Christmas 1720

 

Sticking the Inside

Settlers art scouring the forest for suitable evergreens and the odd patch of holly 'r sprig of mistletoe to bringeth inside and stick on mantles and tabletops. The "Sticking" of the houses and the Church will take place just before Christmas Eve and last through Twelfth Night. Scented flowers and herbs set about in bowls add to the sweet smells of the festival. And, Yes, mistletoe is less of a scandal here on the islands, but please refrain from adding Kissing Boughs to the Church.

Dancing in a well sticked parlour and an example of a Kissing Bough

 

Plummy pudding ready to set afire

 

Christmas Feast Afters

Six years ago, it hath happened. We hast an eye witness who did see it served. Now some bethink it heresy to call our sov'reign His Royal Highness the Pudding King but we art assured His Majesty enjoys the name play. And the serving of a plum pudding at Christmas Dinner is now all the fashion in the finer homes. Here on the islands the cake is spicy and dark and drench'd in rum for two weeks 'r more.

 

Burning the Yule Log

Burning a giant log throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas brings valorous luck to the house in the New Year. The burning behemoth is the backdrop for singing and toasts, prayers and hopes for the coming new year. Some saveth the ashes of the yule log f'r the fields.

 

An eye to the flames, children!

Evening Amusements

The rum shall pour lib'rally on the feast day and families and friends shareth hospitality and good will. Take good care not to play thy game of Snap-Dragon too late in the evening at which hour the rum hath taken full effect. Many an eyebrow's been sing'd trying to snatch the most still-flaming currants, from a platter on which they been doused with spirits and lit afire. Charades is still the genteel game, but the rousing Squeak Piggy Squeak is gaining popularity, particularly in the late hours of the evening.
 

The Nassau Print House shall giveth hence each who do request a game of 12th Night Character Cards along with a rum drenched spice cake from the bakery the week before Christmas through 12th night. Bid the publisher Isaac Bickerstaff or the baker Annie Octavia that thou hath read the offer in the Tatler and collect thy gift!

 

How to Set the Meat in Order

A Bill of Fare for Christmas Day
1. A collar of brawn.
2. Stewed Broth of Mutton marrow bones.
3. A grand Sallet.
4. A pottage of caponets.
5. A breast of veal in stoffado.
6. A boil'd partridge.
7. A chine of beef, or surloin roast.
8. Minced pies.
9. A Jegote of mutton with anchove sauce.
10. A made dish of sweet-bread.
11. A swan roast.
12. A pasty of venison.
13. A kid with a pudding in his belly.
14. A steak pie.
15. A hanch of venison roasted.
16. A turkey roast and stuck with cloves.
17. A made dish of chickens in puff paste.
18. Two bran geese roasted, one larded.
19. Two large capons, one larded.
20. A Custard.

---The Accomplisht Cook, Robert May, anno1685

 

Do Pirates Pirate on Christmas

Shall those Jolly Fellows take time out from their busy schedule of pillaging, plundering, and wenching to bray out Christmas? Now those Gents have all returned from plunder of the coasts from Charleston to Boston as winter ice arrived, and hath returned to the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Aside from this famous pirate of lore named Fierce Nick Bellylaugh, we doth not knoweth of many pirate gift exchanges. 'cepting Old Black Sam who did four years ago, not far from these docks, did take a gift for himself on Christmas Day of a great ship named the Sultana. Which he did festoon with even more "gifts" of extra cannons from other "visited" ships. 

After the Afters

A powder for the heart-burn
Taketh white chalk six ounces;
eyes and claws of crabs, of each an ounce;
oil of nutmeg six drops;
and maketh that into a fine powder. 

About a dram of this in a glass of water is an infallible cure f'r the heart-burn.