Bringing An Ancient Winter Celebration Into Your Home
Have A Party Where Our Duchess Would Wear Her Necklace!
Every
year, our wonderful neighbors host a Winter Solstice party. We look
forward to greeting the dukes, counts, duchesses, knights, fortune
tellers, even barmaids from the neighborhood who arrive in time to
celebrate the crowning of this year’s Solstice king and queen.
We
all bring a dish to share and eat, drink, and be merry. When it’s
over we can’t wait for next year’s party. This year’s upcoming
event made me wonder about The Winter Solstice and what customs and
traditions are part of its history. How would my Duchess Amelia in
“The Duchess’ Necklace” have celebrated The Solstice?
Meet The Duchess Amelia! |
The
Winter Solstice marks the first day of winter in the Northern
Hemisphere while at the precise time marks the first day of summer in
the Southern Hemisphere. On June 21st
the Winter Solstice moves to the Southern Hemisphere while The
Northern Hemisphere celebrates the Summer Solstice. The mid-season
periods between Solstice are called the Equinox with Spring (Vernal
Equinox) arriving March 21st
and the Autumnal Equinox occurring on or about September 23rd
each year.
Ancients recognized the regularity of these events. The Romans celebrated “solstitium” as far back as the first century. They as well as other ancient civilations marked celestial time by these events. Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. Many cultures around the world hold long feasts and celebrate with fire and lights. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia around the time of Winter Solstice. The holiday turned Roman social order upside down where for one week slaves became masters and peasants ran the city.
In
Scandinavia, the ancient Norsemen feted Yule on Winter Solstice.
Large logs were lit and everyone would feast until the logs burned
out. In Japan, people were encouraged to light bonfires even on Mt
Fuji. The tradition starts on the beginning of the New Year for good
health and good luck. It is a very sacred time for farmers who
welcome the return of the sun that they hope will help grow their
crops. Iran, Peru, and China all have their own Solstice traditions.
Of
course, since our neighborhood party features Royal English
traditions, I wondered how and if my Duchess Amelia celebrated.
Royals
in Amelia’s time did celebrate Solstice with The Boar’s Head
Festival, one of the oldest and most unusual Christmas traditions
still celebrated today. Beginning in ancient times, hunters found the
wild boar to be the tastiest and most dangerous game in what is now
Great Britain. Because it could weigh as much as several hundred
pounds, it would take too long to cook at the party so the boar would
be butchered and cooked before the festival began. The Boar’s head
then became the centerpiece of the festivities. Its head decorated
with greenery and fruit was displayed on a platter as a tribute to
the hunter who brought the beast down.
Duchess Amelia would have opened her manor house to celebrate this
tradition with the Boar’s Head platter to be paraded around the
room of guests before being presented to Amelia as hosting royalty.
(We have paraded roasted turkeys at our local party.) The Boar’s
Head Carol is sung during the parade, a
tradition from ancient celebrations. The popular version of this
carol still sung today dates from the early 16th century while the
tradition of serving the Boar’s Head at the celebration of the
Winter Solstice (“Yule”) – and later, Christmas – has been
practiced since ancient times. This ritual meal is celebrated
annually for more than 600 years. The stateliness and order of the
procession and the succulent aroma of this rarest dish, is a meal fit
for royalty.
Many
of Amelia’s guests were more than likely dressed in costumes, much
like we do at our neighborhood party. Costumed King Wenceslas, Robin
Hood, and Maid Marion take part in the song and the parade. Amelia
would have enjoyed watching her party attendees perform a skit and
song. Knowing how feisty and untraditional she was, she may have
snuck off and disguised herself to participate in these antics before
returning to enjoy the
pomp of the parade in the presentation of the Boar’s Head to her.
She may have started the festivities by proclaiming “All Hail the
Boar’s Head!” I’m sure a fun night was had by all.
I
wish everyone a happy healthy holiday season and all the best for the
New Year. Mariah
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