God spede the plow
And send us ale corne enow
Our purpose for to mak
At crow of cok
Of the plwlete of Sygate
Be mery and glade
Wat good ale this work mad.*
14th Century Poem
In rural England the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany) was celebrated as "Plough Monday". This was the day on which all work resumed after the feasting of the 12 days of Christmas and was seen as the start of the agricultural year in many regions. The first reports of the traditional celebrations of the day appear in the late 14th century.
The previous day (Plough Sunday) farmers and ploughmen would have their ploughshares blessed for the coming planting season. On the Monday a decorated plough was hauled in procession from door to door by stout young ploughmen wearing beribboned hats and clothing with white linen or wool smocks worn over their vests and pants Often they were accompanied by bullock horn players and dancers. Amongst the company would be a man (or boy) dressed as a grotesque old woman or "Bessy" and another dressed as a Fool with a donkey's tail hanging from his behind. A member of the troupe would rattle a box and collect money from the spectators. Originally the money was to provide candles before certain shrines to pray for a good harvest. However with the English Reformation such Popish practices were banned and the money collected served a less holy purpose: it was used to buy ale and refreshments in the local. On the rare occasion when some small token was not given the "stingy" home owner could find their front yard had been ploughed up.
A Straw Bear and his Keeper in Whittlesey, 1906
Customs varied from region to region - and often from village to village: in some towns Morris dancers would join the procession, in others it would be sword dancers doing a round-dance with origins in Scandinavia. In Cornwall everyone in the procession cross-dressed and there was "guise dancing".
In the Fenlands, a small area on the border region between Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, the strange custom of the "Straw Bear" was central to the celebration but on the Tuesday. A man (sometimes a boy, often both) was dressed from head to toe in straw and lead from house to house by his keeper. Once again monies were collected, though to what end other than another trip to the pub, I'm not sure. It appears that in former times the tradition was so highly regarded that farmers would save their best straw for the costume. At the end of festivities the costume was burnt in a solemn ceremony. The Straw Bear appears no where else in England but is often seen on Shrove Tuesday festivities in parts of Germany, Austria and Poland.
The Straw Bear tradition has been revived in Whittlesey and turned into a four day event, attracting
performers and tourists from all over. Here's a video of the 2011 celebrations.
With the coming of industrialization and modernization in the late 19th-early 20th centuries there was no need for the plough and the labours of the ploughman were done by machines. Though they remained in a handful of small communities the customs of Plough Monday slowly died off. However the last few years have seen a revival of interest in the old customs and it is not unusual to see forms of Plough Monday celebrations in Cornwall, Essex and the eastern Shires. In many places the "festival" has become a major tourist attraction.
Though most people have returned to their jobs long before the end of Epiphany I wish that in your labours "God spede your plow".
*This is taken from a carving on a wall plaque in the Church of St Agnes in Cawston just north of Norwich. The livelihood of the parishioners and the well-being of the church depended on a good crop of ale-corn or barley which leads to the pun in the last line: what good ale this work (the Plough Monday processions) makes. The reference probably refers to the use of the money donated to buy candles to be lit at the various shrines in the town in hope of a good harvest. The "plwlete" was the Ploughman's Guild which according to this rhyme were meeting just outside of town at Sygate to begin their procession.
13 January - 1698: Matestasio (Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi), poet and librettist was born in the Rome, the Papal States.
Tomorrow is the Octave Day of the Feast of the Epiphany: January 6th, the day on which, according to tradition, the Three Kings ended their search for the Child of whose birth they had read in the stars. It is an event that has been much celebrated in Western art and in music. And with the octave day comes the official end of Christmastide.
I though I'd celebrate the last liturgical day of Christmas by sharing several of the Adoration of the Magi works from the wonderful museum at El Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes and a last piece of music for the season. The styles - both artistically and theologically - are disparate but none the less celebrate the last Feast of Christmas.
The most famous modern Epiphany carol is, of course, We Three King, written in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins Jr, the rector of an Episcopal church in Pennsylvania. He had written it for a Christmas pageant at the seminary where he taught. It was the first "American" carol to be included in Christmas Carols Old and New.
And as the most popular Epiphany carol comes from America I thought I'd post another lovely American carol for the Feast as an end to this year's Christmastide musical posts.
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem is a modern carol in the tradition of Southern Baptist gospel music. It was written by a Tennessee farmer, Robert Fischer Boyce in 1938. With eleven children in the house Mr Fischer couldn't find peace and quiet so retired to the cow barn and wrote the words for what was to become a much recorded gospel carol. His daughter Nannie-Lou Taylor helped him with the music and it was eventually published by James D. Vaughan Music Publishing. At one point this led to the carol being attributed to Adger M. Pace, an music editor at the company. As was usual for the time Boyce received a flat fee for the song and gave up all rights and royalties to the music publisher.
It was first recorded in 1953 but has since become a standard on gospel, country and cross-over Christmas albums. It has been a feature in many of the Gaither Homecoming Christmas concerts. I've always loved these concerts - perhaps not the theology behind them but certainly the music and here is a great version from one of their recorded specials. Ben Speer is very much in the old style gospel (and sadly his voice has lost much of its power) while Amy Lambert is more modern in her delivery. But as with so many of the Gaither recordings its the ensemble that makes things take flight.
The tree has been taken down, the decorations put away, the Christmas CDs shelved for another year. But where we living in another time there would be one more celebration before we went back to the humdrum days of winter. But more about that tomorrow.
January 12 - 1554: Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma.
This rather fanciful, and busy to the point I couldn't get the camera to focus, scene is an Adoration of the Magi cutout that I bought at the Tirolervolks Museum in Innsbruck. This little "creche in a perspective box" was the work of the Engelbrecht Brothers some time between 1712-1735 and is very like the tradition of the toy theatre. Prints could be bought plain to be hand-coloured or already coloured and ready to be cut out and assembled. I also have the Visit of the Shepherds - which is not quite as busy - shepherds bring with them only sheep not a royal entourage.
I remember this from my choral music class in grade 9 and being told by Mr Livingstone that it was based on music from Bizet. Being the smug little bastard I was I probably told him that it was incidental music for a play and based on an old Provençal carol. How he then resisted the urge to jam his baton down my throat I will never know.
Of course the tune, Marcho dei Rei, is known outside Provençe as a theme that runs through Bizet's music for L'Arlésienne. In its best known appearance Bizet combines it with Danse dei chivau-frus a traditional folk-dance melody that may have roots as far back as Le bon roi René.
Can there be anything as exuberant as this lovely pop-up Presepe by the genius that was Emanuele Luzzati?
His jewel-like colours and the lively faces of his people and animals are filled with the joy of Christmas.
King Balthazar's horse seems as pleased as the Kings themselves to arrive at their destination.
And rather ingeniously they are hidden away in a slot and drop down in time to arrive on January 6th.
One of my great regrets is being with a few feet of the Museo Luzzati in Genoa and not realizing it
because of the pounding rain.
The Second Suite, arranged four years after Bizet's death by Ernest Guiraud, has been recorded many, many times but my favourite is one of the older recordings made by one of the great conductors of the 20th Century - Sir Thomas Beecham. Behind his facade of English eccentricity lay the ability to reach into music, particularly French music, and bring out colours that allow you to hear old favourites anew. He was a true "amateur" - one who loves.
Of course what inspired my listening to this piece is the celebration today in the Western Christian Church of The Feast of the Epiphany. The day when tradition says that the word was revealed to the Gentiles:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Gospel of St Matthew 2: 1-12
KJV
Matthew is the only Gospel where the visit of the Magi or Kings or simply Wise Men is recounted. But out of it came a mythology rich in tradition and symbolism for the Christian Church.
These three Polish glass ornaments have been on our tree for many years:
It is uncertain when the tradition of Balthasar
coming from Africa began as in earlier mythology
he was said to be an Arabian scholar.
Though first accounts say that Melchior was a Persian
wise man over time he came to represent Europe and tradition
said he was the King who came bearing gold.
Gaspar was said to be an Indian sage and he came bearing
frankincense but again in time his origins changed and his
homeland has various been portrayed as China or Mongolia.
Matthew does not tell us how many wise men there were but he does say that they bore three gifts; as early as 500 AD the writer in a Greek document assumed that three gifts meant three kings. An 8th Irish manuscript not only gave them names but the countries their journeys began in as well. It was said that Melchior was from Persia, Gaspar was from India and Balthasar started his travels in Arabia. Though their names remained essentially the same as Christianity spread their countries of origin were adapted to reflect an expanding world. Balthasar was said to come from Africa (perhaps Ethiopia), Gaspar from Asia (Yemen or possibly China or Mongolia) and Melchior from Europe, his origins being either Celtic or Frankish.
The figures in our Polish creche have a more serious mien but I find the rather weary looks on the three royal travellers faces touching. Their journey has taken them far and having reached their destination they gaze onthe object of their search with obvious adoration.
Unlike their birth places the gifts of the Kings (Wise men, Sages) have never changed: gold and frankincense and myrrh. It has been thought they have a spiritual meaning of Jesus as King and God and Sacrifice: gold - signifying earthly kingship; frankincense - an offering of sweet smelling incense to a deity; and myrrh - an ancient embalming oil symbolizing death. But it has also been suggested that the gold could stand for virtue, the frankincense for prayer and myrrh for suffering.What happened to these gifts is never made clear in the gospel but stories developed around them. One legend said that the gold was stolen by the two thieves who were crucified with Christ; another says that Mary and Joseph used it when they fled to Egypt; a third has it being entrusted to Judas who used it for his own ends. Another story says that Mary kept the myrrh and used it to anoint his body after his crucifixion.
06 January - 1907: Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare centre for working class children in Rome, Italy.
The streets were deserted this morning as I walked to work - the normal din of traffic at the main intersection of Regina Margherita and Nomentana totally stilled. The buses and trams are empty and most bars and shops are closed for the day. January 6th is a holiday in Italy - for everyone except us it would appear. Theoretically it is the Feast of the Epiphany but really is is a celebration of La Befana, a folkloric figure who's name may well be a corruption of the word Epiphania.
I wrote about her, her story and some of the traditions surrounding her last year at this time. I've since come across a slightly darker telling of her story. According to one legend she was an simple woman with a child she loved with all her heart. When the child died she became mad in her grief. When she heard of the birth of Jesus she set out to find him, in her madness believing him to be her lost child. When she found the Christ Child she presented him with simple gifts of sweets and oranges. The delighted infant smiled and gave La Befana a gift in return: for one brief night each year she would be the mother of all the children in Italy.
Though the tradition continues of La Befana bringing gifts on the eve of Epiphany, I noticed a very subtle change from last year - more of the Befani being sold at the Christmas market in Piazza Navona resembled witches. Now my friend Vin was very specific last year - La Befana is not a witch, she does not wear a pointed hat but a headscarf. Her face is not evil, only wrinkled and ugly and sooty from coming down the chimney. But even the windows (at the right) of Dagnino, the Sicilian confectionery, had Befani that resemble Halloween witches more than the old lady of Italy folklore. The only reason I can think of for the change in persona is that what's made for Halloween in North American can also be used for Befana in Italy. I hope that isn't the reason but I fear it may well be.
One friend told me he recalls that when he was a child the night before Epiphania was the most magical time of the year. And though Babo Natale may be slowly taking over I'm sure that last night it was the same for children throughout Italy. La Befana, pointed hat or not, made her rounds, visiting the children; leaving the traditional gifts of sweets, pastries and fruits for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones. And perhaps still looking for her lost child.
Just a side note: it is traditional here to leave out a biscuit and a glass of wine for La Befana - and quite often the tipple will be the same as the favorite libation of the master of the house. Strange how these things work. 06 gennaio - La Epiphania
Last evening all over Italy, while children where sleeping, an old lady on a broomstick was flying into their homes and leaving presents in their stockings. The good boys and girls where receiving candy coins and other treats; the bad got the traditional lump of coal. La Befana may sound like Santa Claus but she's been around since the 13th century and though she may look like a witch her story is a touching one. Babo Natale (Santa Claus) is making inroads but the tradition of La Befana - a corruption of the word Epifania (Epiphany)- is still very strong in most families here. Shop windows are filled with her image and dolls and figurines of the old lady are available all over town. Strangely for Italy, a country obsessed with food traditions, there are no particular foods associated with La Befana. That doesn't stop the pastry shops from making up cakes and goodies. Of course, there's a a gold coin (chocolate) on the cakes for good luck. At our dinner tonight each guest will get a small bag of gold-foiled covered chocolate coins for good luck.
And we did go a little over board buying Befane this year. The one at the top of the page is currently guarding the china cabinet and these two are on our Christmas tree.
La Befana vien di notte
Con le scarpe tutte rotte
Col vestito alla romana
Viva, Viva La Befana!
La Befana comes by night With her shoes old and broken She comes dressed in the Roman way Long life to the Befana!
Guess we have a new tradition in our house. Buono feste a tutti!
Update: Our friend Vincenzo tells me that last picture is actually a witch - La Befana would never wear a pointed cap. She always wears a headscarf. I still like her anyway.
