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 Christmas 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.
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| Boar's Head Gaudy, The Queen's College, University of Oxford |
The perfect musical accompaniment for the feast is the Boar's Head Carol. This interesting macaronic song - meaning one consisting of several languages - dates from 15th century England. The presentation and feast it describes likely have pagan associations as do many of our traditions. In the U.S. interest in the restoration of this whole pig roast, complete with apple, appears to be growing. Here is a bold treatment of the carol by Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior:
The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary.
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)
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 this 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)
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)
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 this 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)
Caput apri defero (The boar's head I offer)
Reddens laudes Domino (Giving praises to the Lord)
My dad loved the Christmas season and instilled in me an appreciation for the twelve-day festivity of Christmastide. I instilled that appreciation in my children in hope that they would 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 we have today. I trust you will agree and if so moved by tradition introduce the celebration of Christmastide to your friends and family.
Sources
Photos and Illustrations:
The Queen's Colleg on X
wikipedia.org
boarsheadfestival.com
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