Churches tap creativity to portray medieval pageantry of Boar's Head festivals
For three years, a cast of more than 200 people rehearsed and prepared for medieval-style revelry in Connecticut. In January, parishioners of Trinity Church in Southport presented their first Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival with the cooperation of Southport Congregational Church.Entire families from both churches participated in the cast, led by retired Bishop Clarence Coleridge of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, and his wife as the lord and lady of the manor; John Bedford Lloyd as the minstrel; and a brass quintet and percussionist assembled by Trinity Choirmaster Charles Dodsley Walker. Live animals -- a camel, a donkey and a peregrine falcon named Isis -- added to the spectacle. The performance was produced and written by Jean Whitney.
The Boar's Head Festival began in Oxford, England, in 1340 and is the oldest of the Anglican pageants and celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It is an allegory about the triumph of good over evil, with the evil represented by the boar and good by the light of Christ going out into the world. The medieval banquet celebrating families, health and material wealth ends with the merry "Waits" cavorting about the sanctuary as mummers, jesters, a magician, a juggler, acrobats and marionettes.
The second half begins with the entrance into a darkened church of a tiny sprite bearing a lighted candle. She hands the light to the rector, who lights the Pascal candle and holds it high so that its blessed light can fall on the shoulders of the congregation.
As the rector reads the ancient gospel of the Christmas story, torchbearers herald the entrance of the Holy Family into Bethlehem and the ancient Pageant of the Nativity begins. Hosts of angels sing of the glory of God, and the humble shepherds arrive to see the Christ Child in the manger. The kings arrive with their gifts, and the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled.
Ancient festival, modern cause
Five congregations in the Diocese of Bethlehem joined forces for a Boar's Head Festival there in January and used the event to support a new youth anti-violence project.
Two hundred performers from the combined congregations of St. Thomas, Morgantown; St. Gabriel's, Douglassville; St. Alban's, Sinking Spring; and St. Mary's and Christ Church, Reading, celebrated with costumes, song and fellowship. They drew an audience of more than 400.
Christ Church member Kathy Kreitz had organized a bus trip so friends and fellow church members could attend the festival at her brother's church. Plans developed after that excursion. As more churches decided to participate, organizers decided to pledge proceeds from the event to a summer camp for youths, CampPeaceWorks.
They raised $4,000 for the five-day summer day camp at Blue Mountain Camp near Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Students from each of the area school districts and churches will be invited, all on scholarship. They will be trained as mentors against violence in the teen community. Organizers hope the efforts -- the festival and the camp -- will become an annual commitment of the five congregations.
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