Christmas in the Olden Time

from Marmion by Sir Walter Scott (1808)

Heap on more wood! — the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still. Each age has deemed the new born year The fittest time for festal cheer. And well our Christian sires of old. Loved when the year its course had rolled, And brought blithe Christmas back again, With all his hospitable train. Domestic and religious rite Gave honour to the holy night: On Christmas eve the bells were rung; On Christmas eve the mass was sung; That only night, in all the year, Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear. The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hail was dressed with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry men go, To gather in the mistletoe, Then opened wide the baron’s hail To vassal, tenant, serf, and all; Power laid his rod of rule aside, And ceremony doff’d his pride. The heir, with roses in his shoes, That night might village partner choose. The lord, underogating, share The vulgar game of “post and pair!” All hailed with uncontroll’d delight And general voice, the happy night That to the cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of salvation down. The fire with well dried logs supplied, Went roaring up the chimney wide; The huge hail table’s oaken face, Scrubb’d till it shone, the day to grace, Bore then upon: its massive board No mark to part the squire and lord. Then was brought in the lusty brawn, By old, blue-coated serving-man; Then the grim boar’s head frowned on high, Crested with bays and rosemary. Well can the green-garbed ranger tell, How, when, and where, the monster fell; What dogs before his death he tore, And all the baiting of the boar. The wassail round in good brown bowls, Garnished with ribbon, blithely trowls. There the huge sirloin reeked: hard by Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie; Nor failed old Scotland to produce At such high tide her savoury goose. Then came the merry masquers in, And carols roar’d with blithesome din; If unmelodious was the song, It was a hearty note, and strong. Who lists may in their mumming see Traces of ancient mystery; White shirts supplied the masquerade, And smutted cheeks the visor made But oh! what masquers, richly dight, Can boast of bosoms half so light! England was merry England when Old Christmas brought his sports again. ’Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale, ’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft would cheer A poor man’s heart through half the year.