We Wish You a Merry Midwinter Season

A Greeting and a Giftto you this Christmas

Love from, Richard

2014 has been a big year. I became a ‘Doctor’. Moved to a new city. Started a new job.

Through it all I’ve relied on old friends, and found new ones. Thank you for your support, love and en-couragement, and contributing to making this another

fantastic year.

One of the things I have been enjoying is time to pursue my passions for art and for storytelling. So I hope you won’t mind if I share a little of both with

you this Christmas.

Please turn over!

Hard breaks for Joseph...

When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he He courted Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee He courted Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee

As Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard gold There were cherries and berries, as red as any blood There were cherries and berries, as red as any blood

The Cherry Tree Carol

Then up spoke Virgin Mary, so meek and so mild: ‘Go fetch me some cherries Joseph, for I am with child’ ‘Go fetch me some cherries Joseph, for I am with child’

Then up spoke old Joseph, with an answer so unkind: ‘Let he pluck you the cherries, who brought you now with child!’ ‘Let he pluck you the cherries, who brought you now with child!’

Then up spoke baby Jesus, from his mother’s womb: ‘Bow down you tallest cherry tree, my mother to have some’ ‘Bow down you tallest cherry tree, my mother to have some’

So bowed the tallest cherry tree, to his mother’s hand ‘You see,’ she said, ‘Joseph, I’ve cherries at command’ ‘You see,’ she said, ‘Joseph, I’ve cherries at command’

So Mary plucked the cherries, as red as any blood And Mary she went homewards, Oh with her heavy load And Mary she went homewards, Oh with her heavy load.

- Trad. Carol

Ladies and Gentlemen,It’s Christmas

at Camelot...

This king lay at Camelot nigh on Christmas with many lovely lords, of leaders the best,reckoning of the Round Table all the rich brethren, with right ripe revel and reckless mirth.

But Arthur would not eat till all were served, he was so joyous a youth, and somewhat boyish:he liked his life lively, he loved the less either to long lie idle or to long sit,so busied him his young blood and his brain wild. And also another matter moved him so,that he had nobly named he would never eat on such dear days, before he had been advised,of some adventurous thing, an unknown tale, of some mighty marvel, that he might believe,of ancestors, arms, or other adventures; or else till someone beseeched for some sure knightto join with him in jousting, in jeopardy to lay, lay down life for life, allow each to the other,as fortune might favour them, a fair advantage. This was the king’s custom when he in court was,at each fine feast among his many friends in hall.

- ‘Gawain and the Green Knight’

CLICK HERE

Sir Cleges was a medieval English verse chivalric romance written in tail-rhyme stanzas in the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century.It was clearly a minstrel tale, praising giving gifts to minstrels, and punishing the servants who might make it impossible for a minstrel in a noble household. Corrupt officials are central to it.

Sir Cleges becomes poor through his generosity. He prays that God will spare him and his wife and children. He finds cherries ripening in his yard although it is Christmas, and sets out to bring them to Uther Pendragon in hopes of a reward.

Sir Cleges is found in two 15th-century manuscripts, NLS 19.1.11 and the Oxford manuscript, Ashmole 61 and were compared by Treichel. Textual comparison points to a third, lost original.

The romance combined many familiar motifs, original only in their unu-sual combination from different genres, which many authors have found striking. The figure of the Spendthrift Knight shows probable influence of the romance Amadas. The miracle of unseasonable fruit appears in many Celtic saints’ legends, the tale of Joseph of Arimathea where his staff took root and flowered every Christmas, and The Cherry Tree Carol. The “Blows Shared” motif is found in Gesta Romanorum and many folktales about the world.

- Wikipedia

The Story

Each his load as he liked himself, there ladled and nothing loath; Every two had dishes twelve, good beer and bright wine both. - ‘Gawain and the Green Knight’

Though not allowed to eat the best parts of the deer, a nobleman full of Christmas spirit might allow his poor tenants to have the leftovers. Known as ‘umbles,’ these parts were usually the heart, liver, tongue, feet, ears and brains. They were made into a pie. It’s easy to see where our modern expression about having to ‘eat humble pie’ comes from. However, if you weren’t into deer entrails, the church generously offered a fixed Christmas price of 7 pence for a ready cooked goose -- although that was about a day’s wages.

Mince pies were also eaten at medieval tables. If you made a wish with your first bite people said it would come true. But don’t refuse if someone offers you a pie, or you might suffer bad luck. Another big treat of the medieval table was Christmas pudding. Called ‘frumenty’ -- from the Latin for corn ‘frumentum’ -- it was made of thick porridge, wheat, currants and dried fruit. If available, eggs and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg were added.

- Time-TravelBritain.com

The Feast

Until next year,

Merry Christmas One And All...

Original Artwork - Traditional Song - A Medieval Storyarr. by Richard Scott for

Christmas 2014