CHRISTMAS MUMMERS.

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

CHRISTMAS MUMMERS.

■ iYears ;ago^C^istmM'pastimes,w'ere':pf rather & 'wilier; ordei^than' they " these days. :All, sortst ofj-pranks were played; there was no.'hing'.in jthe 'way: bf .'.la'w 'ahd order. ' So much : might: almost:jbe;. , fact that ,a' Lord 'of '. Misrule Vivas appointed', toj : direct in -a ■misdirected;, kind/ .of,Amanner;, the , festivities. :Ho.. was of-the ceremonies ..from Christ- : ;mas':,Eve--'.imtil-/Twelfth' Night. - Each : big barP'nial hall,;Wh<ire;friends andrrelatives, -retainers, -and,,:the-;pepple';ofthe- neighbourhood" did congregate,;had; its -Lord of Misrule:' ■ Villages » n .4 Pther ::cbminunities.' frequently >: appointed' onei.- -.He-: had; full; powers to, help'. all to enjpy I* I .® giving themselves. up completely to .th&.-spirit of the time;. On his appointment' he made a humorous speech, inviting ,the ' people to'j)o wise_ enough to make fools: of...themselves,: and that he had: been invested with magic powers enabling him to turn all present into children..-- Therefore," they must all be children for the time, and act as such.' , /He had plenty-to do/.this Lord of Misrule. As",ono pf the " histprians—a somewhat 'disgruntled, one—puts it,- the time -was spent", in .■"revelling, epicurisme, wantonesse,' idlenesso, dancing, drinking, stage, plaies, masques, and carnal pomps and-pollity." The "plaies" and masques were great events. 'Stagecraft in those; days-jlong before and long after Elizabethan times—was not what it :< is .'now, but in high places the masque, a quaint-sprt pf play, was produced :on ;'ar,really -magnificent scale,;. es- ; pecially at tho Court, where ,the Lord of Misrule held sway even" over, Eoyalty. Among ■ tho characters 'appearing in the medley were : lieathcn . deities,' angels,: elves, fairies,; other spirits and demons. •'