Christmas-art - 9/9/09 ਀ഊ"On Christmas in the Middle Ages" by Mistress Nicolaa de Bracton of Leicester. ਀ഊNOTE: See also the files: Yule-msg, holidays-msg, holiday-gifts-lnks, 12th-nite-msg, Holiday-Celeb-lnks, crusades-msg, religion-msg, pilgrimages-msg, crusades-msg. ਀ഊ************************************************************************ ਀一伀吀䤀䌀䔀 ⴀഊ ਀吀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀 椀猀 愀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 瘀愀爀椀漀甀猀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 琀栀攀洀攀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 洀礀 爀攀愀搀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 瘀愀爀椀漀甀猀 挀漀洀瀀甀琀攀爀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀猀⸀ 匀漀洀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀 搀愀琀攀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 ㄀㤀㠀㤀Ⰰ 猀漀洀攀 洀愀礀 戀攀 愀猀 爀攀挀攀渀琀 愀猀 礀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀⸀ഊ ਀吀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀 椀猀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 愀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 昀椀氀攀猀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 匀琀攀昀愀渀✀猀 䘀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀ 吀栀攀猀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 愀爀攀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䤀渀琀攀爀渀攀琀 愀琀㨀 栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ ਀䤀 栀愀瘀攀 搀漀渀攀 愀 氀椀洀椀琀攀搀 愀洀漀甀渀琀 漀昀 攀搀椀琀椀渀最⸀ 䴀攀猀猀愀最攀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀漀 搀漀 眀椀琀栀 猀攀瀀愀爀愀琀攀 琀漀瀀椀挀猀 眀攀爀攀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 猀瀀氀椀琀 椀渀琀漀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 昀椀氀攀猀 愀渀搀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 攀砀琀爀愀渀攀漀甀猀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 眀愀猀 爀攀洀漀瘀攀搀⸀ 䘀漀爀 椀渀猀琀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀 䤀䐀猀 眀攀爀攀 爀攀洀漀瘀攀搀 琀漀 猀愀瘀攀 猀瀀愀挀攀 愀渀搀 爀攀洀漀瘀攀 挀氀甀琀琀攀爀⸀ഊ ਀吀栀攀 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀猀 洀愀搀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀猀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀 愀爀攀 渀漀琀 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀椀氀礀 洀礀 瘀椀攀眀瀀漀椀渀琀猀⸀ 䤀 洀愀欀攀 渀漀 挀氀愀椀洀猀 愀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 愀挀挀甀爀愀挀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 最椀瘀攀渀 戀礀 琀栀攀 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀 愀甀琀栀漀爀猀⸀ഊ ਀倀氀攀愀猀攀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 攀昀昀漀爀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀栀漀 栀愀瘀攀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 琀栀攀猀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 挀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 猀琀愀琀甀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀 椀猀 甀渀挀氀攀愀爀 愀琀 琀栀椀猀 琀椀洀攀⸀ 䤀昀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 瀀甀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀猀攀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀猀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 最椀瘀攀 挀爀攀搀椀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 漀爀椀最椀渀愀琀漀爀⠀猀⤀⸀ഊ ਀吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀Ⰰഊ Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous ਀                                          匀琀攀昀愀渀 愀琀 昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ************************************************************************ ਀ഊFrom: sclark at epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Carroll-Clark) ਀一攀眀猀最爀漀甀瀀猀㨀 爀攀挀⸀漀爀最⸀猀挀愀ഊSubject: Nicolaa's articles #11 ਀䐀愀琀攀㨀 ㄀㠀 䨀甀氀 ㄀㤀㤀㐀 ㈀　㨀㔀㌀㨀㈀㐀 䜀䴀吀ഊOrganization: University of Toronto -- EPAS ਀ഊA brief overview of the development of Christmas...odd for July, ਀戀甀琀 椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀椀渀最 椀渀 愀 洀漀渀琀栀 漀爀 昀漀甀爀⸀⸀⸀ഊ ਀伀渀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䴀椀搀搀氀攀 䄀最攀猀ഊ--Nicolaa de Bracton of Leicester ਀ഊChristmas as we know it is largely a Victorian development. Such ਀琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀猀 愀猀 琀栀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 琀爀攀攀 愀渀搀 匀愀渀琀愀 䌀氀愀甀猀 漀爀 䘀愀琀栀攀爀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀ഊare relatively recent in the grand scheme of things. Yet we can ਀爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 氀愀琀攀 洀攀搀椀攀瘀愀氀 瀀攀爀椀漀搀 琀栀攀 愀渀挀攀猀琀漀爀 漀昀ഊour own celebration. Most of the customs I will discuss are from ਀䔀渀最氀愀渀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀漀洀攀 眀攀爀攀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀漀甀琀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀⸀ഊ ਀唀渀琀椀氀 琀栀攀 氀愀琀攀 䴀椀搀搀氀攀 䄀最攀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䐀愀礀 爀愀渀欀攀搀ഊfairly low among the major festivals of the Christian world. Twelfth ਀一椀最栀琀 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀 昀愀爀 猀甀爀瀀愀猀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀愀琀栀攀爀 猀漀氀攀洀渀Ⰰ 氀漀眀 欀攀礀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀愀渀挀攀ഊof the birth of Christ, while more festive Yule celebrations ਀⠀漀爀椀最椀渀愀氀氀礀 愀 瀀愀最愀渀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀愀渀挀攀⤀ 瀀攀爀猀椀猀琀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀愀渀 攀爀愀⸀ഊHowever, beginning with the rise of the cult of the Virgin Mary in the ਀琀眀攀氀昀琀栀 挀攀渀琀甀爀礀Ⰰ 愀 琀爀攀渀搀 挀愀渀 戀攀 搀椀猀挀攀爀渀攀搀 愀眀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀挀攀 漀昀ഊlocal saints and towards emphasis on the major figures of the Church, ਀攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䠀漀氀礀 䘀愀洀椀氀礀⸀  吀栀攀 昀漀甀爀琀攀攀渀琀栀 愀渀搀 昀椀昀琀攀攀渀琀栀 挀攀渀琀甀爀礀ഊcycle plays, presented in English towns by local guilds on or about ਀䌀漀爀瀀甀猀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀 搀愀礀 ⠀愀 洀漀瘀愀戀氀攀 昀攀愀猀琀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 䴀愀礀 ㈀㄀ 愀渀搀 䨀甀渀攀ഊ24) were one result of this trend. These plays focusing on the life ਀漀昀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 椀渀挀氀甀搀攀搀 攀氀愀戀漀爀愀琀攀 猀琀愀最椀渀最猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 渀愀琀椀瘀椀琀礀⸀  吀栀甀猀ഊbegan the first widespread popularization of the Christmas story in ਀䔀渀最氀愀渀搀⸀  吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 挀愀爀漀氀猀 眀攀爀攀 愀氀猀漀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀ഊperformance of these plays. We don't normally think of Christmas as a ਀洀椀搀猀甀洀洀攀爀 琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀椀猀Ⰰ 椀渀搀攀攀搀Ⰰ 眀愀猀 椀琀猀 爀漀漀琀猀⸀ഊ ਀匀氀漀眀氀礀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 攀洀瀀栀愀猀椀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 渀愀琀椀瘀椀琀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀礀挀氀攀 瀀氀愀礀猀 氀攀愀搀 琀漀 愀 爀椀猀攀ഊin interest in Christmas itself. Yule became synonymous with ਀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 挀甀猀琀漀洀猀 猀甀挀栀 琀栀攀 夀甀氀攀 氀漀最 愀渀搀 搀攀挀漀爀愀琀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀ഊevergreens, despite their non-Christian origins, became associated ਀眀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀  䠀漀氀氀礀Ⰰ 椀瘀礀Ⰰ 氀愀甀爀攀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 攀瘀攀爀最爀攀攀渀猀ഊwere often used thenceforth as metaphors for the infant Christ; even ਀琀栀攀 洀椀猀琀氀攀琀漀攀Ⰰ 眀栀漀猀攀 瀀愀最愀渀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀椀漀渀猀 愀爀攀 琀栀攀 挀氀攀愀爀攀猀琀Ⰰ 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀ഊbe incorporated into the celebrations. In the 16th century, garlands ਀漀昀 攀瘀攀爀最爀攀攀渀猀 眀攀爀攀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 瀀氀愀挀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 眀椀爀攀 栀漀漀瀀猀㬀  琀栀爀攀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀ഊwould then be placed together to form a sort of ball, which was then ਀栀甀渀最⸀  䄀氀愀猀Ⰰ 搀攀猀瀀椀琀攀 琀栀攀 猀挀攀渀攀 椀渀 吀栀攀 䰀椀漀渀 椀渀 圀椀渀琀攀爀  昀攀愀琀甀爀椀渀最 愀 栀甀最攀ഊdecorated evergreen, Christmas trees were a much-later addition. ਀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 最椀昀琀猀Ⰰ 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 眀攀爀攀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 眀攀氀氀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 ㄀㔀琀栀 挀攀渀琀甀爀礀Ⰰഊwhen in England legislation had to be passed limiting them. However, ਀最椀昀琀ⴀ最椀瘀椀渀最 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 愀猀 礀攀琀 挀漀渀挀攀渀琀爀愀琀攀 漀渀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䐀愀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 漀挀挀甀爀爀攀搀ഊthroughout the holiday season. ਀ഊThe Christmas season was particularly marked by good cheer. ਀䠀漀甀猀攀栀漀氀搀猀 猀琀漀漀搀 漀瀀攀渀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀搀礀 琀漀 眀攀氀挀漀洀攀 渀攀椀最栀戀漀爀猀 愀渀搀 瘀椀猀椀琀漀爀猀⸀   䄀ഊpopular custom was mumming, in which revelers put on masks or the ਀挀氀漀琀栀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 漀瀀瀀漀猀椀琀攀 猀攀砀 愀渀搀Ⰰ 愀挀挀漀洀瀀愀渀椀攀搀 戀礀 洀椀渀猀琀爀攀氀猀 愀渀搀ഊmusicians, traveled from house to house. Another custom (practiced ਀瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 甀渀椀瘀攀爀猀椀琀椀攀猀⤀ 眀愀猀 琀栀攀 愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀洀攀渀琀 漀昀  愀 䰀漀爀搀 漀昀ഊMisrule, who, dressed in gaudy or outrageous clothing, presided over ਀琀栀攀 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 洀攀爀爀椀洀攀渀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 瀀漀洀瀀 搀甀攀 愀渀 愀挀琀甀愀氀 洀漀渀愀爀挀栀⸀  吀栀攀 䰀漀爀搀ഊof Misrule sometimes led revelers on wild nighttime processions ਀琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀漀眀渀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 愀渀最攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 挀栀甀爀挀栀 氀攀愀搀攀爀猀⸀ഊHowever, churchmen had their own form of this custom--the appointment ਀愀猀 愀 礀漀甀渀最 戀漀礀 愀猀 戀椀猀栀漀瀀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 猀攀愀猀漀渀⸀  䄀猀 礀漀甀 洀愀礀 栀愀瘀攀ഊnoticed, the holiday season was well-known for role reversal; in ਀昀愀挀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 挀甀猀琀漀洀 漀昀 氀漀爀搀猀 猀攀爀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 猀攀爀瘀愀渀琀猀 昀漀爀 愀 搀愀礀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀琀攀ഊcommon. Lords usually chose this time to bestow gifts upon their ਀猀攀爀瘀愀渀琀猀㬀  愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 眀愀猀 愀 渀攀眀 猀甀椀琀 漀昀 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀⸀  吀栀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀ഊseason in the Middle Ages and Renaissance was, as it is today, a ਀眀攀氀挀漀洀攀 攀猀挀愀瀀攀 昀爀漀洀 攀瘀攀爀礀搀愀礀 挀愀爀攀猀⸀ഊ ਀匀漀甀爀挀攀猀㨀ഊ ਀䄀猀栀琀漀渀Ⰰ 䨀漀栀渀⸀  开䄀 刀椀最栀琀攀 䴀攀爀爀椀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀猀攀 开⸀  ⠀一攀眀 夀漀爀欀Ⰰ ㄀㤀㘀㠀⤀ഊ ਀䈀爀愀渀搀Ⰰ 䨀漀栀渀⸀  开倀漀瀀甀氀愀爀 䄀渀琀椀焀甀椀琀椀攀猀 漀昀 䜀爀攀愀琀 䈀爀椀琀愀椀渀开⸀  ⠀䰀漀渀搀漀渀Ⰰ ㄀㠀㔀㌀⸀⤀ഊ ਀吀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 愀氀猀漀 琀栀愀渀欀猀 倀爀漀昀⸀ 䔀⸀刀⸀ 刀漀猀攀 昀漀爀 栀椀猀 攀渀氀椀最栀琀攀渀椀渀最 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ഊ ਀䌀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 ㄀㤀㤀㐀 戀礀 匀甀猀愀渀 䌀愀爀爀漀氀氀ⴀ䌀氀愀爀欀Ⰰ ㄀　 䴀愀爀欀戀爀漀漀欀 䰀愀渀攀 ⌀㄀㄀　㘀Ⰰ 䔀琀漀戀椀挀漀欀攀Ⰰ 伀一 䴀㤀嘀 㔀䔀㌀ 䌀䄀一䄀䐀䄀⸀ 倀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 爀攀瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 匀䌀䄀ⴀ爀攀氀愀琀攀搀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀搀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 椀猀 挀爀攀搀椀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀猀 愀 挀漀瀀礀⸀ഊ ਀㰀琀栀攀 攀渀搀㸀ഊ ਀䔀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀䴀愀爀欀 匀⸀ 䠀愀爀爀椀猀ऀ䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀ⴀ愀爀琀ऀ倀愀最攀 ㌀ 漀昀 ㌀ഊ ਊ