Folklore of Food: Traditional Christmas Food

Twelfth Night Merrymaking in Farmer Shakeshaft’s Barn

Food and feasting is at the centre of our Christmas celebrations, and folklore and customs play an important part in what we eat.

Yule Logs, Kissing-Bushes and Mistletoe: Christmas Greenery in Pre-Industrial England

Yule log. Image by Franck Barske from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/fire-flames-wood-inflamed-logs-2762870/

Plants play a major part in the many customs surrounding the Christmas festivities. The Yule log for example, was essentially associated with Christmas Eve, for on the evening of that day it was traditional to transport the log to the fireplace, ignite it and allow it to burn for at least 12 hours if ill-luck was to be avoided.

Mark Twain’s Wild West and the Presidential Election of 1872

Mark Twain

In a daring act, facing frightful peril, Mark Twain exploited a legend to launch his onstage comic career. With his future as a lecturer on a knife’s edge, Twain decided to open with a worn-out narrative that had seen better days. A disgruntled audience nearly drove him from the stage … until they understood his brilliant manipulation of their own folklore.

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