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The book of Christmas : $b descriptive of the customs, ceremonies, traditions, superstitions, fun, feeling, and festivities of the Christmas seasonHervey, Thomas K.

Religion

The book of Christmas : $b descriptive of the customs, ceremonies, traditions, superstitions, fun, feeling, and festivities of the Christmas season

Name: The book of Christmas : $b descriptive of the customs, ceremonies, traditions, superstitions, fun, feeling, and festivities of the Christmas season
Author: Hervey, Thomas K.

Hervey, Thomas K.

Christmas

[Transcriber's Note: superscripted letters are preceded by a caret and
surrounded by curly braces: w^{th}. Bold text is surrounded by =equal
signs= and italic text by _underscores_.]

[Illustration: CHRISTMAS AND HIS CHILDREN.]

THE BOOK of CHRISTMAS.

[Illustration]

    Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes
    Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
    This bird of dawning singeth allnight long.
                                  _Shakspeare._

    BOSTON:
    ROBERTS BROTHERS.
    1888.

THE

BOOK OF CHRISTMAS;

DESCRIPTIVE OF THE

CUSTOMS, CEREMONIES, TRADITIONS, SUPERSTITIONS, FUN, FEELING, AND
FESTIVITIES OF

The Christmas Season.

BY THOMAS K. HERVEY.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY R. SEYMOUR.

[Illustration: _Galantee Show._]

    BOSTON:
    ROBERTS BROTHERS.
    1888.

    University Press:
    JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE.

CONTENTS.

                                                    PAGE

    INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER                                           7

    Part First.

    THE CHRISTMAS SEASON                                          29

      Mingled Origin of the Christmas Festival; Good Cheer
      of the Ancient Festival; Court Celebrations of
      Christmas; Celebrations at the Inns of Court; Lord of
      Misrule and Christmas Prince; Abbot of Unreason;
      Influence of the Festival on the Social Relations; Ben
      Jonson's Masque of Christmas; Father Christmas
      summoning his Spirits; Extinction of the Ancient
      Festival; Partial Revival; Summary of the Causes of
      its final Decline.

    FEELINGS OF THE SEASON                                      134

      Religious Influences; Assembling of Friends; Church
      Services of the Season; lengthened Duration of the
      Festival; Memories of the Season; Natural Aspects of
      the Season.

    SIGNS OF THE SEASON                                         157

      Domestic Preparations; Mince Pie; Travellers on the
      Highways; coming Home from School; Norfolk Coach;
      Evergreens for Christmas Decoration; Kissing under the
      Mistletoe; Christmas Minstrelsy; Waits; Carol Singing;
      Christmas Carols; Annual Carol Sheets; London Carol
      Singers; Bellman.

Part Second.

    THE CHRISTMAS DAYS                                          223

    ST. THOMAS'S DAY                                            225

      Various Country Customs on this day; St. Thomas's Day
      in London; City Parochial Elections; Lumber Troop and
      other City Associations.

    SPORTS OF THIS SEASON                                       233

      Ancient Jugglers; Galantee Show; Card Playing; Ancient
      Bards and Harpers; Modern Story-telling and Music;
      out-door Sports of the Season; Theatre and Pantomime;
      Mummers; Play of St. George.

    CHRISTMAS EVE                                               267

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The book of Christmas : $b descriptive of the customs, ceremonies, traditions, superstitions, fun, feeling, and festivities of the Christmas season

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