ggling for the_ Cake.

Other particulars of the

POPULAR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

in the latter part of the eighteenth century are gleaned from
contemporary writers:--

"At Ripon, on Christmas Eve, the grocers, send each of their customers
a pound or half of currants and raisins to make a Christmas pudding.
The chandlers also send large mould candles, and the coopers logs of
wood, generally called _Yule clogs_, which are always used on
Christmas Eve; but should it be so large as not to be all burnt that
night, which is frequently the case, the remains are kept till old
Christmas Eve."[80]

In Sinclair's Account of Scotland, parish of Kirkden, county of Angus
(1792), Christmas is said to be held as a great festival in the
neighbourhood. "The servant is free from his master, and goes about
visiting his friends and acquaintance. The poorest must have beef or
mutton on the table, and what they call a dinner with their friends.
Many amuse themselves with various diversions, particularly with
shooting for prizes, called here _wad-shooting_; and many do but
little business all the Christmas week; the evening of almost every
day being spent in amusement." And in the account of Keith, in
Banffshire, the inhabitants are said to "have no pastimes or holidays,
except dancing on Christmas and New Year's Day."

Boyhood's Christmas Breaking-up is thus described in a poem entitled
"Christmas" (Bristol, 1795):--

"A school there was, within a well-known town,
(Bridgwater call'd), in which the boys were wont,
At _breaking-up_ for Christmas' lov'd recess,
To meet the master, on the happy morn,
At early hour; the custom, too, prevail'd,
That he who first the seminary reach'd
Should, instantly, perambulate the streets
With sounding horn, to rouse his fellows up;
And, as a compensation for his care,
His flourish'd copies, and his chapter-task,
Before the rest, he from the master had.
For many days, ere breaking-up commenced,
Much was the clamour, 'mongst the beardless crowd,
Who first would dare his well-warm'd bed forego,
And, round the town, with horn of ox equipp'd,
His schoolmates call. Great emulation glow'd
In all their breasts; but, when the morning came,
Straightway was heard, resounding through the streets,
The pleasing blast (more welcome far, to them,
Than is, to sportsmen, the delightful cry
Of hounds on chase), which soon together brought
A tribe of boys, who, thund'ring