OLD ENGLISH CUSTOMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3734, 24 December 1927, Page 1

OLD ENGLISH CUSTOMS

Many of the quaint old English customs of Christmas originated centuries ago, and are known by little more than name to-day. It was King Henry 11, who introduced the elaborate Christmas dinner, which was held at mid-day in olden times, on account of poor illumination. Even palaces in those days were lit with inferior tallow candles, and the only heat came from a huge open fireplace in which wood was burnt. King Henry gave a great feast, and himself carried in the boar’s head, which he placed before his eldest son, thus starting a custom which was observed until Queen Victoria’s reign. As people depended entirely upon wood for their firing in the olden times, the bringing in of the Yule log was consideredi a great event. It was drawn in triumph from its resting place in the forest by servants dressed in fantastic costumes, and often the young heir of the house would ride upon it as it entered the great hall. Tall candles were lit, and the minstrels broke into a Yule song, which begins: — Welcome be Thou, Heavenly King, Welcome morn this morning; Welcome for Whom we shall sing, , Welcome Yule! But, like so maliy Christian customs, the bringing in of the Yule log was of pagan origin. The Wlestern world inherited it from Lithuanic mythological lore, and it typified the return of the sun, which at the winter solstice begins gradually to regain power.