The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-05

Joyous Festival Celebrated by Large
Part of the Christian World.


lCopyrght 1892 and all rights rcsorved1
To-day is Whit Sunday or "Whitsun-
tide. /" which in the calendar Of the Roman
Catholic. Fpscopalian and Lutheran churches
is proclaimed the greatest, most important
and most joyous religious festival OF the en-,
tire year with the exception OF Christmas anu
Faster Throughout Great Britain and the
whole continent of Europe II IS quite rs gen.
ernlly md deliberately celebrated by all classes
and ranks from the highest 10 the lowest az
are those two other great festivals with when
IL is cO-edual. In one sense II IS even greater
and its celebration even moro general thhn
that OF Christmas or Easter. for II Is not only
Christmas festival but Jewish one as well.
the event which IL commentaries IN the
Christian Church having occurred on tho
Hebrew day Of Pentecost
That Christian event was the descent OF the
Holy Ghost on the apostles 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 Gospei
TO foreign nations. In Gun own country. at
the present time. the day ~ generally cele-
brated by all our citizens of foreign birth, the
German element Of our population, espe-
cIally, deyOting great attention 10 1t and keep
ing as "A holiday not only Whit Sunday but
the following day. Whit bombay. in all our
Episcopalian, Catholic and Lutheran churches
special services appropriate to the occasion
are held.
Among tho ancient Hebrews our Whit
Sunday. which was their day OF Pentecost,
was species Of harvest home. II was cal
culated from the second day of the Passover
sixteenth OF kesan.
General and Joyous as is the celebration of
Whit Sunday among such an immense ma
jority Of the whole Christian world. both IN
our own and all foreign lands. it Is almost
impossible 10 find any one outside of the
clergy who knows or can tell anything Of its
origin, history and true significance though
it is richer IN quaint old folklore,
peculiar customs, sports, supersttons.
legends and traditions than any other
day. bo it fast or festival in the whole
twelve months Jewish children, yOung.men
and women are much better posted on this
subject than those OF the Christian faith. They
will tell you that the Hebrew law prescrl bed
that reckoning be kept from the Sabbath OF
the Passover TO the morrow after the conf
pletOn OF the seventh week; which would, of
course. be the fiftieth day after the Passover
This period included the Hebrew grain
harvest which commenced with the first
sheath Of barley gathered at the Passover and
ended with the making. on the day OF Pante-
cost. of two lOaves OF leavened bread from
the finest wheat flour of the new crop.
Thus in the Whit Sunday Of the Christian
Church We see another instance of the substi-
tuition of Christian for a Jewish festival as
in the case of the replacing OF the Hebrew
Passover with the Christian Easter. ct as
is the case with many holy days of
the Christian Church. II is generally
thought by antiquarians that our WHIT
suntde 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 those Is
what is called the Whltsun ale. Ale WAS so
universal drink among the early English
that by It's association with various festivals
it has added more than one new word to our
language -notably bridal corruption of
''brde-ale." which was term applied - ale
OF peculiar quality and strength specially
brewed IN honor OF the bride at wedding.
The ale used at Whitsuntide. or the Whitsun
ale, was remarkable for It's strength and was
consumed by an assemolage OF the
whole parish, usually held in some
barn near the church. The ale
was dispensed TO those present by the church
wardens. aud the profits arising from lis sale
were devoted 10 n fund for the repair of the
church. Two persons previously chosen
were designated AS Lord and Lady OF the Ale
q sort of throne was erected for them at one
end of the barn and they we're attended by
their steward sword bearer and other officials
The persons filling these Offices were fire.
quently paid small sums for their services
and III the old churchwardens' accounts in
the English parish churches there frequently
occurred such entries Us "Payde to her that
was Lady of the Ale at Whltsuntlde, by con-
sent 5s.
But Of all the old English sports of Whit
suntide the greatest iayOrlte was the Morris
dance. This is believed 10 have been derived
from Spain through the Moors. and its name
is regarded az a corruption of the Spanish
Morisco. Moor. Originally danced 10y i've
performers II at length became customary 10
have IT performed either by single individual
or as many as cared TO participate in IT, There
was finally grated on 10 II some features OF
An old English country dance performed at
certain periods in honor of Robin Hood and
bis outlaws, from which circumstance q ie-
male participating III u called Maid
Marian" after one of Robin Hoods sweet
hearts. One OF the most distinctive features
of the Morris dance was IL pair of carriers
hung with bells and worn by each of the
dancers.
la 1899 William Kemp. a celebrated come
dian of the relgn OF Queen Elizabeth. danced
the Morris all the way troIa London 10 Nor
wich. This feat AT the time Of its perform
ance was considered one Of the most remarka-
bic ever attempted kemp published most
interesting and curious pamphlet giving u
full account OF his adventures en- route and
bis wonderful exploit continued to be theme
of popular allusion for many years afterward
All along the way the country people turned
Out 10 greet the dancer III >uch CToWuS that AT
times it was with great difficulty he could
make his way through them. lie was enter
tanned by the nobility and gentry during his
progress, and on his arrival at Norwich was
publicly received by the mayor with great
honor.
One Of the most amusing passages in
kemps curious boOk--one OF the rarest and
most valuable IN my collection OF folklore
Is whore he tells how sturdy butcher. one of
those gigantic handlers OF beef cattle who
seem to have u wonderful power OF absorbing
the strength and lustness of the great anil
mails IL which they deal. undertook TO dance
the Morris with HIM from Sudbury to Bury.
but became completely exhausted and was
very reluctantly obliged 10 give up before
they had danced half mile Kemp then
gees on to say, in hts quaint style: As
ne and were parting lusty country lasss
peing among tho people. called him faint
hearted tout saying. IL ] had begun TO
daunce, | would have held out one myle.
Enough 1t bad cost my life AT which words
many laughed. Nay saith she. Ii the