Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/501

 ii s. XIL DEC. 25, 1915.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

493

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1915.

CONTENTS. No. 313.


 * Christmas in the Cevennes. 493 Wincheste

Hall-book of 1414-5, 494 Christmas Bibliography, 498- A Christmas Hero The Christmas Posset-BowlArch "bishop Willisma's Ghost, 499 Casanoviana Vanishin London : Baker's C hop-House Puritan Names in Ne England, 500" Nauscopy," 501.

-QUERIES : Duohesses who have married Commoners Falconer: St. Dunstan-in-the-West^-Thunder Family, 50 "Lyulph" : Christmas Numbers The Meaning of "Trent Comic 'Arundines Cami' J. S. Brewer and E. C. Brewe Undergraduates as Officers of the Reserve Forces Nathaniel Lee, the Dramatist Robert Creighton, Pre center of Wells Habakkuk, 502 Authors of Quotation Wanted Armorial Bearings Sought "The Erthe goet on the Erthe " Song Wanted, 503.

HEPLIES : Lady O'Looney's Epitaph : Mrs. Jane Molony 504 Anthony Twichener Famous Trial : Jephson Th 'Observant Babe, 505 Under-spur-leather : Understrappe Tavern Signs : " Mother Huff -Cap " : "Tom o' Bedlam Stineing Nettles and Rheumatism, 506 Father Joh and Dr. Bacon Haycock or Heycock Family His tory of Commerce Tree Folk-Lore: the Elder, 50 Antonio de Guevara, Bishop of Mondoftedo Gospe for the Feast of the Assumption Society for Constitu tional Information J. B. Braithwaite Carol Wanted, 50 Author of Quotation Wanted John Rogers "Popin "ay " "Papagei" Portraits Wanted Fromond's Chantry at Winchester, 509 Edgar Allan Poe Cathedral Bel Stolen Disraeli : References Sought Water of the Nile 510 Churches used for the Election of Municipal Officer* Parish Registers : H. T. Wake, 511.

NOTES ON BOOKS : ' Russian Folk -Tales ' The

Antiquary.' Eighteenth-Century Works.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CEVENNES.

I DO not know my Cevennes sufficiently well to say whether there is a village in that region veritably called Cabrerolles (goat- land) or whether this is a nonce-name in- vented by M. Ferdinand Fabre as suitable to the scene of his story ' L'Abbe Roitelet.' The account of the way in which, we are told, Christmas was celebrated there in the eighteen seventies has interested me greatly ; for if there be no actual Cabrerolles in the district of the Black Espinouze, I judge that the observances recorded by M. Fabre were actual, and I feel sure that some of the readers of ' N. & Q.' who have forgotten what he wrote, and some who have never known, will care to see notes which I am setting down at Midsummer in readiness for our ^Christmas number.

We learn that at some places in the Ce- vennes, according to a custom of great anti- quity, the most recent man-child represents

the Babe of Bethlehem in the creche which is shown in the church at the Mass celebrated during the first breaths of the Feast of the Nativity. His parents appear as the B. V.M. and St. Joseph, and wear dresses which are quasi- Oriental in character : those of Pierre and Jeanne Miquel at Cabrerolles wero fashioned from cast-off church vestments, and the effect was duly impressive : people seemed to be half awed by the sight of their transformed neighbours. The Holy Family was grouped under the portable canopy (dais), used in processions and other cere- monies, which now became an idealized shed. During Mass the bleating and lowing of farm animals made itself heard at intervals, through the open doors of the church. Flocks and herds had been brought into the space about the building, and the draughts had to be endured by the faithful so that the beasts might hear the hymns, and, as the legend went, warm the Saviour with their breath, while human beings were reminded of the cattleshed on Judsean hills and of the soulless comrades for whom the One God cares.

After the completion of the Messe de minuit the Cure of Cabrerolles put off his chasuble and other eucharistic accessories, and, wearing a sumptuous cope, and holding a holy-water sprinkler in his hand, went in torchlight procession to the west end of the church, where the stock of the neigh- bourhood awaited him outside. The Holy Family came too, the canopy being borne along at their pace so as to keep them sheltered. At the threshold, mounted on a stool or stand, the priest addressed the lerdsmen and spoke of the propriety of festival, reminding them that the ancient use of the Espinouze allowed them to associate their animals, through the Midnight Mass, in an intimacy closer than that which ordinarily existed. He then called on them o sing ' The Cattle Carol,' and led the strain. When the men's voices took up iis, and the voices of the beasts rose too in uncultured bleat and bellow, c'etait sauvage t beau. Can God be offended when every- hing that hath breath gives praise ?
 * heir charges taking part in the Christmas

Here is a rendering of verses which, if. Fabre says, have been kept current for mndreds of years :

THE CATTLE CAROL.

All the Animals. Amid the sound of carols bright,

We saw some angels in the fold :

They bade us " Leave your sheds to-night,

To warm Babe Jesus, now a-cold.