Christmas is a time of year that is all about tradition, but not every festive ritual is as enduring as putting Christmas lights on the tree and eating mince pies. Some traditions that used to be central to the season are now forgotten – and would seem eccentric in the modern day. Here are three Christmas rituals that got lost in time.
Attending a meat show
Going to a live show is still part of the season for many people, but it is usually something like a pantomime. In the past though, people would attend meat shows put on by local butchers. These took place close to Christmas Day and were used by butchers to sell their stocks. However, they were also competitive events with prizes like ‘Best Fat Cow’ and ‘Best Fat Sheep’.
Burning the Yule log
People still talk about Yule logs, but they are referring to a festive dessert. It is a kind of sponge cake in the shape of a wooden log, but the original Scandinavian tradition was something different. Back in the day, families were supposed to choose a wooden log to be the Yule log and then burn it. The idea was that no work would be done until it had burned away.
Wassailing
This tradition was distinctly English, and it was part of Christmas during the 1600s. People made a hot drink involving cider in a container known as the wassailing bowl. They would then take it around their local area, offering people a drink.
Perhaps one of these long-lost festive traditions will give you an idea for a ritual of your own this year!
