The Merriment of Christmas [antikvár]

It was a 15th Century follower of St. Francis of Assisi wiio wrote, "Nowe let us syng and mery be For Crist oure kyng hathe set us fre." Another Franciscan carol in the same vein exults: "O, my heart is full of mirth At Jesus' birth." It was this merry rejoicing at Christ's birth which inspired, in parts of medieval England, Scotland and Ireland, the annual celebration of "the devil's funeral." For an hour before midnight on Christmas Eve, the village churchbells tolled slowly and mournfully. Then, Just at midnight the belfries rang out a paean of joy and deliverance—for it was believed that the devil died when Jesus Christ was born. Today bells and carillons still call men to rejoice on Christmas Day. The shout of "Merry Christmas!" rings through the holidays along with the mere solemn refrain of that first Christmas: peace on earth. The evergreen tree glowing with ornaments, the wreath on the door, the turkey in the oven, stockings hung above the fireplace, carols sung in snowy streets—all express the merriment of this most festive season. Volume Three of The Life Book of Christmas seeks to capture the warmth, good will and inventive zest that make up the Christmas spirit today; Volume One goes back to the source of that spirit, the glory and wonder of the first Christmas; and Volume Two describes the growing enrichment of Christmas through the ages and in many lands. As explained in Volume Two, Christmas decorations date from ancient times and come from many places. The exquisite cathedral collage (opposite) was inspired by medieval illuminaiion but was actually constructed by an imaginative modern artist out of bits of wrapping paper and Christmas seals. Chapter I presents a wealth of such ingenious decorating ideas. The elaborate but edible gingerbread house, the bright felt wall hanging, the paper figures for the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Della Robbia wreath, all are based on traditional decorating themes, but were created especially for this book by artists who carefully designed them so they could be made by amateurs. Chapter II traces the tradition of holiday hospitality down through the years. The recipes given here-all of ancient lineage but adapted for modern cooks—include unusual suggestions for parties as well as for the family Christmas dinner, and an imaginative assortment of drinks and punches derived from the convivial wassail bowl. Fun for children is the theme of Chapter III. Here are lively games to play, a fascinating puzzle based on a 16th Century painting, and a play children can produce themselves for the entertainment of the family. At the end of each chapter, an anthology of poems, stories and songs comments further on the subject. The final photographic essay expresses the special magic of Christmas as it is newly created each season. According to Proverbs, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance." The aim of this book is to make the heart merry and thus to add to the merriment of Christmas. —THE EDITORS OF LIFE