New-York tribune., 1896-12-25
WELCOME CHRISTMAS DAY.
"GLoRrA IN EXCELsIs DEO: IN TERRA
PAX"
TIE GREATEST FESTIVAL OF ALL THE YEAR
LOVED AND SUNG BY THE POETS FROM


LOVED AND sung BY THE POETS FROM
CENTURY TO CENTURY
And now yet again comes Christmas! And as
the day draws nigh-loved and sung by the poets
from century 10 century-t Interesting 10 follow
the golden thread OF poesy IL stops al each re-
curing to weave for US the web Of fantasy
good cheer and kindly feeling that crowns the
greatest festival OF all the year
Among the primitive Christians the day was
doubtless reverently commemorated by q calm re-
Urlous feeling urmixed by any consideration OF
worldly enjoyment but when in time this festival
OF the Church became incorporated with the Gus
toms and rites OF the Northern nations. 1t degen-
Grated into a continuous carousel where days OF
feasting followed nights Of revelry. All OF the carly
poetry comes 10 us In the form OF carols whlch
were sung by the bands Of professional. vasrant
ninstrels as they wandered from castle 10 castle
OF the Norman nobility. Some OF these songs
breathe forth graceful. tender spirit of devotion;
but most OF them are jolly. rollcking lays 'nat
showed eating. drinking and singing 10 De much
more highly esteemed than matters pertaining 10
religion.
bill is found in the accounts OF the Statioher
Company for the year 1910 which shows the trend OF
the times and the relative esteem IN "aai,la WI ~
coke" the minstrel and the preacher were hsiu'
Item D.ya to II. p5.scasr
lem payd 70 the coke.
THE CHRISTMAS CAROL.
The earliest existing Christmas carol known TO
sntiauarens is in the Anglo-Norman language anu
was discovered on a blank leaf on manuscript pre-
served in the British Museum and is undoubtedly
the product Of thirteenth century bards muse
In-6lnrs. listen % our lay.
". have come from far away
To seek
!, this mansion We were tod
He his yearly feast doth hold;
'Tls to-day.
Mav 10Y come from God above
To ali hose Christmas love
" .he e-,een,h century the poets verse seemed
70 crystal.,ze about the feasis given by leuoai
chieftajns 10 their friends and fetalne's' Ahese
reasts were celebrated with great pomp ana sPe"-
do- Among the wealth OF dishes served up the
hoar's head was frs; al the feast Heraldeo py
,bs hlsre OF trurnpets. II arrived uron the scene
O. festvity on a dish OF gold and silver oofhe oH
the server ard attended by strains OF lauoato'!
n,,ns,relsv The following is probably the oides,
of the boar's head carols, and Is sun pfese''e'
In manuscript OF the ffteenth century
Hey. Hey Hey. Hey,
The boar's armed gay
The boas's head IN hand bring.
WIN garands gay encrclins
pray you all with me 10 sing
IN these brave days of old good ale seems 10
have played an important role. and many are 'he
.o,,,oL,,o drinking songs tina. have come down 10
ne from the sixteenth century. Tho foHo"'hs l.
a good specimen OF these racy invocauo"s'
pr,c NJ. IN good a.e. and bring us H. g1od s'e'
ro, our Blessed IAdys sake. bring us IN gooo sle
u-,,e -. Z, no brown bread. f1' mat - maoe u ''"
xo, hiring 20 in no white bread. FOR 'ha' Is Only graz
ru, bring good axe
Many were the supersttions regarding 'ne ""S
,,non which Christmas should fall. ana our
nre, took upon himself also the CLOAK o. '
rronbet If Christmas came upon "u'"''
pyonhesied good winter. peace III All 'a'''o' ~
urosnerous fortune the child born upon ,a u"s
II Il came OF Monday. great winter I'm
Winds both loud and shrl' was TO De eApe'o'
but
~ Christmas Day Tuesday De-
That wear ,hsil many women cie
Ard ,ha, winter grow great marFsis'
ships shall De In great pers
rrs, wear shall kings and lords be slAn'
And many other people near them.
1-v summer that year shall be.
A all that come that way may see;
They shall be strong and covetous
=, ,bo,s .tesl areht ioaest thy life.
FOR tlou shaIt die through sword or kniis'
Bu, II thou fall sick. tis certain
Thou shalt turn life again
During the period OF the Renaissance marHeo
change came in the observance OF the Gay anu
sad downfall came In the fortunes OF the FORMER"
highly regarded minstrel . .s.