2/19/2023 0 Comments Lord of misrule saturnalia![]() ![]() And also, I give free leave to the said Owen Flood to command all and every person or persons whatsoever, as well as servants as others, to be at his command whensoever he shall sound his trumpet or music, and to do him good service, as though I were present myself, at their perils. I give free leave to Owen Flood, my trumpeter, gentleman, to be Lord of Misrule of all good orders during the twelve days. One wealthy estate owner has left us a written record of the authority granted to his chosen Lord of Misrule. ![]() His temporary elevation of status permitted him to command all present, but he was primarily expected to foster a merry atmosphere. The Lord of Misrule's most fundamental duty, however, was to attend the Christmas festivities in the character of a mock king. The duties of the Lord of Misrule varied from place to place, as did the type of entertainment offered and the duration of the Christmas holiday. For example, when he founded Cambridge University's Trinity College he mandated that a Lord of Misrule preside at its Christmas festivities. His enthusiasm for the custom was such that in a few cases he ordered others to follow suit. In 1347 Edward enjoyed a number of extravagant Christmas masques and dances prepared for him by his "Master of Merry Disports." King Henry VIII (1491-1547) found the Lord of Misrule and his diversions vastly entertaining. One of the earliest records of an English Christmas celebration presided over by a mock king dates back to the time of King Edward III (1312-1377). Of course, the noble and wealthy enjoyed the most elaborate Christmas celebrations, and also left the best records of the Lord of Misrule and his activities. Apparently, the Puritans did not find the interruption at all amusing. Many worshipers laughed at the spectacle and stood on their pews to get a better view. Perhaps in imitation of the Feast of Fools, the motley band careened down the aisle, dancing, singing, jingling bells, and brandishing their hobbyhorses. According to an irate Puritan of the sixteenth century, Christmas Lords sometimes led their retinue of giddy followers through the streets of the town and into churches while services were being held. ![]() The Christmas festivities over which the Lord of Misrule presided might include feasts, dances, mumming, musical entertainments, plays, and masques, as well as good deal of general merriment. These colorful titles reflect the kind of madcap revelry associated with these parties. Temporarily elevated from his ordinary, humble rank to that of "king," he was known by a variety of names, including the Lord of Misrule, the Abbot of Unreason, the Christmas Lord, and the Master of Merry Disports. The Bible does not give a date for Jesus’ birth in fact, some theologians have concluded he was probably born in spring, as suggested by references to shepherds and sheep in the Nativity story.In late medieval and Renaissance England, towns, colleges, noble houses, and the royal court often chose a mock king to preside over their Christmas festivities. The Christian holiday of Christmas, especially, owes many of its traditions to the ancient Roman festival, including the time of year Christmas is celebrated. to the fourth century A.D.-and their suppression of older seasonal rites practiced by the Celts and other groups-today’s Western cultures derive many of their traditional celebrations of midwinter from Saturnalia. Thanks to the Roman Empire’s conquests in Britain and the rest of Europe from the second century B.C. The common holiday custom of hiding coins or other small objects in cakes is one of many dating back to Saturnalia, as this was a method of choosing the mock king. The idea was that he ruled over chaos, rather than the normal Roman order. In many Roman households, a mock king was chosen: the Saturnalicius princeps, or “leader of Saturnalia,” sometimes also called the “Lord of Misrule.” Usually a lowlier member of the household, this figure was responsible for making mischief during the celebrations-insulting guests, wearing crazy clothing, chasing women and girls, etc. The cult statue of Saturn in the temple traditionally had woolen bonds tied around his feet, but during Saturnalia these bonds were loosened to symbolize the god’s liberation. ![]()
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