CHAP. XIV.

Of adorning the Windows at Christmas with Laurel : What the Laurel is an Emblem of: An Objection against this Custom taken off.

ANOTHER Custom observed at this Season, is the adorning of Windows with Bay and Laurel. It is but seldom observed in North, but in the Southern-Parts, it is very Common, particularly at our Universities; where it is customary to adorn, not only the Common Windows of the Town, and of the Colleges, but also to bedeck the Chapels of the Colleges, with Branches of Laurel.

The Laurel was used among the ancient Romans, as an Emblem of several Things, and in particular, of* Peace, and Joy, and Victory. And I imagine, it has been used at this Season by Christians, as an Emblem of the same Things; as an Emblem of Joy for the Victory gain'd over the Powers of Darkness,

Laurus & pacifera habetur, quam prætendi inter armatos hostes, quietis sit indicium. Romanis præcipue lætitiæ victoriarumque nuntia. Polyd. Virg. de Ber. Invent. Lib. 3. Cap. 4. 1. 164.

and

and of that Peace on Earth, that Good-will towards Men, which the Angels sung over the Fields of Bethlehem.

It has been made use of by the Non Conformists, as an Argument against Ceremonies, that the second Council of Bracara, † Can. 73. forbad Christians "to deck their Houses, with

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Bay-Leaves and Green Boughs." But the Council does not mean, that it was wrong in Christians, to make use of these Things, but only" at the same Time with the Pagans, when

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they observed and solemnized their Paganish "Pastime and Worship. And of this Prohibition, they give this Reason in the same Canon; Omnis hæc observatio paganismi est. "All this kind of Custom doth hold of Paga"nism: Because the outward Practice of Heathenish Rites, perforin'd jointly with the Pagans themselves, could not but imply a "Consent in Paganism."

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But at present, there is no hazard of any such Thing. It may be an Emblem of Joy

*The general Defence of the three Articles of the Church of England. D. 107.

Non liceat iniquas observantias agere Kalendarum, & ociis vacare Gentilibus, neque lauro, neque viriditate arborum cingere domos. Omnis enim hæc observatio Paganismi est. Bracc. Can. 73. Instell.

to

to us, without confirming any, in the Practice of Heathenism. The Time, the Place, and the Reasons of the Ceremony, are so widely different; that, tho' formerly, to have observed it, would unquestionably have been a Sin, it is now become harmless, comely, and decent.

OBSERVATIONS ON CHAP. XIV.

Srow, in his Survey of London, tells us, Against the Feast of Christmass, every Man's "House, as also their Parish Churches, were decked "with Holme, Ivy, Bayes, and whatsoever the "Season of the Year afforded to be Green: The "Conduits and Standards in the Streets, were like"wise garnished. Among the which, I read, that " in

In the antient Calendar of the Church of Rome, I find the following Observation on Christmass Ere:

"Templa exornantur.”

"Churches are decked."

Mr. Gay in his Trivia describes this Custom:

When Rosemary and Bays, the Poet's Crown,

Are bawled in frequent Cries through all the Town;
Then judge the Festival of Christmass near,

Christmass, the joyous Period of the Year!
Now with bright Holly all the Temples strow,
With Laurel green and sacred Misletoe.

There is an Essay in the Gentlemen's Magazine, 1765, in which it is conjectured that the antient Custom of dressing Churches and Houses at Christmass with Laurel, Box, Holly, or Ivy, was in Allusion to many figurative Expressions in the Prophets, relative to Christ, the Branch of Righteousness, &c. or that it was in Remembrance of the Oratory of wrythen Wands, or Boughs, which

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"in the Year 1444, by Tempest of Thunder and Lightning; toward the Morning of Candlemas Day, at the Leaden Hall, in Corn-hill, a Stan"dard of Tree, being set up in the Midst of the Pavement, fast in the Ground, nailed full of "Holme and Ivie, for disport of Christmass to the People; was torne up and cast downe by the "malignant* Spirit, (as was thought) and the "Stones of the Pavement all about, were cast in the "Streets, and into divers Houses, so that the People were sore aghast at the great Tein pests."

In the North there is another Custom used at or about this Time, which if I mistake not, was antiently observed in the Beginning of Lent: The Fool Plough goes about, a Pageant that consists of a Number of Sword Dancerst, dragging a Plough,

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was the first Christian Church erected in Britain: Before we can admit either of these Hypotheses, the Question must be determined whether or no this Custom was not prior to the Introduction of the Christian Faith amongst us.

The learned Dr. Chandler tells us, "It is related where Druidism "prevailed, the Houses were decked with Ever greens in Decem"ber, that the Sylvan Spirits might repair to them, and remain "unnipped with Frost and cold Winds, until a milder Season had "renewed the foliage of their darling Abodes."

Travels in Greece. *This illustrates the Spectator's Observation, where he tells us, that our Forefathers looked into Nature with other eyes than we do now, and always ascribed common natural Effects to supernatural Causes: This Joy of the People at Christmass was, it should seem, Death to their Infernal Enemy-envying their festal Plea sures, and owing them a Grudge, he took this Opportunity of spoiling their Sport!

Aliter, the White Flough, so called because the gallant young Men that compose it, appear to be dressed in their Shirts, (without

Coat

with Music, and one, sometimes two, in a very antic Dress; the Bessy, in the grotesque Habit of an old Woman, and the Fool, almost covered with Skins, a hairy Cap on, and the Tail of some Animal hanging from his Back: The Office of one of these Characters is, to go about rattling a Box amongst the Spectators of the Dance, in which he collects their little Donations.

This Pageant or Dance as used at present, seems a Composition made up of the Gleanings of several obsolete Customs followed antiently, here and elsewhere, on this and the like festive Occasions.

I find a very curious and minute Description. of the Sword Dance in Olaus Magnus* History

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Coat or Waistcoat) upon which great Numbers of Ribbands folded into Roses, are loosely stitched on. It appears to be a very airy Habit at this cold Season, but they have warm Waistcoats under it.

Mr. Wallis, in his History of Northumberland, tells us, that the Saltatio armata of the Roman Militia on their Festival Armilustrium, celebrated 19th of October, is still practised by the Country People in this Neighbourhood, on the annual Festivity of Christmass, the Yule Tide of the Druids.-Young Men march from Village to Village, and from House to House, with Music before them, dressed in an antic Attire, and before the Vestibulum, or Entrance of every House entertain the Family with the motus incompositus, the Antic Dance, or Chorus Armatus, with Swords or Spears in their Hands, erect and shining: this they call the Sword Dance. For their Pains they are presented with a small Gratuity in Money, more or less, according to every Householder's Ability; their Gratitude is expressed by firing a Gun. One of the Company is distinguished from the Rest by a more antic Dress; a Fox's Skin generally serving him for a Covering and Ornament to his Head, the Tail hanging down his Back. This droll Figure is their Chief or Leader. He does not mingle in the Dance. Vol. 2. p. 29.

* De Chorea gladiatoria, vel

Armifera Saltatione.

Habent præterea septentrionales Gothi et Sueci pro exercenda ju

ventute