"Ten Thousand Wonderful Things". Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
Оглавление
Группа авторов. Ten Thousand Wonderful Things
Ten Thousand Wonderful Things
Table of Contents
PREFACE
INDEX TO ENGRAVINGS
INDEX
TEN THOUSAND WONDERFUL THINGS
Footnote
ROUTLEDGE'S. BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE
ROUTLEDGE'S. POETS FOR THE PEOPLE
FIFTY VOLUMES HAVE NOW BEEN ISSUED OF. SIR JOHN LUBBOCK'S HUNDRED BOOKS
Отрывок из книги
Comprising whatever is marvellous and rare, curious, eccentric and extraordinary in all ages and nations
.....
THE MUMMERS, OR ANCIENT WAITS.
The manner in which this period of the year has been observed has often varied. The observances of the day first became to be pretty general in the Catholic church about the year 300. By some of our ancestors it was viewed in the double light of a religious and joyful season of festivities. The midnight preceding Christmas-day every person went to mass, and on Christmas-day three different masses were sung with much solemnity. Others celebrated it with great parade, splendour, and conviviality. Business was superseded by merriment and hospitality; the most careworn countenance brightened on the occasion. The nobles and the barons encouraged and participated in the various sports: the industrious labourer's cot, and the residence of proud royalty, equally resounded with tumultuous joy. From Christmas-day to Twelfth-day there was a continued run of entertainments. Not only did our ancestors make great rejoicings on, but before and after Christmas-day. By a law in the time of Alfred, the "twelve days after the nativity of our Saviour were made festivals;" [1] and it likewise appears from Bishop Holt, that the whole of the days were dedicated to feasting.
