Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan Part 34

It is Christ, G.o.ddis Son and Heir.

O G.o.d! that made all creature, How art Thou now become so puir, That on the hay and stray will lie, Among the a.s.ses, oxen, and kye?

O, my dear heart, young Jesus sweet, Prepare Thy cradle in my spreit, And I sall rock Thee in my heart, And never mair from Thee depart

But I sall praise Thee ever moir, With sangis sweet unto Thy gloir; The knees of my heart sall I bow, And sing that richt Balulalow."{30}

[30]

"Now blessed be Thou, Christ Jesu, Thou art man born, this is true; The angels made a merry noise, Yet have we more cause to rejoice, _Kirieleyson_.

The blessed Son of G.o.d only, In a crib full poor did lie, With our poor flesh and our poor blood, Was clothed that everlasting Good.

_Kirieleyson._

He that made heaven and earth of nought, In our flesh hath our health brought, For our sake made He Himself full small, That reigneth Lord and King over all.

_Kirieleyson._"{32}

[31]

"All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, Far and near, Sweetest angel voices; 'Christ is born,' their choirs are singing, Till the air Everywhere Now with joy is ringing.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger, Soft and sweet, Doth entreat, 'Flee from woe and danger; Brethren, come, from all doth grieve you You are freed, All you need I will surely give you.'

Blessed Saviour, let me find Thee!

Keep Thou me Close to Thee, Call me not behind Thee!

Life of life, my heart Thou stillest, Calm I rest On Thy breast, All this void Thou fillest."{34}

[32]

"Triumph, ye heavens! rejoice ye with high adoration!

Sing to the Lord, to the Saviour, in glad exultation!

Angels, give ear!

G.o.d unto man hath drawn near, Bringing to lost ones salvation.

King of the Glory! what grace in Thy humiliation!

Thou wert a child! who of old wert the Lord of creation.

Thee will I own, Thee would I follow, alone, Heir of Thy wondrous salvation.

Faithful Immanuel! let me Thy glories be telling, Come, O my Saviour, be born, in mine inmost heart dwelling, In me abide.

Make me with Thee unified, Where the life-fountain is welling."{36}

[33] A few of the best traditional pieces have been published by Mr. F.

Sidgwick in one of his charming "Watergate Booklets" under the t.i.tle of "Popular Carols." The two next quotations are from this source.

[34] Browning's great poem, "Christmas Eve," is philosophical rather than devotional, and hardly comes within the scope of this chapter.

[35] The first mention of a season corresponding to Advent is at the Council of Tours, about 567, when a fast for monks in December is vaguely indicated. At the Council of Macon (581) it is enjoined that from Martinmas the second, fourth, and sixth days of the week should be fasting days; and at the close of the sixth century Rome, under Gregory the Great, adopted the rule of the four Sundays in Advent. In the next century it became prevalent in the West. In the Greek Church, forty days of fasting are observed before Christmas; this custom appears to have been established in the thirteenth century. In the Roman Church the practice as to fasting varies: in the British Isles Wednesday and Friday are observed, but in some countries no distinction is made between Advent and ordinary weeks of the year.{2}

[36] Anthony Beck, Bishop of Durham, bequeathed to his cathedral a Christmas candlestick of silver-gilt, on the base of which was an image of St. Mary with her Son lying in the crib.

[37] "Joseph, dear nephew mine, help me to rock the Child." "Gladly, dear aunt, will I help thee to rock thy Child." (Note the curious words of relations.h.i.+p; Joseph and Mary were both of the seed of David.)

[38] "Let us rock the Child and bow our hearts before the crib! Let us delight our spirits and bless the Child: sweet little Jesu! sweet little Jesu!... Let us greet His little hands and feet, His little heart of fire, and reverence Him humbly as our Lord and G.o.d! Sweet little Jesu! sweet little Jesu!"

[39] Turning for a moment from Sicilian domestic celebrations to a public and communal action, I may mention a strange ceremony that takes place at Messina in the dead of night; at two o'clock on Christmas morning a naked _Bambino_ is carried in procession from the church of Santa Lucia to the cathedral and back.{65}

[40] Or on the Sunday following the Octave, if the Octave itself is a week-day.

[41] Tempting as it is to connect these dolls with the crib, it is possible that their origin should be sought rather in anthropomorphic representations of the spirits of vegetation, and that they are of the same nature as the images carried about with garlands in May and at other seasons.{77}

[42] Though no texts are extant of religious plays in English acted at Christmastide, there are occasional records of such performances:--at Tintinhull for instance in 1451 and at Dublin in 1528, while at Aberdeen a processional "Nativity" was performed at Candlemas. And the "Stella," whether in English or Latin it is uncertain, is found at various places between 1462 and 1579.{10}

[43] Lodging.

[44] Once.

[45] Scarcely.

[46] Horses. Hous of haras = stable.

[47] Dwell.

[48] Darkness.

[49] Being.

[50] Wonderful.

[51] Wors.h.i.+p.

[52] Shedder.

[53] Wrap.

[54] Crippled.

[55] Overreached.

[56] Deprive of.

[57] Curse.

[58] Strong in lordliness.

[59] Wizard.

[60] Shame.