The Sixth Day Of Christmas 2015

We're only half way through Christmastide, the traditional celebration of the season that lasts over twelve days beginning with Christmas Day. December 30 is a relatively quiet day in the liturgical calendar; therefore, we have an opportunity to enjoy a different kind of celebration, the Boar's Head Feast. The feast we know has its origin in legend almost 700 years ago at Oxford College Cambridge. Today the feasts occur across Great Britain and the United States particularly on university campuses and among Episcopal congregations.

There can be no better music for this event than the Boar's Head Carol. Here is a bold treatment of this mid-16th century carol by Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior. I've posted this one more than once but it's always enjoyable:

The boar's head in hand bear I,

Bedeck'd with bay and rosemary.

So I pray you, my masters, be merry

Quot estis in convivio (As many as are in the feast)

Caput apri defero (The boar's head I offer)

Reddens laudes Domino (Giving praises to the Lord)

The boar's head, as I understand,

Is the rarest dish in all the land,

Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland

Let us servire cantico. (Let us serve with a song)

Caput apri defero (The boar's head I offer)

Reddens laudes Domino (Giving praises to the Lord)

Our steward hath provided this

In honour of the King of Bliss;

Which, on this day to be served is

In Reginensi atrio. (In the Queen's hall)

Caput apri defero (The boar's head I offer)

Reddens laudes Domino (Giving praises to the Lord)

My father loved the Christmas season and instilled in me an appreciation for the festivity of Christmastide. I carried on that appreciation to my children in hope that they will understand the joy to be found that begins with Christmas Day and ends with Epiphany, the celebration of the rebirth of Jesus in baptism. I think it's a far better way to observe the liturgical season rather than the stressful, contemporary - and highly commercial -"one and done" approach. I trust you will agree and if so moved by tradition introduce Christmastide to your friends and family.

Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
everfest.com; Boars Head and Yule Log festival, Corpus Christi, Texas

Text:

wikipedia.org

boarsheadfestival.com