Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09
A FAMOUS FESTIVAL.
How Whitsunday is Observed in En-
gland and Other Countries.
A RELIC OF A PAGAN HOLIDAY
Morris Dancer Kemp's Remarkable Fea
and Adventures.
OLDEN MIRACLE PLAYS AND MYSTERIES
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,

val of high importance in the Episcopal,
Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches,
and day which, amsng the peasantry of
Great Britain, Ireland and the Continent of
Europe, is as generally and joyously cele-
brated and is as rich in quaint folklore, Pc
culiar customs. sports, superstitions, legends
and traditions as any other day-be it fast or
festival-in the whole IL months. In the
calendar of the churches above named it is
proclaimed the greatest of all the festivals,
except Christmas and Easter. Not only is
it Christian festival, but it is Hebrew one
as well, the event which it commentaries in
the Christian church having occurred on the
Hebrew day of Pentecost. That event was
the descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apos-
ties when "they were all with one accord in
one place" after the ascension of our Lord,
on which occasion they received the gift of
tongues or different languages that they
might impart the gospel to foreign nations.
Among the ancient Hebrews the day of
Pentecost was species of harvest home. It
was calculated from the second day of the
Passover, the 18th of Nisan. The Hebrew
law prescribed that a reckoning should be
kept from the morrow after the Sabbath to
the morrow after the completion of the sew
enth week, which would, of course, be the
tiftieth day after the Passover. These fifty
days included the period of the Hebrew
grain harvest, which commenced with the
first sheaf of the barley harvest gathered at
the Passover and ended with the making ,on
the day of Pentecost, of two loaves of leav-
ened bread from the finest wheat -four of
the new crop. Thus we see in the Whit
Sunday of the Christian church another in
stance of the substitution of Christian for
Hebrew festival, as in the case Of
replacing the Hebrew Passover with
THE CHRISTIAN EASTER.
Yet, as is the case with many of the holy
days of the Christian Church, it is gener-
ally thought by antiquarians that our Whit
suntide was also identified with one of the
great summer festivals of the Pagans of
Western Europe.
Among the English peasantry from the
earliest Christian times down to the present
day, the most elaborate folk ceremonies of
the whole year have been performed on Whit
Sunday. Among the most notable of these
is what is called the Whitsun-ale. Ale was
so universal drink among the early En-
| glish that by its association with various
festivities it has added more than one new
word to our ianguage-notably bridal" q
corruption Of "bride-ale, which was term
applied to ale of a peculiar quality and
strength, specially brewed in honor of the
bride at a wedding. The ale used at Whit
suntide, or the Whitsun-ale, was remark
able for its strength, and was consumed at
an assemblage of the whole parish, usually
held in some barn near the church. The
ale was dispensed to those present by the
church wardens, and the profits arising from
its sale were devoted to fund for the repair
of the church. Two persons, previously
chosen, were designated as lord and
LADY OF THE ALE,
sort of throne was provided for them at one
end of the barn and they were attended by
their steward, sword-bearer and other Off |
cials. The persons filling these Offices were
frequently paid small sums for their SER
vices, and in the old Church Wardens' ac-
counts in the English parish churches there |
frequently occurs such entries as "Payd to her |
that was Lady of the Ale at Whitsuntide, |
by consent, 5s."
But of the old English sports of Whitsun- |
tide the greatest favorite was the Morris |
dance. This is believed to- have been de- |
rived from Spain through the Moors, andits
name is regarded as corruption of the |
Spanish Morisco, Moor. Originally |
danced by five performers, it at length be-
came customary to have it performed either !
bya single individual or as many as cared to |
participate IN it. There was finally grated |
Oh to it some features of an old English |
country dance performed at certain periods
in honor of Robin Hood and his outlaws, |
and from this circumstance a female particl-
pating in it was called Maid Marian"
after one of Robin Hoods sweethearts. |
One of the most distinctive features of the |
Morris dance was pair Of garters hung |
with bells and worn by each of the dancers. |
In 1899 William Kemp, a celebrated |
comedian.of the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
danced the Morris all the way from London
to Norwich. This feat at the time of its |
performance was considered one of the most |
remarkable ever attempted. Kemp pub
lished a most interesting and curious |
pamphlet, giving full account Of his ad-
ventures en- route, and his wonderful exploit
continued to be theme of popular allusion
for many years afterward. All along the |
way the country people turned out to greet |
the dancer in such crowds that at times it
was with great difficulty he could make his
way through them. He was entertained by
the nobility and gentry during his progress,
and on his arrival at Norwich was publicly |
received by the Mayor with great honor.
A STURDY MAID MARIAN.
One of the most amusing passages in
Kemp's curious book-one of the rarest and
most valuable in my collection Of folk lore
lis where he tells how,a sturdy butcher un-
dertook to dance with him from Sudbury to
Bury, but gave out exhausted before they
had danced half a mile. He then goes
on to say: Gas he and were parting, a
lusty country lasSe being among the people,
cal him faint hearted lout, saying: If
had begun to daunce, ] would have heldout
one myle, though it had cost my life.' At
which words many laughed. Nay saith
she, IF the dauncer will lend me leash of
his bellies I'll venter to treade one myle with
him myselfe' lookt upon her, saw mirth
in her eies, heard boldness in her words and
beheld her ready to tucke up her russat PEI
ticoate; L fitted her with bells, which she,
merrily taking, garnisht her thicke, short
legs, and, with a smooth brow, bade the
tabrer begin. The drum strucke, forward
marcht with my merry maybe Marian,
who shooke her fat sides and footed it merri-
ly to Melford, being long myle There
parting with her (besides her skin full of
drinke), an English crowne to buy more
drinke for, good wench, she was in pite-
GUS heate; my kindness she requited with
dropping some dozen of short courtesies, and
bidding God blesse the dauncer, I bade her
adiue, and, to give her her due, she had a
good care, daunst truly, and we parted
friends"
Dancing of almost any kind is said to be
among the healthiest and most conducive to
longevity of all occupations, but Morris
dancing would seem entitled to the palm in
these respects if we are to believe q PAM
phlet printed during the reign of james l.,
L -. 4lo4 AZ ,n;koJ ocoe &c ION |