ilian domestic celebrations to a
public and communal action, I may mention a strange ceremony that
takes place at Messina in the dead of night; at two o'clock on
Christmas morning a naked _Bambino_ is carried in procession from
the church of Santa Lucia to the cathedral and back.{65}

[40] Or on the Sunday following the Octave, if the Octave itself is a
week-day.

[41] Tempting as it is to connect these dolls with the crib, it is
possible that their origin should be sought rather in
anthropomorphic representations of the spirits of vegetation, and
that they are of the same nature as the images carried about with
garlands in May and at other seasons.{77}

[42] Though no texts are extant of religious plays in English acted at
Christmastide, there are occasional records of such
performances:--at Tintinhull for instance in 1451 and at Dublin in
1528, while at Aberdeen a processional "Nativity" was performed at
Candlemas. And the "Stella," whether in English or Latin it is
uncertain, is found at various places between 1462 and 1579.{10}

[43] Lodging.

[44] Once.

[45] Scarcely.

[46] Horses. Hous of haras = stable.

[47] Dwell.

[48] Darkness.

[49] Being.

[50] Wonderful.

[51] Worship.

[52] Shedder.

[53] Wrap.

[54] Crippled.

[55] Overreached.

[56] Deprive of.

[57] Curse.

[58] Strong in lordliness.

[59] Wizard.

[60] Shame.

[61] Noble being.

[62] Cursed.

[63] Warlock.

[64] Sorrow.

[65] Grows merry.

[66] Promise.

[67] Noble.

[68] Child.

[69] Baby.

[70] Head.

[71] Face.

[72] Hand.

[73] Besides the Nativity plays in the four great cycles there exists a
"Shearmen and Tailors' Play" which undoubtedly belongs to Coventry,
unlike the "Ludus Coventriae," whose connection with that town is,
to say the least, highly doubtful. It opens with a prologue by the
prophet Isaiah, and in a small space presents the events connected
with the Incarnation from the Annunciation to the Murder of the
Innocents. The Nativity and shepherd scenes have less character and
interest than those in the great cycles, and need not be dealt with
here.{18}

[74]

"_Riepl._ What a noise there is. Everything seems so strange
to me!
_Joergl._ Have the heavens fallen to-day; are t