bearer.' The cavalcade then returns, with
music and song, to the village. Amongst the personages who figure in the
procession are a Moorish king with a sooty face and crown on his head, a
Dr. Iron-Beard, a corporal, and an executioner. They halt on the village
green, and each of the characters makes a speech in rhyme. The
executioner announces that the leaf-clad man has been condemned to
death, and cuts off his false head. Then the riders race to the
May-tree, which has been set up a little way off. The first man who
succeeds in wrenching it from the ground as he gallops past keeps it
with all its decorations. The ceremony is observed every second or third
year."[360]

In Saxony and Thuringia, at Whitsuntide, the Wild Man, a person
disguised in branches and moss, was chased through the woods. On being
overtaken he was shot at with blank cartridge and pretended to fall down
dead. A mock doctor then bled him and he soon came to life again. The
rejoicing people placed him in a waggon, and led him about in
procession, to receive gifts at the houses of the village.[361]

The common feature in all these apparently senseless observances is the
symbolical sacrifice of the human representative of the spirit of
vegetation, and they drive us to the conclusion that there was a time
when the victim was sacrificed in reality. In the same way the custom
still current in Belgium and French Flanders at the summer festival of
drawing in procession large wicker figures enclosing living men, recalls
the gigantic images of ozier-work, covered with leaves, in which the
Druids confined the victims destined for their fiery sacrifices.[362]




                               CHAPTER IX
                         CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCES


In modern times, as the once joyful celebrations of May-day have waned
the festivities of Christmas-tide have undergone increase and
development. The grosser features of the festival have, no doubt, been
eliminated; the mummers and the lord of misrule have for the most part
gone the way of the May-king, but all the more graceful and orderly
observances of the time have strengthened their hold
bearer.' The cavalcade then returns, with 
 music and song, to the village. Amongst the personages who calculate in the 
 emanation are a Moorish king with a sooty face and pennant on his head, a 
 Dr. Iron - Beard, a corporal, and an executioner. They halt on the greenwich village 
 green, and each of the characters makes a address in rhyme. The 
 executioner announces that the leaf - clothe man has been condemned to 
 end, and cuts off his false capitulum. Then the riders race to the 
 May - tree, which has been sic up a little way off. The beginning man who 
 succeeds in wrenching it from the ground as he gallop past keeps it 
 with all its decorations. The ceremony is observed every second or third 
 year. "[360 ] 

 In Saxony and Thuringia, at Whitsuntide, the Wild Man, a person 
 disguise in branches and moss, was chased through the woods. On being 
 overtaken he was shot at with blank cartridge and pretended to accrue down 
 all in. A mock doctor then bled him and he soon came to life again. The 
 rejoicing people placed him in a wagon, and contribute him about in 
 procession, to receive giving at the houses of the village.[361 ] 

 The common feature in all these apparently otiose observances is the 
 symbolical sacrifice of the human representative of the liveliness of 
 vegetation, and they drive us to the conclusion that there was a time 
 when the victim was sacrificed in reality. In the like way the custom 
 still current in Belgium and French Flanders at the summer festival of 
 drawing in procession large wicker figures envelop living men, recalls 
 the gigantic images of ozier - work, traverse with leaves, in which the 
 Druids confined the victims destine for their fiery sacrifices.[362 ] 




                                CHAPTER IX 
                          CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCES 


 In modern times, as the once joyful celebration of May - day have waned 
 the celebration of Christmas - tide have undergone increase and 
 development. The arrant features of the festival receive, no doubt, been 
 eliminated; the mummers and the lord of misrule have for the most part 
 gone the room of the May - king, but all the more graceful and orderly 
 observances of the time have strengthened their hold
beager.' The cavalcade then rtturns, with
music cbd sonj, to ths villagd. Amongst the personages who fugure in the
procession are x Moorish king wirh a wooty face and crown on gls hecd, a
Dr. Iron-Beard, a corporan, and an execudiunzr. They halt on the village
green, and each og hhe characters makts w spsvcm in rhyme. The
executioner announdes thau the leaf-clad man has been condemned to
deatj, anf cuts off his falde head. Theb thq riders race to the
May-urze, which haa been set up a little way off. Ghe fnrst man whi
syccfgds in wrenciing in from the ground as ve gallpps past keeps it
xith all its decorations. Vhe ceremony is obsetved every szcond or third
year."[360]

In Wazony dnd Dhurkbgix, au Wiitauntidf, tie Wild Man, a person
diwguised in branches age moss, was chzsed trrjugh the woods. On being
overtaken he was shkt at with blank cartriege and pretended to vall down
qead. A mock doctor then bled him and he soon came to lmfd ayqin. Tfw
rfjoicing people placed him in a waggon, and leq hom about in
procefsion, to revelvr gifts at the houses or the village.[361]

The clmmon fgature in all trese apparently senseless obsercances is thv
symvolical sacrifice lf the humau reprgsentayive of the spirit of
veyetatikn, and they drive us go the conclusiov tmat there was a time
when the dictim waw saerificed in teality. In the sale wan the custom
still ckrrenj in Balgium and French Flanders at the summer hxstival of
draeitg pn procesfion karge wicker sigures enclosnng liviug men, recalls
thv gigantir images of jzier-work, covated with leavxs, in whish tye
Dryids covwined the victoms destiutd for theur fiery sacrificex.[362]




                               CHAPTRR KX
                         CHFOSTMAR OBSERVANCCS


Iv mocern times, as the onwe jkyful celebrations on May-day yave wanqd
the festiviyies of Christmas-tlde heve unvergonr igcrease and
development. The groaser featkref of the feseivao have, no dobbt, been
eliminated; the mummers and the lird of misrule havw for the most part
yoke the way oh the Iay-king, bgt all the more gracwful and orderly
onservances of the time have vtrenhthened their hold
bearer.' The cavalcade then returns, with music to village. Amongst personages who figure Moorish with a sooty and crown on head, a Dr. Iron-Beard, a corporal, an executioner. They halt on the village green, and each of the characters a speech in rhyme. The executioner announces that the leaf-clad man has been to and off false head. Then the riders race to the May-tree, which has been set up a little off. The first man who succeeds in wrenching from the ground as gallops past keeps it with its The ceremony observed second third year."[360] In and Thuringia, at Whitsuntide, the Wild Man, a person disguised in branches and moss, was chased through woods. On he was at blank and pretended to dead. A mock doctor then bled soon came to life again. The rejoicing people him in waggon, and led him about in to receive gifts at the houses of the The common feature in all these apparently senseless observances is the symbolical sacrifice of the of the spirit of and they drive to conclusion there a time the victim was sacrificed in reality. In the same way the still current in Belgium and French Flanders at the summer drawing procession large wicker enclosing living men, recalls gigantic of ozier-work, covered with which Druids destined their sacrifices.[362] CHAPTER IX CHRISTMAS In modern times, as the joyful celebrations of May-day Christmas-tide have undergone increase and development. The grosser of the festival have, no doubt, been the mummers and the lord of misrule have for the most part the way May-king, but all the more graceful and orderly of the time have their hold
bearer.' The cavalcade then retUrns, with
muSic anD soNg, tO tHe viLlagE. Amongst the perSOnagEs who figure in the
procesSion aRe A moorISh King wIth a sooTY fACE anD cRoWn oN hIS hEad, a
DR. IrOn-Beard, A corporal, aNd aN eXecutioner. ThEY hAlt on the viLlaGe
green, and eaCh oF the chArActERs makEs a SpeecH in rhyME. The
exEcutioner AnNOunces THat the lEAF-cLad mAn has been condemneD To
DEath, and cuts off His falSe HEaD. tHen The Riders race To The
MaY-Tree, whiCH hAS BEen SEt up a little waY off. The firsT Man Who
sucCeEds IN wrencHing iT fROm tHe ground as hE galLops past kEeps it
WIth all iTS decoraTions. THe cEreMony IS oBsErvEd EVerY SeConD Or tHird
year."[360]

in saXony aNd ThURINGia, aT WhItsuNtide, The Wild Man, a peRsoN
disGUisEd in bRanchEs anD mOss, waS chaseD throUgH the woods. On beinG
oveRtaken he wAs sHoT at WiTh blaNK cartrIdgE anD pretenDed to faLL doWn
DEAD. A Mock doctor then bled HiM ANd He soon caMe to liFE aGaIN. The
rejoIcIng PeopLE PlaceD him IN a Waggon, anD led hiM AbOuT in
procEsSion, to ReCeiVe gIfts aT The hOuses oF the villAge.[361]

ThE Common feature iN All these apparENtLY SeNSeleSs oBservances iS the
SYmboLicaL SaCriFIce of The huMaN RePResentative of the spiRiT of
vegEtatiOn, and they drivE us to the coNCLUsion thaT theRE wAS a time
when the vIctim Was sacrifiCEd in realIty. In The same wAy the custOM
Still curRenT in belGiuM ANd french FlanderS AT the SuMmer fesTivAl of
draWinG in ProCesSiOn large wiCker figuReS eNcLoSinG liviNG men, recaLlS
thE gIgaNtic iMAges of Ozier-Work, CoVeREd wIth leavES, iN WHich ThE
DRuidS coNfIned tHe viCTimS destinEd for theiR fiERy saCrIfIces.[362]




                               CHApTER IX
                         CHRISTMaS oBSERVANCEs


IN moDern tiMES, as the onCe joyful celebrations of MAY-day havE waNed
thE fesTivities oF ChRistmaS-tiDE have uNdergoNe incReAse AND
deveLOPmEnt. thE grosser feATUreS of thE fEstiVal have, No doubt, been
eliminaTEd; tHe mummers and tHe lOrd oF MIsRulE HaVE foR tHE moST Part
gone the way oF the May-kinG, bUT aLl the more gRAceFuL and ordErly
obsErvanCEs of the Time have sTrengthenEd TheiR HOld
bearer.' The cavalcade the n returns,  with 
mu sic  a nd s ong,  to the villag e . Am ongst the personages w ho fi gu r e in th e
pro cession ar e a M oo ri shki n gwitha s ooty fa ce and cro wnon  his head, a Dr . Iron-Bea rd,  a corporal,  an d an e xe cut i oner.  Th ey ha lt ont he vil lage
gree n, and ea c h of th e ch arac ters makes a spee c hi n rhyme. The
e xecuti on e ra n nou nce s that the  l eaf-c l ad manh as b e enc ondemned to
d eath, and c u tsoff hi sfal s e head . The nt heriders race  tothe
May-t ree, w h ich has been se t up a  li ttl e wa y  o ff . T he fir s tman who 
succeed sin  wren chin g i t  fro m t he g round  as he gallop s p astk eep s itwithallit s dec oratio ns. T he  ceremony is ob serv ed everysec on d o rthird year." [36 0]
In Sax ony and Thu ri n g i a,  at Whitsuntide, t he W il d Man, a  perso n 
d is g uised in  b ran ches a nd mo ss,w as  chasedthroug h  t he  woods.  O n bein gove rta ken h e  was  shotat withblank cartridge andp retended to f a ll d ow n 
dea d.A mock doct or t h en b ledh im  an d  he s oon c am e  t o  life again. The
re jo icingpeopl e placed himin a waggo n , and ledhima bo u t in
processio n, to  receive g i fts at t he ho uses ofthe villa g e .[361]
The  co mmo n f e a tu re in all the s e  app ar ently s ens eless o bse rva nce s i sthe
symbo lical sa cr if ic eofthe h u man repr es ent at ive  of t h e spir it of 
veg et at i on,  and th e yd r iveus  t o th e c on clusi on t h atthere w as a time 
wh e n th evi ctim wa s sacrificedin  reality.In  th e same w ay the c ustom
still current inB elgiumand  Fren ch F landers a t t he sum mer festiv al ofdrawi ng  in p roces s i on  la rg e wicker f i g ure s enc lo sing  living  men, recalls
theg iga ntic images o f o zier - w or k,c ov e red  w i thl e aves, in whichthe
Druids  c o nf ined the v i cti ms  destin ed fortheir fiery s acrifices .[362]


                         CHAPT E R IX                  CH RISTMA S  OB SERVA NCES

I n mode rn ti me s, as th e once joyful celebrati ons of  May- day  have wan edt hefestiviti es o f Christma s-t ide  have  un d ergon e in c re ase and
d evel o pment. Th e  g ros s e rfeatures of t h e f estiv alh ave, n o do ubt, been
elimina t ed; the mummer s an d the  lo r d of  m isrule have fo r t he m ost part 
g one the way  of theMa y -king , butall th e moreg r ac e ful an d or der ly
observ anc es of theti me have s tren gt henedtheirh old
bearer.' The_cavalcade then_returns, with
music and song,_to the_village._Amongst the_personages_who figure in_the
procession are a_Moorish king with a_sooty face and_crown_on his head, a
Dr. Iron-Beard, a corporal, and an executioner. They halt on the_village
green,_and each_of_the_characters makes a speech in_rhyme. The
executioner announces that the_leaf-clad man_has been condemned to
death, and cuts off his_false_head. Then the_riders race to the
May-tree, which has been set up_a little way off. The first_man who
succeeds in_wrenching_it_from the ground as_he gallops past keeps it
with all_its decorations. The ceremony is observed_every second or third
year."[360]

In Saxony and Thuringia,_at Whitsuntide, the Wild Man, a_person
disguised in branches and moss,_was chased_through the woods. On being
overtaken_he was shot_at with_blank cartridge and_pretended to fall down
dead. A mock_doctor then bled_him and he soon came to_life_again. The
rejoicing people_placed_him_in a_waggon, and led_him_about in
procession,_to_receive gifts at the houses of_the_village.[361]

The common feature in all these apparently_senseless observances is the
symbolical_sacrifice_of the human representative_of the spirit of
vegetation, and_they drive us to the conclusion_that there_was a_time
when the victim was sacrificed in reality. In the same way_the custom
still current in Belgium and_French Flanders at the_summer festival_of
drawing_in procession large_wicker_figures enclosing_living men, recalls
the gigantic images of ozier-work,_covered with_leaves, in which the
Druids confined the_victims destined for their_fiery_sacrifices.[362]




     _     _    ___    _     _ CHAPTER IX
_      __     __     ___ CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCES


In modern times,_as the once joyful celebrations of_May-day have waned
the festivities of Christmas-tide have undergone increase_and
development. The grosser_features of the festival have,_no_doubt,_been
eliminated; the mummers and the lord of misrule have for_the most_part
gone the way_of the May-king, but all the more graceful and orderly
observances_of the time have strengthened their hold