PAGAN RITES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 30, 3 December 1943, Page 3

PAGAN RITES

It has been found that, many of our old customs, -which we associate with Christian ideas are really the evolution of pagan rites. For instance,, the custom of hav'ing cakes at Christmas goes back to the early days when* Yuletide was celebrated at the time Ave now call Christmas, and Yule cakes were given as offerings between friends. Yule means a Avheel. lit is the festival of wheelturn, when the Sun-god turns his chariot, for a new circle of the heavens. The. Yule cakes Avere coloured Avith saffron to correspond Avith the sun's hue. In Tudor <lavs the size of the Yule Avafer had increased to that of a small bun still very yellow. Plenteous egg-yolk used in mixing achieved the purpose w'ith colouring from crocus flowers added, this being the source of saffron. The Jews had an old custom of offering little unleavened ca—es, which were tokens of goodwill and peace on any festiA*al, so when Christians began to commemorate Christmas the two old customs—that of the ancient. Yule Avafers and the Jewish cakes —were ■combined. It Avas considered very wrong to refuse a cake, as it implied that the goodwill of the. gi\"er Avas being rejected. As time Avent on the -wafers grew larger as more, substances were added. The Saxons called the Chi'istmas cake, the Yule dough. It was not a rich compound,, but was believed to be lucky. I/n France to this day the "Gateau Noel" is a lucky symbol. A piece kept for a year was supposed to Avard oil' evil spirits. In proof of its mystic properties, the fact that it never gets mouldlv is cited. This is realh* on account of the richness of the cake. The Yule buns of the Tiulors and the Stuarts were very popular. They always meant that good fortune, and ■success were Avished by those Avho gave, l'n wealthy houses they were compounded in heaps in the. still*, rooms, and huge baskets of them stood 'in the halls on Yule mornings to be giA'en away. Songs made by unknowns

£6 for Pineapple

A crowd leathered outside a fruit shop in London when two l'resli pineapples from the Azores were plaeed in the window at a sale price of £(> each.