handful
of raisins having been placed in large
shallow bowl and spirits poured over
them and ignited, every spectator in turn
tries to catch one. To add to this, he
must necessarily thrust his hand through
the flames of the burning alcohol-a
feat which, though not really perilous,
appears so, and the unsuccessful COM
petitors, therefore, get but shouts of
laug liter for their pains. The following
verses, almost as old as the game itself,
give its full favor:
Here he comes with flaming bowl,
Don't he mean to taks his toll.
Snipl snapi Dragon.
Take care you don't take tos much,
Be not greedy in your clutch.
Snip snap! Dragonl
With his blue and flaming tongue,
Many OF you will be stung.
snipI snap Dragoni
For he shifts at all that comes,
Snatching at his feast of plums.
Snip! snap Dragonl
But old Christmas makes him come,
Though he looks so fee! fsi fHml'
Snipl snapl Dragonl
Don't zee fear him, be but bold,
Out he goes, his flames are cold.
Snipl snapl Dragonl
The custom of mumming," or mas
querading, is as old as the Saturnalia, of
which it was a distinguishing feature
The word is of Danish or Dutch origin,
and suggests the source of this peculiar
type of masquerade. At first, mumming
was not by any means confined to the
Christmas season, and now it has lost all
of its leading characteristics. Masquer-
aiding is still common enough, indeed, on
Christmas eve, both in England and
America, and on that alone of all nights
in the years it is permitted on the public
streets, but mumming, as our ancestors
understood it, pas become quite obsolete.
Says an old treatise on Christmas enter
tainments: "Then comes mumming or
masquerading, when the 'squire's. ward
robe is ransacked for dresses of all
kinds. Corks are burnt to blacken the
faces of the fair, or make deputy mus.
taches, and every one in the family ex-
cept the squire himself, must be trans.
formed. Mumming proper, however,
took the form of dramatic representa-
ton of st. George and the dragon, and a
company of burlesquers having been
organized, visits were usually made to
every house. where, after the perform
ance. the money box was scrupulously
handed around. The esteem in which
the custom was held may be learned
from the following madrigal:
To shorten winters sadness,
See where the folks with gladness,
Disguised, all are coming,
Right wantonly a-mumming.
Whilst youthful sports are lasting,
To feastipg turn our fasting; ..
With revels and with wasszils,
Make grief and care our vassals,
It 80 Fla la! 1893
For youth it well beseemeth, -
That pleasure be esteemeth
And sullen age is hated,
That mirth would have abated
Fa lal
It must have been rare fun to see the
mummers making their rounds. car
irving at the first residence in their way,
they knock at the door," says an account,
Sand claim the privilege of Christmas
in the admission of George and his
merry men. First is seen old Father
Christmas, bearing, as enblematic de-
vices, the holy bough, wassail Dough,
etc. Beside him stands a pretty little
girl, carrying branch of the mistletoe.
Then comes the grand Turk, the gallant
Knight st. George, and the latter's an.