The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-01-07
BEFANA, THE BEAUTIFUL
BY Smith d. Fry.

$ BY day and by night there is OF
star which never ceases shining.
It is the star of Bethlehem, and 1t wi
8 shine on and on forever. 1t firs
g shone forth when shepherds watcl
e ed their f1ocks by night and its ra,
: have continued their effulgence unit
! they now encompass and illume thi
whole round world
On the night of the birth of tn
babe in the mangsr the star was see
by three wise men, and they followe
it until 1t guided them to the plac
where the child and helpless mothe
awaited the coming of that rscogni
ton which the virgin mother knew
was ordained to come.
Twelve days elapsed and it was II
the evening of that twelfth day thai
the three wise men bowed to this
prince OF peace, and presented to hin
their gifts of reverence and obeis
ance, These simple facts should be
better known and understood by the
people of christian countries, for
they show that the proper time for
giving presents is not on Christmas
day. but on Twelfth Night.
In the olden time, even until the
Shakespearean era, the celebration
of Twelfth Night was surrounded
with such festivities as have been
moved forward to Christmas, in
these later years. 1t was in recogni.
ton of the prevalent custom that
Shakespeare named one of his great
est productions Twelfth Night
Once upon a time there was a gas.
tronomic publication in London, Eng
land. called the Caterer, but it has
ceased to be published these many
years. In an old copy of that paper
the writer obtained some very inter
esting and valuable inform ton,
which is here shared with the reader;
and cheerfully, too.
During the reigns of Queen Eliza
beth and King James /, the celebra-
ton of Twelfth Day and Twelfth
Night, was, equally with Christmas,
festival throughout the land, and
was observed with great ostentation
and ceremony at both universities. at
court, at the Temple, at Lincoln's Inn !
and at Gray's Inn. The breakfast of /
Twelfth Day was directed to be
Drawn, mustard and malmsley; the
Inner. of two courses, to be served in
he hall, After the first course
'ometh the master Of the game, ap-
'areled in green velvet, and the
anger of the forest also in a green
uit OF satin, bearing in his hands
sreen bow and divers arrows; with
either Of them hunting horn around
he1r necks, they pace around the
Ire three times. Then the master of
he game maketh three courtesies,
lneeleth down and petitions to be
Omitted into the service Of the lord
# the feast"
This preliminary ceremony having
zen performed, "a huntsman cometh
nto the hall with fox and a purse
ct with cat, both animals bound
t the end OF staff, and with them
Inc or ten couple of hounds, with
ne blowing of hunting horns; and
ne fox and the cat ara by the hounds
hen set upon and killed beneath the
re"
This sport having been finished,
the marshal, conductor Of the rev
Isl, placeth the folk In their several
ppointeG places, and there they re.
lain until the first course hath been
njoyed." /,
After the second cours, the an. !
lentest OF the masters of the revels ,
ngeth song, with the assistance /
the others present Then, after :
ome r5pose, mark thatD and rev. !
IS, supper is served in the hall. 1t !
ons1steth OF two courses, and. being /
the marshal presenteth him ?
I'll with drums afore him, mounted :
pom a scaffold borne by four men, '
nd goeth three times around the !,
arthe, CRYING aloud: "A lord, a bird.
cetera; then he descendeth and e
beth into the dance. This being =
one. the lord of the feast aalresseth +
msslf to the banquet, which being i
lded with minstrelsye, mirth and
incing, every man departeth to rest. .
mat is a good sample of the man =