The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-12-27
.dDIIHE HE# YER'S DAYS.
Quaint Holiday Customs Observed in Days
Long Gone.
In Castle, Hall and Cottage Good Fellow
ship Reigned-Passing the Wassail
Bowl of Home Brewed.

BOWL OF Home bEeWed.
New Years day in former times was
one of the three important holidays Of
the Christmas festival, and up to the
close of the eighteenth century was the
occasion of many ancient and popular
obseryances.
The holiday season in England, and
throughout Christendom as well, ex-
tended from Christmas eve until
Twelfth day, according to the decree Of
good King Alfred, who ordained that
for "twelve days after the Saviour's
nativity festival should be made" The
1st of January was also marked on the
calendar as the feast of the circumci-
sion, but the religious aspect Of the
day was lost sight Of in the wholesale
abandonment Of all classes to mirth
and reVelry. The genial Wassail bowl
reached the zenith Of its reign Of good
fellowship on New Years eve. In
castle, hall and cottage the jovial com
panies of assembled guests and rsls-
tiVes never failed to pledge each right
heartily in deep rotations Of the steam
ing, sayory compound passed along
from lip to lip. As its prime ingredient
was honest home brewed ale, the sturdy
English stomach could stand an enor-
nous quantity no doubt.
This is also one of the most ancient
Of English customs and dates back to
the remote period Of the Saxons. The
history Of its origin has been duly re-
corded by Godfrey of Monmouth. The
Saxon Hengist gave a grand banquet
in honor of the British King Voltigern.
When the wine was brought in, Hengist
commanded his daughter. the beautiful
ROwena, to pledge their august guest.
The maiden blushingly assented and
raising the fagon to her rosy lips,
cried, "Wass-heil, a health to thee"
WhereupOn Voltigern arose, and taking
the vessel from Rowena's hands re-
sponded, "Drinc-heil," and "kissed her
hale lips and placed her by his side"
Wassail was often spoken Of as
"lamb's wool" by the old poets. Bands
of maidens would go from door to door
on New Years eve bearing the empty
bowl and singing songs in supplianee
of the wherewithal to make it full. In
Scotland, at the sound of u, each men,
of the family party would quaff a full
bumper of shot pint" and wish the
others a happy New Year and many Of
them. Then it was customary for the
elders to sally out with a hot kettle,
bread and cheese, etc, and pay visits Of
greeting to the neighbors. The first
party to enter a house we're called the
first foot" and we're warmly welcomed,
as their arrival in that capacity presag-
ed good luck. Much generous rivalry
ensued, and from midnight to l o'clock
the streets we're fairly swarming with
would be first footers." The custom
was still prevalent in Scotts day.
The wassial bowl was an important
feature of the abbot's feast in theemon-
asteries on New Years day, being
known as the peculum caritatis. The
'loving cup" of the London corpora
ton banquets seems to have been sug-
gested by the wassail custom.
Ages before the Christmas tree idea
had been borrowed from Germany dur
ing Victoria's reign the custom Of ex-
changing presents was peculiar to New
Years day, as it is now in France and
many other parts of Europe. The Ro-
mans we're in the habit Of interchang-
ing gifts at the time of the Saturnalia,
and here again Christianity has TO
thank paganism for one of the most
delightful observances Of the holiday
season. After January and February
we're added to the ten months Of the
Roman calendar it was especially de-
creed by Tiberius that no exchange OF
gifts should take place in the calends
of January. Senators we're expected
to bring handsome presents to the
palace.
AS early as the reign Of Henry III we
read Of the handsome purses Of gold
annually given by the COurtiers, etc, to
their royal master. Queen Elizabeth
was accustomed to receiving gifts Of
fabulous value besides money. Mobiles
and ladies of high degree, bishops and
officers of state, not 80 mention the
menials Of the household, all COntribHt-
ed the best they could afford to their
luxurious and exacting mistress. It is
recorded on the annual roll that in
1912 the Earl Of Leicester gave an ex-
quisite bracelet Of gold richly inoEust-
ed with diamonds, rubies and pearls
and the archbishops Of Canterbury
and York purses of gold to the amount
of 94O and EDO respectively. The mas
ter cooks offering consisted Of eOnfec-
! tionery; that Of the cutler was a meat
knife with a cORceit in the hiatt, while
Smith the dnstman. nresanted two