Page 32 - Dec 2022

"

In Britain, there was the

Lord of Misrule long

before there was a

Father Christmas. Then,

came

Oliver Cromwell, the Lord

Protector, neither a believer in

Kings nor a fan of Christmas.

" g
T hosewho spend much of t he holiday season lament in
it s fall int o frivolit y, commercialism, and low t ast e, rat her
t han concent rat ing solely on t he religious aspect s of t he
Christ ian nat ivit y st ory, should t ake heart . The t hings t hey
lament as indicat ions of modern moral failings, have always
been a part of seasonal celebrat ions in December and January.
St art ing wit h t he Romans

Alt hough t he Christ ian Church had made t remendous inroads
in t he Roman Empire by t he 4t h cent ury, t he much earlier
mid-wint er fest ival of t he Sat urnalia, held in honour of t he god
Sat urn, was st ill hanging about . The fest ival commenced on 17
December and was accompanied by seven days of
merry-making.
32
Images by iSt ock,