CHRISTMAS CHEER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 11

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

'By W. HENRY JEWITT, in "The Treasury." *

"There are many, things from which I. might - . have derived good; by. which I- lmvo not pro : fited, -I ,dare -say, Christmas among the. rest. But. ; I-..am 1 ' sure I .have always thought of V; comb round— ';• .'apart from,.the veneration duo.to. its sacred r- rname and origin, if anything belonging to it V: can be ' apart i from' that—as d good time; a !■■>.■. kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time, -tho - only time'l- know, of in the long calondai of the year,'when men and women seem by; one consent to. .open . their -shut-up' hearts; freely, ■?''' '^aiid ipebjpiio ; ;lj.olow;itiiem-.ins -_if tliogr. ; : : : -Eot another Taco :of creatures , -bound .on other journeys." , '';':So;;;say^Scrpoge's;;nephow'.in';Dickens's im:niortal':" i Christiiias Carol," .-.which' ,with all 'its .. ■-- '~ absurdities wo must 1 ever .love ;»and though we :' '?i.<.:-; ; .;:; ; know;-' while .'agrebing nyith ihis'genero^^^^ • . ments. -tliat many of our Christmas observances : -' are "(ipart' from the . sacred origin of tho rieast^ofXits.:;Christian^origin xat;' Icast-rboing. relics of. a. pre-Christian past, the sacred ob- • servances of: tho . old . Yuletido feast of our >■:. ;/ . Saxon'and 'Norse: ancestors,-it,is to bo ; doubted U'nwhetheriwbvare- phy/happipr'for the knowledge: ■ ' tlian -when- oiir early ' Childhood, now far ' looked up from thp .snoiv-claa earth :' : to tho.starlib'domo above, and wondered,which ; '' it was,'.-of alt -tho'ihinihg;liglifa:.we saw,^^which -led the AVise llen to the'manger-bed of Betn- ' , leheiii, -or if tho Shepherds' folds, then told ' ■ : of, were-on hillsides deep ln snow liko those we: knew : on: our own countryside. .... ■ ~ : religious, ' :Solemhitii'3j^:trii'e;or 'false.VXt..is,often'-(possibly f;~ft'': : origin a; saci-iticial * or sacra.mental'feast, 'as';witness. the Paschal Supper; and^ ?Bacchic';ritM^.?ln-::eany. times,y-ji - man; ''dedichted to God—bnt> m later daysv.a iip : and -v-,':; O 1 ; divided,!' -fotj;-sacrameritdl.vcdlipmption.. This. .- • communion- .feast onthe .sacrificial; victim i prevailed anibiig the - Greeks. •. . v:-;;",; f, Our Saxon Ancestors.

With regard. to our. Saxon, ancestors, St; ' Gregonv'. writing ,to "St. Melitus," tolls; him S' v ;';l,?Becduse v <.they.. hrivo ; . used vto . slaughter '. ■. many;.6xen-.in thG::sacriftcest o .devils,somo 13 : solemnity must .bo '/exchanged; for them: on that . Vaccount, to V. celebrate;. . . ,with "■ religious 3 feastiiiß, and -lio more 'offer beasts to the devil, : .but-kill-cattle to the : praise. of God in ilieir ■;.Tvv'v{.6atin jfv'iind - return Vth.anks -to.the Giver' of ..all .. >••'• things for their sustenance."' •';. •■: A' : , v : v ;; • -- Thus 'JVov see how the ancient Yulc-fejust /;• '• •. became . a time Vot^' pleity. vand .rejoicing :■ in thankfulness for our- Blessed Lord s .Nativity, •: ' .. even .as the old rhymo says: ; - /.-v 1 -: ,-• v.,.. :. ■, "This day for Christ we.celebrate,.' :3 i.•; ■ •-.. * : ;i : 'i"'Who was born' at-' this'-time■ V '• :. .;Por which all Christians should rejoice, ' -V: l . As I do sing in rhyme— ! ;■ \ S.V.iSr ::<When': you jiave" given Chants; v '' ' Unto your :dainties fa 11,.-. , ; ; . ,AHeaven bless.- my .: master) and 'my.; dame;.. lord bless.mo and-you all." ■ : : The; northern-nations, when converted, folxV^felowingUhe^samelriiloVas witli. regard: to meat, • | ; adapted their Yuletide : ,drinkirig..to: their new faith. So the American poet tells us, when ; Kin'g.iOlaf sat'at.'Brpnth«m ,; keeping: his Christ-' .<: mas,"withhishorn filled up to tho brim."-, ■ : :-. .*,' o'er his drinking .horn"tho. signHo made of the Cross Divine, . :¥•-j/v.As he drank and muttered,his prayers; • .; But tho .Berserks over more.:'. 'V'.:-"' ■ >• '' Made tho sign of the hammer of Thor .. : . (• ' (As a matter of fa'ct'tho signs .were tho same.). )his /cross-hilted,' sword " ■ , ;;;73v v ; "A: shout'went'round tho : board, •;. •:, >• '.c/ theVnaine of.' ! Christ-the-Lord, 'ry --.. - : \i Sil."-^Wlioy.diedi^»>.U ' "And.in foamihg : c'u£S of ale '■ :;iv:',■•- ..; .. .-Tho Berserks dr'ank'.'was-hael'':: v :■: To tho.Lord." ;V : :#:-!pAncl 'again:^ : f ! • r. fulfilling-tho-will,of.lung; Witlaf,;at Christmas 'I'l "■ They drank to Christ the Lord, And to each of tho twelve apostles Who had preached His Holy' Word. : ■\^v.'Vv.;jr,t6; , 'theTQivit'6i : 'aU^thinßs.'for i 'atink;as'.'iTell''aS " beartlv ' '' ..With'- guiltlesso. mirth, ; r'/ '.'V ■■ -.'3i•^Ahd;igives:,'meKwaSsaile::bpwles : to ; V: v > 'Spiced- to the'brink. "'' ''' lord, tis Thy plenty-dropping hand ' -That-soilcs my-land; . - ; And giy'st.mo for my bushell sowno ; . carried.-from door .-3-3 v,to .or;iSeVeiity iyearsJago .V'^;^v-^:iv:tt®"'^?J;tows'-jpf;j-M«srtpiiv'College, : -.iOjs£prd J , ,in= i ; the. 'i; oightGontli/ccntiiry,; met together ■i;'', 'o'n Ch'ristraaS'l!jV(i.au(l othGr solemn : 7 ; i t ® aliti Vdr j nk,* a " grace 'cup' another. l^^rAna'in3the.;Noi:th' , Bi(3iiig;;of.:Torksh'ire ifc "was ':rato'-iais'., l lafe'.".. Aubrty-s . , t-"fU6j-J'Xor-i|thoVparisni6ners,; after .receiving the : . : .Sacrament, on" Christmas Day, to.go from ; church' tor'tlio .alc-hoiiss'. and tliore drink to--.'i a.tokcn'qf .charity and friendship."- . y ' J '.v' So:.th6ugh..we'- : rnay' not''rtgreo with-;thc' great ; i ■ ' qMoted-atpthe ■ begirinißg; - of : this' tirticle,' :'felf.?3.';;i;he.-iadyic'eV (alluding .~to';".this i; S ompty. .it.; ■.- .-.:f-.'. l tift-hand r .and- fUI another,", niay remember ) t f ! 'cnstom; r 'irilieritcd.--{rom; ■;. 'Vv-j-kept- iip iin- air-'elnssog (of- society, evnn ; to his v f in rally kindly entire] f ,withli liim in' '■"A;- i mtin niust^^: : : bpoa-imisanthrope, <; < ! ;V6vS?^OT^®l^® .like ,K:'jovial 'feeling : -"i-if? l 'P n^ sed»yiti : ;wn6se.'>'niirid; soine'i plra - y,-; -j association?: not :awakencd -bya-recurrence . ; vy ! tfe l; ....'-li- -■ >;,■■ ; '- ?■ 'rr-: !';■ ' Magic in the Name. •V.-is.'V:? .s a niagic in tho very namo.'.;.' ... I'etty "jealousies and discords are forgotten. Would that Christinas lasted the: whole ; . . . year through ? (as/,it - ought) Dickens's ';owii 'iowO&tmt&yoheef: may;,be-gauged 'by . his •S"- flfscn^tion;i°f ■-• Scrooge's r l ,transformed •'■room': were s'p- huhg 'ivith.'JiV-mg-green that it looked a perfect, grovo, from' ' . ;.P, al ..^ : "which' jbright'gloaming berries t;v l V glistened.- .'.And.such: a mighty blaze\we'ntjroar-' : -. lug up the chimney as that dull petrifaction '-i -; a hearth had ,'never known . . . for. 1 : many S nt ' many 'a Eeason: gone. ; -Heapod :upon .the ' ' tioorj- co form ayknul of- throne/ turkeys,. .; geese, game, : poaltry, brawn, great joints of 1 ; ; . meat,\ sucking pig?, ' long -wreaths '.of .sausages, plum-'.puddings,-barrels ;of .oysters, .upt.''.s^stn.ufa,'^ycheriy-cheeked'-apples, juicy- ; - oranges, : - lusciouspears, : irn'mense f Twelfth seething-tiowls 'of- punch'- that made y' K SA-'r ■ ! ' 1 ? -' -"'■U'^vith 1 their; delicious- steam." v>'4f Wfl o ®* BPt ;forget-'to" teli -us' that the good fchuroliii- "flocking through - the. -. ; ; -.streets, ni thoir best'.clothes, and with their .i. gayest faces, :IF or* th ey~ said ! -i t ;was-.'a shame *- .. to' (juarrel : on. i Chnstmas--Day'.. .And sc' it was! ; ,'..00 d love it, so it was!" .. ..' : .^iP^ s '? l "®i"®l^ cr / : ;:;Cliristihas/' plenty,,' and »-;-V-vi,-'-,;-;-y:W s WJ s ---4psMtality j ihad,--,.however; been- sung ''A. i 0I! S /".eorge . Wither (it - must surely vi .' .have, .bceufbefore turned Puritan, for..'he calls it "our joyfull'st feast") bids, us "drown ■ sorrow m.a cup of wine,"; and says:". \. ;. ~: y- j)J'■ "'wrAneighbbub'.'ciiimneys smoke, - ;•• v_Anu ; Ohnstnias: blocks, aro burning; . ' - Tile ovens with baked meats they cheke, /. - . And ; all their ..spits aro turning. - . - Withput tho dpor'let'sorrow lie,' *"' ' „ And if for cold it hap to die, . We ll bury tin a .-Christmas pie, : ... And be merry;" - ::i. j The Christmas Board, • In a similar .strain is "Poor Bobin's Al- . . . manack" ; .l'or'.l69s:- i:, :. J '. </ oj? thrice:' ; welcome.' Christmas,' whichbrings .. us'good-cheer, . . - Minced pies and ■ plum-porridge, good alo and ' . . ' strong .ne'er;'■?.^-.- ''' :;; ' .'With:~pig, : goose,"and'capon, tho best-that ijiay be, .-; .i So -.well; doth, tho-season-and our stomachs agree. i -Observe how theichimneys do smoke all about; . The cooks aie providing for dinner no doubt. ( ''-/^ijßnt^as-for;eurmudgeons, who'will not be free/: I, wish, they moy. die on -tho three-legged tree." And again. an i old' ballad, entitled« ."Old -v Christmas-Returned, or Hospitality. Eevived," In tho Pipjs Collection, says. "All, you that to - feasting and mirth are inclined, ■ ' iCome, .hero -.is.-.good news .for tp pleasuro your ' rarnd- 1 ■ . :,. ■ Old Christmas is como for to keep open house; , -. - Ho. scprns tp be.-guilty;of "starving a -mpuse:: r.yifl'Heti.'cimc;boys,^^' ; and diet ,'tho chief, V-f;/Vlum-pudding,;.gooSe, /capon;' niinced pies,; and V A; ; .f A--, -.i;'roast:beef/'

And still, once.;'more,; in Thorrio's. poem -of "Christmas," we are told tlmt—; "Now social friends their 'social friends invito To-share the. feast—and on the table's plae'd The famed sirloin, ■ with puddings nicely baked, Surcharg'diwith plums, and from the oven hot; Nor wanting are mine'd pies, in plenteous heaps, •T'; augment tho dainties,of-the; bravo repast." . Here the plum' puddings were apparently not boiled; as ' our present - Christmas pudding, but baked, as I remember to have heard my mother say that they were iu her childhood. . (But that.;is!some tiirio back\now; they .used a tinder-box in thoso days.)' Roast'beef or sirloin is generally mentioned by old writers,..but goose' prominent part in -the season's' cheer. Swans. and peacocks were served on the tables' of the great, and -turkey appears to. have been included from its.; introduction into ■ England ;in'. the sixteenth century. Tusser, Writing in 1587, places on . the Christ&as board "Beef, mutton, 1 and pork, shred pies of tho best, I'iij, veal, goose, and capon, and turkio well drest - About Mince Pies. As. to tho mince pies so often mentioned, and of which a writer'in the "Oxford Sausage" says v •Let Christmas boast.her, customary treat,' V-A : mixture 'strange of suet, entrants, meat, . Where va-iou's : tastes combine, the greasy and the - sweet,. : ■ • . , ■ . a correspondent in, a daily paper, then just returned from; the' Antipodes,/ "and looking forward to spending !real Christmas at'home," wrote -s'omo three'years since to .ask if ", the l'ecipo' was forgotten. The' mince pie of his youth! he said, "used to ;bo something to'eat. Iri'a long morning's shooting it wbuld'stay you till-lunch, and it was as nice' as'it was sustaining." \Not .llko' "the /wretched fluffy bits 1 of pastrycook's flummery with two or three miserable.currants, flavoured with ■ molasses hidden ; aivay in the interior of it," which he obtained,- at a .London restaurant; ' His ;inqiiiry brought, a .number of . recipes. The' following/ 'the; lady' who forwarded it to:: have , bieii; bandoil-. down to her through many generations of Yorkshire'women, appears to be a'good j one.- -There is, she says/enough for a large. family, and", it'- will ; keep; : from '.Christmas .to: Christmas.' Here :'it 'is:—"One,.,i"nd a half, pounds of lean good'-beef,. stewed tender, in a very little, water; salt and. a - very -little pepper,- and mace to this;'2lb. 'sultana -raisins,. 21b..-best-Demerara sugar, 'lib. orange, : lib. .lemon peel, Jib. citron peel, 31b. Valencia raisins, Gib', good cooking apples (pared' and cored),' 21b. of currants,' nutmeg,; all-spice,' and salt'aa_ desirecl. Pass the beef,!-apples,;- and {.-Valencia raisins,through: the mincing machine, also ■ the peels;'. chop 1 tho. sultanas u, little. Itnbad all well.togethcr, in a bowl; ant} put- into jars;" She'also says, "Never put 'snobor brandy in ..it."-; The-writer has. never seen, mincemeat made without the former, and the -latter; has been'. added ; when it was , to: keep the mixture. ;; Another Correspondent adds the suet,' but. omits'tho'.becf, and,.says:— ,f lf whisky, or brandy is preferred it "can'.be added, : but' I never;'use; it." But tastes vary (I have, heard, of -atlady : ,who ; ,put tripe .in hers), and, whatever it was! made' 0f,.-'.the', Christmas pie has' always, been celebrated, from the young Horner 'of our. .nursery days ..down'.- 4A' " writor in the "Gentleman's /Magazine'-' .for 1731 says: "Some, think that this,' dish. is - most, in. vogue' at- this time of tho year,, owing to the barrenness of the .season,,"and ! the scarcity of . fruit and 'milk to.makfl tarts and custards and other:.desserts, this "'"bcini; a compound that'■ furnishes dessert in itself." But an old verso says : i "The - cloystered'-steaks .with- salt and-'pepper he, - : i Like 1 nunnes i with vpatchw; in' a; monasterie." By', which, it would appear.: to .bis? a meat .pie. : 'Master';Hqrnet's was, apparently of. plums, such' 'as'.'are mentioned'';olsewhere;. . : Folk Lore. ' In Derbyshire, on "Chvistmaj Even. as they call; it," says a' correspondent of ILore,'.' "when the lead-miners came, out. off the Amines, they left half a' candle . burning for; the 'owd; man'! tho - collective-/term.- .by which' they •d^^te;W.;mejft r who have -worked'before: them 1 mines: (Is it not rather, 1 the lEyil ■ And in. their houses on -' the'; same eve ' they .burnt a. candle which, wis; much, biggejr ■ than on ordinary- one, ate; a i Yule loaf, and; drank posset.. : . 'Tho. Yule loaf -,is;.like : a. round'; cake put : on a square loaf, and pricked, withVa' fork.'. They all. sit round the .table, whjle'f tho candle, is .burning, and ; put spoons,in ■ the :;bow}- as'it'is .passed .round. It is :• done, yet,; and . the .grocers give candles to' their': customers for the purpose." ' Eeturning to him who penned the . lines with which this-, article opened, * and •# who loved Christmas so well,,the writer ventures to close with .an application; for", himself -"'and his readers,', of-the concluding. .'words, 'of '.the great author's last Christmas book: -> .'/"Thbugh.-winter's sn'ows/our.-hair^ - - Have ;whiton'ed,-: and tho l ,winter' winds blow ; :|v'W ; keeni .--'ft. ; ■; Ere :.wo - 'salute .the morh' be - this our' prayer, 'L9.rdfke.ep, my 'mempry. 'foV. ever •'green.' ";