Thursday 8th Dec.

Spottiness; The laser lights are working and I see others in the village have their outside lights as well, xmas is on its way.  Today I shall make a start on a wreath, love the greenery of the season, especially the carols, Holly and Ivy even though it is a bit kitsch, except perhaps (which is my favourite) The Boar's Head carol by Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior  justs rolls pagan with medieval historical tones round the house, though of course if you do read the history, christianity was imported at a later stage.

Reminds me of a story I read the other day, this was about a Whitby custom, whereby the locals have to build 'a penny hedge' in the sea and it has to last for three tides.  Well it all goes back to three young nobles who when hunting for a boar in the forests round Whitby, found the boar had taken refuge in a monk's cell, where it died.  The three young hooligans demanded the body of the boar from the monk but he said no, and then of course he was beaten almost to death by them,  They were called to appear before the abbot, who was quite happy to sentence them to death but the dying monk spoke up for them and asked that each year this hedge be built in the sea, must find the original words in the book and so it came to pass.

Well poor chickens all over the country have to stay inside according to DEFRA, no wandering round in the fields for a month because of this Avian flu that is going round in the wild birds, especially those migrating birds.  Not sure what to do, my little lot will go 'stir crazy' if they don't have their ramble around in the afternoon, but heavy fines?

And if you want the words to The Boar's Head

The boar's head in hand bring I 

Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary. 

I pray you, my masters, be merry 

Quot estis in convivio.

Caput apri defero 

Reddens laudes Domino.

The boar's head, as I understand 

Is the rarest dish in all this land 

Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland 

Let us servire cantico.

Caput apri defero 

Reddens laudes Domino

Our steward hath provided this 

In honor of the King of Bliss; 

Which, on this day to be served is 

In Reginensi atrio.

Caput apri defero 

Reddens laudes Domino.

About this song:

"The boar's head carol" is a traditional Christmas carol dating back to 16th century England. This song is sung on Christmas day at Queen's college, Oxford, where the custom of bringing a boar's head to the dining table is still maintained.

This tradition has its origin from the Pagan custom of serving boar as the first dish at Roman feasts. This is what Wikipedia says about the origin of the tradition at Oxford - Legend has it that a scholar was studying a book of Aristotle while walking through the forest on his way to Midnight Mass. Suddenly, he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his metal-bound philosophy book down the throat of the charging animal, whereupon the brute choked to death. That night the boar's head, finely dressed and garnished, was borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing 'in honor of the King of bliss'. Shows how useful it is, to have a heavy book of Philosophy lying around!

Translation of the latin terms used:
Quot estis in convivio - all who are feasting together
servite cum in cantico - serve it while singing
In Reginensi Atrio - within the Queen's Hall
Caput apri defero - I bring the boar's head
Reddens laudes Domino - Sing thanks to the Lord.