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/Friday. Decmber 13, 1974THE FLAT HATPage SYule Log history continues this SundayBy Cindy BennettFLAT HAT Production ManagerBoar head bearer*, drummers.trumpeters, players of thethe Yule Log to the Wren Building in the first annual Chrtstmaa Party for students and faculty on December 20. 1934The Yule Log Ceremony held In recent* years is very different from the original College ceremony, according to former Dean of Student Affairs J Wilfred Lambert It was quite an affair and those participating wore elaborate 18th century costumes,” states LambertIn the 1930 s and 1940 s the Yule Log Ceremony encompassed two English Christmas customs, the bearing of the boar s head and the burning of the Yule LogNo one knows when or where the Yule log custom began English lords went into the forest, cut, and hid the tree On Christmas Eve tip servants and guests went In search of It. When it was found the log was dragged into the master's house and placed on the fire. A fragment of the log was always kept under the bed for use as kindling for next year s fireAll barriers were broken between the master and his servants amidst the drinking and singing The flames would reputedly drive the devil from the house and renew tired spirits. It meant bad luck if someone In bare feet, a flat footed woman or a squinting person should enter the hall while the log was ' being lit. It was unlucky to light the log again after it had been startedThe story of the boar's head originated at Queen’s College. Oxford. A-round Christmas, over five hundred years ago, a wild boar attacked one of the students The student's only weapon was a book of Aristotle which he thrust down the boar's throat After the beast had strangled-he cut off Its head and carried it back to the College where it was cooked and served on Christmas day Since then the baking or boiling of the boar's head has become part of the traditional Christmas celebrationGraee Warren Landrum, then Dean of Women, arranged the first event at WHliam and Mary. From 1934 to 1942 under her, the Yule Log Ceremony was the opening of a Christmas celebration hosted by the president of the College. John Stuart Bryan.The ritual. according to the customs of an English manor house, began with the forming of a procession at the Braf-ferton kitchen. Led by the Bearers of the Boars' Heads the group proceeded to the Great Hall. Members of the football team transported the log and a Crumpet fanfare announced the procession's arrival* President Bryan presided as Lord o{. the Manor in full costume and double bottom wig Other College officials held the posts of Chamberlain and Lord of MisruleOnce IntheGreet Hall the Lordof the Manor greeted the crowd The Yule log was cast on the fire and kindled by a piece of wood from the previous year a ceremony According to superstition, if a piece of wood from last year was not used the building would burn downMembers of Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board actually lighted the fire The Chamberlain read a proclamation of the Lord of Misrule Following the proclamation, freshman girls performed old English dances and the gathering sang Christmas songs The Lord of the Manor and the youngest child present quenched the fireFrom there the procession filed to the dining hall where President Bryan with dancing to the College orchestra until midnightgave a speech on Christmas Customs The students dined on tomato Juice cock tails, roast turkey with oyster dressing and gravy, fresh green peas, candied n* with orange sauce celery and carrot curls, stuffed olives, hot but tered biscuits, and plum pudding with rum sauce After dinner the Chamber lain struck the floor three times to signal the beginning of the pageantry Campus groups presented skits and prizes were awarded .The evening ended When the Yule Log Ceremony was revived after World War II. It took its present form “The same request for materials and supplies has been sent to Maintenance for the last 15 years, adds Lambert Mortar Board and ODK will co-sponsor the event this.year as they have in the pastThe 1974 Yule Log Ceremony begins at 6 pm on December 15 in the Wren courtyard with carols led by mem bers of the Choir Nancy Norman, organizer of the 1974 ceremony will make opening remarks followed by a reading! YOU DESERVE! !lt;illTllli\IIOr.\E!rFOR HIMSUITSH. Freemen BotanyVaraity-TownTuxedo* . After Six A Palm Beach Salta by Hosier Hat* Ha*pel and Palm1M 54-op115 aa-up - i»H 154 44 upSPORT COATSVanity-TewnHaapel A Palm Bea159 54-upas.aa - ttsa•3 44 - 115.44 49.95-apTROUSERSScofieldLee34.4S-OP 11.45 - 54.45 4.54 • 55.44 14.54-apFURNISHINGSEagle Shirts Arrow Shirt*15.5# • 14.54 1.54 - 15.44MeGteter Shirt*7J4 - 54.44K_nox Bate................15.44 - 55.44Mea'a Babes .........15.44 - 54.45Tim4.44 • 1 54Sweater* — Cex-Moere, McGregor. A Allen Payne14.44 - 54.45 5.44 - 55.44Htckok A Buxton Belt* .......5.44 - 51.54Pajamas — Phtlvty .............?..................................4.44 - 15.44Interwoven Seeks15S • 4.45from Luke by Dean Sadler Preaident Graves will deliver a secular mes sage The tradition of the Yule Log Ceremony will be read by Joe Stubbs, president ef ODK ‘' ============== -The Yule log. supplied by Colonial Williamsburg, will proceed from the Wren Chapel front door, to the lectern, to the Great Hall front door To ward off evil each student touches the log as it passes with the provided sprig of holly The log will be placed in the Great Hall and students may file by. tossing their holly and troubles into the fire Mortar Board will serve hot apple cider and cookies on the porticoCOUNTRY CORDUROYFor wear over that favorite Shetland or lambswool $ sweater. Austin-Hill suggestsi their country cordurov iacket
Newspaper Details
Williamsburg Flat Hat
Williamsburg, Virginia, US
Fri, Dec 13, 1974
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Gene S.
NA, NA 03 Dec 2024
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