Christmas, part deux.
There's Charlie and Billie ready for Christmas. Charlie's been the Christmas Elf for decades now, and when Billie came we decided he'd be the Frost Elf.
One feature that crops up often in many sources is the traditional use of greenery, and this seems to have been retained by many in the Regency. The traditional greenery of Christmas, going back to the middle ages, were rosemary, bay, holly, laurel, and mistletoe. Along with the aspects of fire and light in the darkest days, evergreens were either fertility symbols, or symbols of eternal life, or both.
A poem from 1825 goes as follows.
"Bring me a garland of holly,
Rosemary, ivy, and bays;
Gravity's nothing but folly,
Till after the Christmas Day.
1825 is after the regency and into the Christmas revival period, but Louis Simond, a traveler in England in 1810 noted the greenery in all the cottages at Christmas, so it was a custom among the simpler people. It was, however, apparently considered unlucky to bring greenery into the house before Christmas Eve, so this would have been a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day ceremony for those who observed it.
Mistletoe, of course, was the other traditional plant with roots back into the Dark Ages and Druid magic, but I have a picture of kissing under the mistletoe which dates from 1794, so did it become vulgar during the regency and confined to servants’ hall and cottage, or not? I don’t know.
Mistletoe didn't last forever. When a man took a kiss, he also plucked a berry. Once the berries were gone, the practice was over.
I've not found any mention of an actual Yule log in a regency source, though as I said, it's possible that Jane Austen's "Christmas fire" referred to it. Most Regency fireplaces would not be big enough for a real Yule log, which was brought in on Christmas Eve and lit, and was expected to last through the twelve days of Christmas. It was lit from a piece of last year's log and is a clear remnant from the pre-Christian festival of Yule, the midwinter ceremony of fire and light. As we can see from Austen, however, the connection of Christmas with a roaring fire was alive and well.
Candles link into this. There was a tradition of a Christmas candle that was lit on Christmas Eve and was supposed to last throughout Christmas Day. Again, this is not something I've seen specific reference to in a Regency text.
The game Snapdragon was one of those good old traditions -- even if it is one that would be banned today as highly dangerous! Raisins were soaked in brandy in a large shallow bowl. The lights were turned out, and the brandy lit. People had to try to grasp a raisin and eat it without burning themselves. I gather speed is the key. Don't try this at home!
And what of Christmas carols? Well, they don't seem to have been popular in the Regency. There certainly are ones that predate the period, but if sung at all then, it was in church as hymns. The other sort of singing was the wassail, where groups would go around to houses singing what were usually frank begging songs, hoping for some food, some drink, and some money.
A variant on this was the mummers, an ancient tradition. Groups of lower class men dressed up in traditional costumes went around singing or performing a short play, again hoping for money. Some of the plays were traditional, and perhaps went back to the middle ages, but they were also generally updated with recent heroes such as General Wolfe and Nelson.
This might be connected to one English Christmas tradition that was present in the Regency and is still alive today – the Christmas pantomime. The pantomime usually opened* on Boxing Day. Joseph Grimaldi, the famous clown who lived from 1779 to 1837 regularly performed in one at Drury Lane, and Astley’s Amphitheater also usually had a special Christmas spectacular.
Christmas really was Christmastide -- the season from Chrismas Eve to the Epiphany. But other Wenches are going to post about that.
Just yesterday came across another example of a Regency Christmas. From The Diary of a Lincolnshire Farmer's Daughter, written in 1811. (The work this young woman lists makes me exhausted just imagining it! She was Elizabeth Corney, and 23 at the time. At age 39 she married George Osborn. He was 8 years her junior and a farmer. She died in 1862 at the age of 73. She never had children. George lived for another 23 years. In 1882, he was living in Belton, Rutland, with a middle aged niece who was presumably his housekeeper and one female servant.) Walker's Books, Ltd Oakham, Rutland. ISBN 0955119707.
Monday 23rd.
Mild pleasant morning - arose at five - killed eight geese - stripped four before breakfast - drawed half a dozen of them - giblets cleaned and all done by five - ready to attend the gentlemen Mr. Green and Mr. Ranhy who came to tea - passed the evening very pleasantly.
Tuesday 24th.
Very busy this morning - packing up the geese and giblets - sent them in - baked bread and Yule cakes - cleaned the parlour - two gipsies called with violins and tambourines - played several tunes in a very masterly style - delightful to hear - played at cards.
Wednesday 25th.
Christmas day - sharp frost - did not go to church - Mr. Cooper brought his bill - had two large plumb puddings and two geese for dinner - received a parcel of prints from Mr. Mawby and a letter from my cousin Ann - Mr. Jacques as usual - reading and writing in the evening.
Thursday 26th.
Cold morning - finished making our gowns - a number of trade’s people called for their Christmas boxes - lined the purple gown’s sleeves - three more musicians favoured us with a call but very inferior to the above party - played at cards as usual.
Friday 27th.
Sharp frosty morning - dressed and intended walking to Mr. Pickworth’s to dine but was prevented by the fall of snow - very much disappointed - in addition to the musical list, we were visited by a party of Morris dancers - very smartly dressed - each acting their part as they entered - danced a reel, sung a duet and the whole was performed remarkably well.
SaturdaY 28th.
The weather very unpleasant - snowed fast -- did not rise till a late hour - got all our work done and dressed before dinner, which is rather unusual for a Saturday -was obliged to sit and work by the kitchen fire on account of the smke -- covered my journal for the ensuing year - played at cards in the evening.
However we look at it, it's the season of light. May it be bright for you.
Jo --> my most recent Christmas-set book.