Christmas: Its Origin and Associations | Page 2

Messrs. Harper, and Messrs. Cassell & Co., in allowing their illustrations to appear in this work.
My aim is neither critical nor apologetic, but historical and pictorial: it is not to say what might or ought to have been, but to set forth from extant records what has actually taken place: to give an account of the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, and to depict, by pen and pencil, the important historical events and interesting festivities of Christmastide during nineteen centuries. With materials collected from different parts of the world, and from writings both ancient and modern, I have endeavoured to give in the present work a chronological account of the celebrations and observances of Christmas from the birth of Christ to the end of the nineteenth century; but, in a few instances, the subject-matter has been allowed to take precedence of the chronological arrangement. Here will be found accounts of primitive celebrations of the Nativity, ecclesiastical decisions fixing the date of Christmas, the connection of Christmas with the festivals of the ancients, Christmas in times of persecution, early celebrations in Britain, stately Christmas meetings of the Saxon, Danish, and Norman kings of England; Christmas during the wars of the Roses, Royal Christmases under the Tudors, the Stuarts and the Kings and Queens of Modern England; Christmas at the Colleges and the Inns of Court; Entertainments of the nobility and gentry, and popular festivities; accounts of Christmas celebrations in different parts of Europe, in America and Canada, in the sultry lands of Africa and the ice-bound Arctic coasts, in India and China, at the Antipodes, in Australia and New Zealand, and in the Islands of the Pacific; in short, throughout the civilised world.
In looking at the celebrations of Christmas, at different periods and in different places, I have observed that, whatever views men hold respecting Christ, they all agree that His Advent is to be hailed with joy, and the nearer the forms of festivity have approximated to the teaching of Him who is celebrated the more real has been the joy of those who have taken part in the celebrations.
The descriptions of the festivities and customs of different periods are given, as far as possible, on the authority of contemporary authors, or writers who have special knowledge of those periods, and the most reliable authorities have been consulted for facts and dates, great care being taken to make the work as accurate and trustworthy as possible. I sincerely wish that all who read it may find as much pleasure in its perusal as I have had in its compilation.
WILLIAM FRANCIS DAWSON.
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[Illustration: Contents]
CHAPTER I.
PAGE THE ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS OF CHRISTMAS 5
CHAPTER II.
The Earlier Celebrations of the Festival 10
CHAPTER III.
Early Christmas Celebrations in Britain 23
CHAPTER IV.
Christmas, From the Norman Conquest To Magna Charta 40 (A.D. 1066-1215.)
CHAPTER V.
Christmas, From Magna Charta To the End of the Wars of the Roses (A.D. 1215-1485.) 62
CHAPTER VI.
Christmas Under Henry VII. and Henry VIII. 94 (A.D. 1485-1547.)
CHAPTER VII.
Christmas Under Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth 115 (A.D. 1547-1603.)
CHAPTER VIII.
Christmas Under James I. 151 (A.D. 1603-1625.)
CHAPTER IX.
Christmas Under Charles the First and the Commonwealth 197 (A.D. 1625-1660.)
CHAPTER X.
Christmas, From the Restoration To the Death Of George II. (A.D. 1660-1760.) 215
CHAPTER XI.
Modern Christmases at Home 240
CHAPTER XII.
Modern Christmases Abroad 294
CHAPTER XIII.
Concluding Carol Service of the Nineteenth Century 349
INDEX 351
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Bringing in the Yule Log Frontispiece
The Herald Angels 2
Virgin and Child 5
Joseph Taking Mary to be Taxed, and the Nativity Events 6
The Nativity (Central portion of Picture in National Gallery) 8
Virgin and Child (Relievo) 9
Group from the Angels' Serenade 10
Adoration of the Magi (From Pulpit of Pisa) 11
"The Inns are Full" 14
Grape Gathering and the Vintage (Mosaic in the Church of St. Constantine, Rome, A.D. 320) 16
German Ninth Century Picture of the Nativity 16
Ancient Roman Illustrations 17
Ancient Roman Illustrations 18
Ancient Agape 19
Ancient Roman Illustrations 21
Early Celebrations in Britain 23
Queen Bertha 27
An Ancient Fireplace 30
Traveling in the Olden Time, with a "Christmas Fool" on the Front Seat" 31
The Wild Boar Hunt: Killing the Boar 32
Adoration of the Magi (Picture of Stained Glass, Winchester Cathedral) 34
A King at Dinner 40
Blind Minstrel at a Feast 42
Minstrels' Christmas Serenade at an Old Baronial Hall 44
Westminster Hall 46
Strange Old Stories Illustrated (From Harl. MS.) 50
A Cook of the Period (Early Norman) 55
Monk Undergoing Discipline 56
Wassailing at Christmastide 57
Panoply of a Crusader 58
Royal Party Dining in State 63
Ladies Looking from the Hustings upon the Tournament 73
The Lord of Misrule 74
Curious Cuts of Priestly Players in the Olden Time 76
A Court Fool 77
Virgin and Child (Florentine, 1480. South Kensington Museum) 83
Henry VI.'s Cradle 84
Lady Musician of the Fifteenth Century 91
Rustic Christmas Minstrel with Pipe and Tabor 92
Martin Luther and the Christmas Tree 106
The Little Orleans Madonna of Raphael 107
Magdalen College, Oxford 110
Bringing in the Boar's Head with Minstrelsy 111
Virgin and Child, Chirbury, Shropshire 118
Riding a-Mumming