An estimated 80 to100 people attended the 12th Night Boar’s Head Party held at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Birdsboro on Friday, Jan. 5.
Held in the church hall, the free community celebration featured wassailing, bagpipes, toasts, folk dancing, food, beverages, costumes and more. Attendees were encouraged to wear period costumes and join in the dances.
“After an initial boar’s head parade featuring Gayle Kramer as the pig, Pastor James Farnsworth as Good Friar James blessed the event along with Dave Kline the Lord of Misrule and Ken Gehret the Fiddler,” said Sally Sassaman of St. Mark’s Church.
In his recent Mountain Folklife column, Dave Kline explained that commoners in medieval times celebrated the yuletide season for 12 days, starting modestly on Dec. 25 and gradually ramping up to an all-out feast of epic proportions on the 12th day and night. During the 12th Night celebration, commoners took on the role of nobles and vice-versa.
“Based on research, I’ve written scripts for several 12th Night celebrations and I and whomever I’m with always have a great night of fun when we dress in medieval clothing and reenact the ancient tradition,” Kline states in his column. “It’s a great way to say goodbye to Christmas past and the year past.”
Pies were baked and a coin was put into one of them.
“The guest that got the slice of pie with the coin was declared the Lord of Misrule for the evening, giving them the power to declare which games would be played as live music filled the feasting hall,” Kline explained in his column.
For the 12th Night celebration at St. Mark’s Church, Kline was the Lord of Misrule.
Kline also explained that one of the great treats of the evening was the serving of the boar’s head and trimmings as a main course.
“The boar’s head, literally the head of a giant pig, was prepared according to a special recipe, then paraded around the room so it could be seen by all. The ‘Boar’s Head Carol’ was often sung while the parade ensued,” Kline states in his column.
During the celebration at the Birdsboro church, the event opened with the Boar’s Head Parade led by Gayle Kramer as the pig marching around the hall.
Sir Roderick Nevin performed a bagpipe solo. Ancient French Carols were sung by Ladies Francine and Tamara Black. The Victorian Party celebrated the visitation of the Wise Men to Baby Jesus. Kline sang the “Boar’s Head Carol” and led everyone in singing “Here We Come a Wassailing” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.” The wassail toast was offered by Nevin, Farnsworth and Kline.
Attendees danced the “Sir Roger DeCoverly,” “Patticake Polka” and “I Saw Three Ships,” as well as other dances. The dances were called by Sarah Emlen Mathias of Birdsboro Contra Dance.
There was a time for mingling, playing games and enjoying food and wassail. Food, including pulled pork sandwiches from the boar, was sold to benefit the church’s youth who will be attending the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer.
Kline posted on Facebook: “I’d like to express gratitude and love… yes genuine LOVE for all my sister and brother musicians who drew close tonight at our 12th Night Boar’s Head free community party at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Birdsboro for the purpose of sharing our collective spirit of the muse with all in attendance.”
Kline thanked attendees, volunteers and the cast of characters and animals.
“What a joy it was to gather together and fill a community hall with mirth, merriment and a collective flourish of the heart for good-old Christmas and its traditions and then raise $700 for the youth of the community on top of everything else,” Kline states in his Facebook post. “The depth of love I feel for these musicians, caller, dancers, familial gatherers is a most heady thing; not unlike our homemade wassail.”
Source: Berkshire mont
Be First to Comment