Christmas Customs and Celebrations...
- 6 December 2010 18:3283455
"There are many good old customs appropriated to this season of the year which although banished by the refinement of Metropolitans are still preserved in various parts of the country as introductive of harmless mirth and emblematic of things now almost forgotten.
On Christmas Eve it is still a custom in the North to light candles of a very uncommon size which are called Christmas Candles; to burn also a Yule Clog (sic), or Christmas block, thus illuminating the house. This custom was perhaps borrowed from the Saxons; they began their year on the 8th of the calends of January, which is our Christmas Day. The night before was termed by them "The night of mothers" and was observed by them as sacred. The log perhaps was burned in imitation of the sun's return.
The origin of Christmas boxes is said to be this: the priest has masses said for every thing. If a ship went on a distant voyage a box was fixed to the mast and consecrated to some saint. The marines were expected to put money into this box that masses might be said for them on their return. The mass was then called "Christ-Mass"; this particular box Christ-Mass box. Many other customs may be enumerated. The Christmas Carrol (sic), Christmas Pies. At the Universities it is common to hang laurel in all the colleges and chapels which, when we consider that the laurel was emblematical of peace and victory is easily explained.
One of the earlier Councils forbade Christians to deck their houses with bay leaves and green boughs; but now there is thank Heaven, no restraint on what leads to cheerfulness and the careful cook may enjoy her mistletoe without fear of being disturbed by the censures of the Church." (Kentish Gazette Fri Dec 28 1787 to Tu Jan 1 1788 p.2 col.1)
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A Lilliputian Pudding:
The following are the ingredients and their quantities which constituted the pudding served up to the inmates of the Workhouse of the parish of Lambeth on Christmas Day:
The number of persons who partook of this Lilliputian dish amounted to between 7 and 8 hundred; -
Flour 475 lbs, suet 144 lbs, raisins 300 lbs, sugar 44 lbs, ginger 3 lbs, allspice 2 ½ lbs, milk 160 quarts, and strong beer 11 quarts. The whole weight of the pudding when the ingredients were blended was 1306 ½ lbs and their cost amounted to £23 and a trifling fraction." (Kentish Gazette 2 Jan 1829 back page col.3)
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and in the Dover Standard 31 Dec 1887 is reported "Christmas Day in Eastry Workhouse"
The advent of Father Christmas is always looked forward to with keen interest by the inmates of the "big house on the hill", the majority of whom know from past experience that there it is a time of peace on earth, goodwill to all, no matter how it fares or how the storms may loom in the busy world outside. Christmas Day was ushered in by the delivery of letters and handsome Christmas Cards to each one of the inmates, followed by morning and afternoon services at which the Reverends BLAXLAND and SHAW respectively officiated.
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and in Dover Gaol:
John SHIPDEM Esq., Mayor - gave hot dinner and beer to prisoners in new gaol of Maison Dieu on Christmas Day (Dover Telegraph 2 Jan 1836 p.8 col.2)---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 6 December 2010 18:3983461Vic was one of them he went to a meeting they arrested him
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble! - 6 December 2010 18:5783466Kath, that were days when people still built churches.
JHG, I'm not too sure it the workhouses were prisons, they may refer to places where poor people found work.Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 6 December 2010 19:1883474Well done Kath love all that..thats a great picture too
Nowadays the mayor charges £30 or so to share a dinner with her/him at the Town Hall. Ive often gone of course to share in the joy of joys. We are still discussing on the news today about giving prisoners a better deal..looks like they did pretty good in 1836.email: dover7@msn.com - 6 December 2010 19:2683476Yes, but a lot of the prisoners were put to hard labour the rest of the time... treadmill, the crank, or oakum picking... and they had no TV of course !!!
Despite that, there were a lot of benefactors in those days.
Alexander - yes, they were the times when new churches were built... I guess what they refer to as 'censures of the church' referred mainly to strict non-conformists or baptists, or puritans ! No drink,no decorations, no face-powder..---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 7 December 2010 12:1783568Workhouses were places where people who had no homes or money were sent. They were also know as poor houses. Buckland Hospital was originally one of these institutions.
If you feel like re-reading "A Christmas Carol" it sheds an interesting light on benefactors. I was reading it this morning (and might I add was interrupted by some nutter banging on my door looking for our beloved leader) and I think the whole story was written as a sort of warning to smug and self-satisfied Victorians. - 7 December 2010 13:5683575i wondered where vic had got to.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 December 2010 15:4983586workhouse i beliuve,or evan the white horse.
- 7 December 2010 17:5883604There were a lot of benevolent people at Christmas and the New Year ...
1840:
"The Earl and Countess of Guilford have displayed their usual benevolence at Waldershare this season. Two fat oxen were slaughtered and distributed to upwards of 120 poor families with a portion of bread suitable to the number of their children; and a comfortable supply of warm clothing was likewise distributed to about 70 poor people, with a great number of blankets, rugs etc. The children of his Lordship's Charity School, amounting to 160, partook of a good dinner of roast beef and plum pudding." (Dover Telegraph 18.1.1840 back page col.1)
1801:
"Last week S.E.SAWBRIDGE Esq. Gave to the poor in the parish of Wye a very fine Bullock with a large quantity of Bread. These and many other private charities adorn the character of this gentleman, nor must the three Mr KENNETTs be forgotten, who have been very liberal to many large families of the same parish."
(Kentish Gazette 30.1.1801 back page col.3)
"Sir M. BLOXHAM, Knight, one of the Members for Maidstone has very liberally sent 26 barrels of salted beef, each weighing 300 lbs, for the use of the poor.
(Kentish Gazette 30.1.1801 back page col.3)
SMITH John Esq., father of that gallant commander Sir Sydney SMITH at his seat at the caves, Dover, on the 2 instant gave a large quantity of beef, mutton and bread to 145 poor inhabitants of that town.
(Kentish Gazette 23 Jan 1801 back page col.4)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 7 December 2010 20:0183621you may find that they were the ancestors of our posh barry, which would explain his generosity to the peasantry today.
- 8 December 2010 13:1383688Looking forward to our own Christmas traditions of my grand daughter coming to put the tree up this weekend in honour of her mum's birthday, and the glass of sherry before bed on Christmas Eve, when everything is decorated, wrapped, baked, cleaned, polished etc etc and the house is humming with anticipation.
