CHRISTMAS:

ITS ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS,

TOGETHER WITH

ITS HISTORICAL EVENTS AND FESTIVE

CELEBRATIONS DURING NINETEEN

CENTURIES:

DEPICTING, BY PEN AND PENCIL,

BY

W. F. DAWSON.

      At home, at sea, in many distant lands,

      This Kingly Feast without a rival stands!

LONDON

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

1902.

REPUBLISHED BY GALE RESEARCH COMPANY, BOOK TOWER, DETROIT, 1968

PREFACE.

In the third quarter of the nineteenth century, it fell to my lot to write an article on Christmas, its customs and festivities. And, although I sought in vain for a chronological account of the festival, I discovered many interesting details of its observances dispersed in the works of various authors; and, while I found that some of its greater celebrations marked important epochs in our national history, I saw, also, that the successive celebrations of Christmas during nineteen centuries were important links in the chain of historical Christian evidences. I became enamoured of the subject, for, in addition to historical interest, there is the charm of its legendary lore, its picturesque customs, and popular games. It seemed to me that the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, its ancient customs and festivities, and the important part it has played in history combine to make it a most fascinating subject. I resolved, therefore, to collect materials for a larger work on Christmas.

Henceforth, I became a snapper-up of everything relating to Christmastide, utilised every opportunity of searching libraries, bookstalls, and catalogues of books in different parts of the country, and, subsequently, as a Reader of the British Museum Library, had access to that vast storehouse of literary and historical treasures.

Soon after commencing the work, I realised that I had entered a very spacious field of research, and that, having to deal with the accumulated materials of nineteen centuries, a large amount of labour would be involved, and some years must elapse before, even if circumstances proved favourable, I could hope to see the end of my task. Still, I went on with the work, for I felt that a complete account of Christmas, ancient and modern, at home and abroad, would prove generally acceptable, for while the historical events and legendary lore would interest students and antiquaries, the holiday sports and popular celebrations would be no less attractive to general readers.

The love of story-telling seems to be ingrained in human nature. Travellers tell of vari-coloured races sitting round their watch fires reciting deeds of the past; and letters from colonists show how, even amidst forest-clearing, they have beguiled their evening hours by telling or reading stories as they sat in the glow of their camp fires. And in old England there is the same love of tales and stories. One of the chief delights of Christmastide is to sit in the united family circle and hear, tell, or read about the quaint habits and picturesque customs of Christmas in the olden time; and one of the purposes of CHRISTMAS is to furnish the retailer of Christmas wares with suitable things for re-filling his pack.

From the vast store of materials collected it is not possible to do more than make a selection. How far I have succeeded in setting forth the subject in a way suited to the diversity of tastes among readers I must leave to their judgment and indulgence; but I have this satisfaction, that the gems of literature it contains are very rich indeed; and I acknowledge my great indebtedness to numerous writers of different periods whose references to Christmas and its time-honoured customs are quoted.

I have to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Henry Jewitt, Mr. E. Wiseman, Messrs. Harper, and Messrs. Cassell & Co., in allowing their illustrations to appear in this work.

My aim is neither critical nor apologetic, but historical and pictorial: it is not to say what might or ought to have been, but to set forth from extant records what has actually taken place: to give an account of the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, and to depict, by pen and pencil, the important historical events and interesting festivities of Christmastide during nineteen centuries. With materials collected from different parts of the world, and from writings both ancient and modern, I have endeavoured to give in the present work a chronological account of the celebrations and observances of Christmas from the birth of Christ to the end of the nineteenth century; but, in a few instances, the subject-matter has been allowed to take precedence of the chronological arrangement. Here will be found accounts of primitive celebrations of the Nativity, ecclesiastical decisions fixing the date of Christmas, the connection of Christmas with the festivals of the ancients, Christmas in times of persecution, early celebrations in Britain, stately Christmas meetings of the Saxon, Danish, and Norman kings of England; Christmas during the wars of the Roses, Royal Christmases under the Tudors, the Stuarts and the Kings and Queens of Modern England; Christmas at the Colleges and the Inns of Court; Entertainments of the nobility and gentry, and popular festivities; accounts of Christmas celebrations in different parts of Europe, in America and Canada, in the sultry lands of Africa and the ice-bound Arctic coasts, in India and China, at the Antipodes, in Australia and New Zealand, and in the Islands of the Pacific; in short, throughout the civilised world.

In looking at the celebrations of Christmas, at different periods and in different places, I have observed that, whatever views men hold respecting Christ, they all agree that His Advent is to be hailed with joy, and the nearer the forms of festivity have approximated to the teaching of Him who is celebrated the more real has been the joy of those who have taken part in the celebrations.

The descriptions of the festivities and customs of different periods are given, as far as possible, on the authority of contemporary authors, or writers who have special knowledge of those periods, and the most reliable authorities have been consulted for facts and dates, great care being taken to make the work as accurate and trustworthy as possible. I sincerely wish that all who read it may find as much pleasure in its perusal as I have had in its compilation.

william francis dawson.

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     CHAPTER I. page

The Origin and Associations of Christmas

5

 

CHAPTER II.

The Earlier Celebrations of the Festival

10

 

CHAPTER III.

Early Christmas Celebrations in Britain

23

 

CHAPTER IV.

Christmas, From the Norman Conquest To Magna Charta

40

 

CHAPTER V.

Christmas, From Magna Charta To the End of the Wars of the Roses

62 (a.d. 1215-1485.)

 

CHAPTER VI.

Christmas Under Henry VII. and Henry VIII.

94 (a.d. 1485-1547.)

 

CHAPTER VII.

Christmas Under Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth

115 (a.d. 1547-1603.)

 

CHAPTER VIII.

Christmas Under James I.

151 (a.d. 1603-1625.)

 

CHAPTER IX.

Christmas Under Charles the First and the Commonwealth

197 (a.d. 1625-1660.)

 

CHAPTER X.

Christmas, From the Restoration To the Death Of George II.

215 (a.d. 1660-1760.)

 

CHAPTER XI.

Modern Christmases at Home

240

 

CHAPTER XII.

Modern Christmases Abroad

294

 

CHAPTER XIII.

Concluding Carol Service of the Nineteenth Century

349

 

INDEX

351

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

page

Bringing in the Yule Log

Frontispiece

The Herald Angels

2

class="cell_left">

Virgin and Child

5

Joseph Taking Mary to be Taxed, and the Nativity Events

6

The Nativity (Central portion of Picture in National Gallery)

8

Virgin and Child (Relievo)

9

Group from the Angels' Serenade

10

Adoration of the Magi (From Pulpit of Pisa)

11

"The Inns are Full"

14

Grape Gathering and the Vintage (Mosaic in the Church of St. Constantine, Rome, A.D. 320)

16

German Ninth Century Picture of the Nativity

16

Ancient Roman Illustrations

17

Ancient Roman Illustrations

18

Ancient Agape

19

Ancient Roman Illustrations

21

Early Celebrations in Britain

23

Queen Bertha

27

An Ancient Fireplace

30

Traveling in the Olden Time, with a "Christmas Fool: on the Front Seat

31

The Wild Boar Hunt: Killing the Boar

32

Adoration of the Magi (Picture of Stained Glass, Winchester Cathedral)

34

A King at Dinner

40

Blind Minstrel at a Feast

42

Minstrels' Christmas Serenade at an Old Baronial Hall

44

Westminster Hall

46

Strange Old Stories Illustrated (From Harl. MS.)

50

A Cook of the Period (Early Norman)

55

Monk Undergoing Discipline

56

Wassailing at Christmastide

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Panoply of a Crusader

58

Royal Party Dining in State

63

Ladies Looking from the Hustings upon the Tournament

73

The Lord of Misrule

74

Curious Cuts of Priestly Players in the Olden Time

76

A Court Fool

77

Virgin and Child (Florentine, 1480. South Kensington Museum)

83

Henry VI.'s Cradle

84

Lady Musician of the Fifteenth Century

91

Rustic Christmas Minstrel with Pipe and Tabor

92

Martin Luther and the Christmas Tree

106

The Little Orleans Madonna of Raphael

107

Magdalen College, Oxford

110

Bringing in the Boar's Head with Minstrelsy

111

Virgin and Child, Chirbury, Shropshire

118

Riding a-Mumming at Christmastide

121

A Dumb Show in the Time of Elizabeth

123

The Fool of the Old Play (From a Print by Breughel)

137

The Acting of one of Shakespeare's Plays in the Time of Queen Elizabeth

141

Neighbours with Pipe and Tabor

147

Christmas in the Hall

149

The Hobby-Horse

197

Servants' Christmas Feast

202

"The Hackin"

216

Seafaring Pilgrims

219

An Ancient Fireplace

225

A Druid

Priestess Bearing Mistletoe 228

A Nest of Fools

229

"The Mask Dance"

231

The Christmas Mummers

234

The Waits

240

The Christmas Plum-Pudding

245

Italian Minstrels in London, at Christmas, 1825

246

Snap Dragon

247

Blindman's Buff

249

The Christmas Dance

250

The Giving Away of Christmas Doles

257

Poor Children's Treat in Modern Times

265

The Christmas Bells

271

Wassailing the Apple-Trees in Devonshire

279

Modern Christmas Performers: Yorkshire Sword-Actors

282

Modern Christmas Characters: "St Peter," "St. Denys"

283

A Scotch First Footing

285

Provençal Plays at Christmastide

320

Nativity Picture (From Byzantine Ivory in the British Museum)

324

Calabrian Shepherds Playing in Rome at Christmas

329

Worshipping the Child Jesus (From a Picture in the Museum at Naples)

337

Angels and Men Worshipping the Child Jesus (From a Picture in Seville Cathedral)

338

Simeon Received the Child Jesus into his Arms (From Modern Stained Glass in Bishopsgate Church, London)

348

Lichfield Cathedral

349

 

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down, And glory shone around. Carol.

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THE HERALD ANGELS.

W. F. D

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CHAPTER I.

THE ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS OF CHRISTMAS.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son,

And they shall call His name Immanuel;

which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

(Matthew i. 18-25.)

"There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph went to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."

(Luke ii. 1-5.)

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased.

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

(Luke ii. 8-20.)

The Place of the Nativity.

The evangelist Matthew tells us that "Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king;" and Justin Martyr, who was born at Shechem and lived less than a century after the time of Christ, places the scene of the Nativity in a cave. Over this cave has risen the Church and Convent of the Nativity, and there is a stone slab with a star cut in it to mark the spot where the Saviour was born. Dean Farrar, who has been at the place, says: "It is impossible to stand in the little Chapel of the Nativity, and to look without emotion on the silver star let into the white marble, encircled by its sixteen ever-burning lamps, and surrounded by the inscription, 'Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est.'"

To visit such a scene is to have the thoughts carried back to the greatest event in the world's history, for it has been truly said that the birth of Christ was the world's second birthday.