2 posts tagged “cocktail”

The Eleventh Day of Christmas : Eleven Pipers Piping  / or ladies dancing / bulls a-bleating / bears a-baiting

January 4th

The Eleven Pipers represent the Eleven Faithful Apostles

In centuries past guests were often entertained by musicians, dancers, jugglers, etc. as well as singing and dancing themselves. Bagpipes and their younger cousins the musette (an instrument similar to a bagpipe but the air for the sound came from bellows rather than blowing into the instrument) were popular instruments for dance music. While we usually associate the bagpipe with Scotland, they were also a common instrument in France as well. Since Queen Elizabeth I was succeeded by the Stuart kings of Scotland, bagpipes and other aspects of Scots culture were common among the upper classes in England as were elements of French culture due to intermarriage of the English and French nobility.

It has been reported that the members of the present British Royal Family are woken up at their Christmas retreat of Balmoral by pipers playing bagpipes outside their bedroom windows. What a jolly lot they must be!

During the reign of Elizabeth I archery was the only sport allowed on Christmas day. All others were banned. Archery was promoted as the lower classes were often archers in the army of the period and so to practise at the expense of all else was seen as a good way of building the nations defences

Throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas the Lord of Misrule reigns.  The Lord of Misrule is thought to have originated from benevolent Roman masters who allowed their servants to be the boss for a while. The Church entered the act by allowing a choirboy, elected by his peers, to be a Bishop during the period starting with St. Nicholas Day (6th December) until Holy Innocents Day (28th December). Within the period the chosen boy, symbolising the lowliest authority, would dress in full Bishop's regalia and conduct the Church services. Many of the great cathedrals adopted this custom including York, Winchester, Salisbury Canterbury and Westminster. Henry VIII  abolished Boy Bishops

The Lord of Misrule was appointed by all "persons of worship" including Lieutenants and Sheriffs of counties, and even bishops, to manage the merriment of the Twelve Days.

At the court and at the universities, Misrule was usually elected on St Thomas's Day, so there is plenty of time to plan. He then chooses officers for his Court of Misrule such as Marshal, Master of the Game, Constable, and Chief Butler. For Christmas 1561, the Lord of Misrule at the Inner Temple was Lord Robert Dudley.

On each of the twelve days of Christmas, his rule runs from evening until breakfast the next day. His duties consist consisting mainly of presiding over the feasting, games, and dancing.

At supper, the courtiers of Misrule are cried in to the hall with silly names like Sir Francis Flatterer, Sir Randall Rakabite of Rascall Hall in the County of Rakehell, Sir Morgan Mumchance, or Sir Bartholomew Balbreech of Buttocksbury. How amusing!

Remember The Pied Piper of Hamelin  by Robert Browning (1812-1889)? He has nothing to do with the Twelve Days of Christmas but he was a piper piping!

http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/rbrowning/bl-rbrown-pied.htm

Want a Christmas Pudding with a difference? Try it as a cocktail!

Christmas Pudding

• 1 ounce Drambuie
• 5 ounces Guiness beer
• 1 ounce Southern Comfort

Combine ingredients and serve in a red wine glass.

Read more at : Christmas Cocktail Recipes: These festive Christmas cocktail recipes will help you deck the hall http://partyfood.suite101.com/article.cfm/christmas_cocktail_recipes#ixzz0aKIaawKM