[Bryn-gwlad] Yule trees

[Stefan li Rous]

Should we have a Xmas tree? They are not period of
course, but I do not know Bryn-Gwlad traditions are.

What do you base your comment of "not period of course" on? I've see
comments
both ways. Here is one from the Yule-msg file in the Florilegium:
Yule-msg (23K) 10/12/01 Yule celebrations.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/CELEBRATIONS/Yule-msg.html

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Christmas trees in period
Date: 30 May 1995 21:07:10 -0400
According to an old version of the Encyclopedia Brittanica (1957),
Christmas trees were first used by St. Boniface, the English missionary
to the continental Germans, in the eighth century. The source claims
that Boniface replaced the sacrifices to Odin's sacred oak by a fir
tree decorated in honor of the "Christ child". The only mention of
Martin Luther is the possibility that he first used candles on trees
for Christmas. I couldn't find anything else on Christmas in period; I
don't think it was nearly as imortant to the Church then as Easter was.
----Isabelle

But comments in this file say otherwise, at least as a common Christmas
tradition:
Christmas-art (9K) 7/28/94 Medieval Christmas.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/NICOLAA/Christmas-art.html

Perhaps these files will give you some ideas that can be adapted from
period Christmas traditions, though. Here is another in the same
section:
Xmas-art (9K) 1/15/97 "The True Meaning of Xmas".
http://www.florilegium.org/files/NICOLAA/Xmas-art.html

Or perhaps wassail or cider might be appropriate. See this file in the
BEVERAGES section:
wassail-msg (25K) 4/30/01 Spiced cider and ale drinks.
Traditions.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/BEVERAGES/wassail-msg.html

And to give equal time to another religious tradition, there is this
file:
T-H-Dreidel-art (12K) 12/26/00 "The Hannukah Dreidel" by Lady
Meliora
Leuedai de Ardescote.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/ENTERTAINMENT/T-H-Dreidel-art.html

I am of course interested in more info on Yule trees in period, either
pro or con. Or on other period Yule traditions. Especially those that
can be adapted to SCA use.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous Barony of Bryn Gwlad Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris Austin, Texas
***@austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at: http://www.florilegium.org ****

[Emeline de Neville]

Stefan,

As I said previously, it was a private email sent
inadvertantly to the list.

Again, I apologize for taking up space in other
persons mailboxes. If you feel you have something to
contribute further on the subject, please feel free to
email me privately.

Emeline

[Harris Mark.S-rsve60]

Post by Emeline de Neville
As I said previously, it was a private email sent
inadvertently to the list.

Yes. It happens from time to time.

Post by Emeline de Neville
Again, I apologize for taking up space in other
persons mailboxes. If you feel you have something to
contribute further on the subject, please feel free to
email me privately.

Since we are heading into the Yule season, I thought the topic of medieval Yule traditions, and perhaps how some of these might be incorporated into our re-creation might be of general interest to others, as well as those helping organise our Yule Revel.

As to medieval Christmas/Yule trees, I thought at first "of course they are medieval" but then when I reviewed the material in the Florilegium, I saw comments going either way. I just thought that perhaps you had some info to help clear this up. Additional info about the area we study is always good, even if it upsets our pre-conceived ideas.

Since this Yule Revel has a peasant theme, perhaps some discussion of how the peasants might have celebrated the Yule season different from the nobility might be in order, if such info can be deduced. There are the paintings (Brugel?) that show children playing games. Perhaps some of these can be determined to be Yule type games or used that way?

Stefan