This is the time of year we watch football games and cheer for our favorite team or school. I wish to share with you a special Christmas Football Match.
THE CHRISTMAS FOOTBALL MATCH
(Oswestry Observer) (1887)
In South Cardiganshire early in the century it seems that the population, rich and poor, male and female, of opposing parishes, turned out on Christmas Day and indulged in the game of football with such vigour that it became little short of a serious fight. The parishioners of Celland and Pencarreg were particularly bitter in their conflicts; men threw off their coats and waistcoats, women their gowns, and somtimes their petticoats. At Llanwennog, an extensive parish below Lampeter, the inhabitants for football purposes were divided into the Bros and Blaenaus. My informant, a man over eighty, now an inmate of Lampeter Workhouse, give the following particulars: In North Wales the ball was called the Bel Troed, and was made with a bladder covered with a Cwd Tarw. In South Wales it was called the Bel Ddu, and was usually made by the shoemaker of the parish, who appeared on the ground on Christmas Day with the ball under his arm, and, said my informant, he The Bros, it should be stated, occupied the high ground of the parish. They were nick-named "Paddy Bros" from a tradition that they were descendants from Irish people who settled on the hills in days long gone by. The Blaenaus occupied the lowlands, and, it may be presumed, were pure-bred Brythons. The more devout of the Bros and Blaenaus joined in the service at the parish church on Christmas morning. At any rate, the march did not begin until about midday, when the service was finished. Then the whole of the Bros and Blaenaus, rich and poor, male and female, assembled on the turnpike road which divided the highlands from the lowlands. The ball having been redeemed from the crydd, it was thrown high in the air by a strong man, and when it fell Bros and Blaenaus scrambled for it possession, and a quarter of an hour frequently elapsed before the ball was got out from the struggling heap of human beings. Then if the Bros, by hook or by crook, could succeed in taking the ball up the mountain to their hamlet of Rhyddlan they won the day; while the Blaenaus were successful if they got the ball to their end of the parish at New Court. The whole parish was the field of operations, and sometimes it would be dark before either party scored a victory. In the meantime many kicks would be given and taken, so that on the following day some of the competitors would be unable to walk, and sometimes to kick on the shins would lead the two men concerned to abandon the game until they had decided with was the better pugilist. There do not appear to have been any rules for the regulation of the game; and the art of football playing in the olden time seems to have been to reach the goal. When once the goal was reached, the victory was celebrated by loud hurrahs and the firing of guns, and was not disturbed until the following Christmas Day. Victory on Christmas Day, added the old man, was so highly esteemed by the whole country-side that a Bro or a Blaenau would as soon lose a cow from his cowhouse, as the football from his portion of the parish.
As you watch your favorite football team or sport this Christmas Season, it would not feel much like Christmas with out the traditional cheese ball.
PARTY CHEESE LOG
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3-5 ounces Bleu or Roquefort cheese
8-ounce package cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon pimiento
Heat oven to 350 degrees (F). Spread walnuts in a shallow pan and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden (about 8 to 10 minutes). Blend cheeses; stir in garlic salt, pimiento, and green pepper. Chill until firm; then shape into log. Roll in toasted walnuts and chill again, until serving time. Garnish with a sprig of holly, and serve with different kinds of crackers.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Day 4 - 25 Days of Christmas
Many of us at this time of the year are busy shopping, cutting and decorating our Christmas trees. But has anyone given it some thought how the Christmas tree came to be?
I had found a small unknown story about the Christmas tree. I hope you enjoy it.
LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
"There is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of Christianity in England. One of those helping to spread Christianity among the Druids was a monk named Wilfred (later Saint Wilfred).
One day, surrounded by a group of his converts, he struck down a hug oak tree, which, in the Druid religion, was an object of worship. As it fell to the earth, the oak tree split into four pieces and from its center sprung up a young fir tree.
Wilfred turned to speak, "This little tree shall be your Holy Tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of the fir. It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are evergreen. See how it points toward the heavens? Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child. Gather about it, not in the wilderness, but in your homes. There it will be surrounded with loving gifts and rites of kindness."
To this day, that is why the fir tree is one of our loveliest symbols of Christmas.
Author (unknown).
In addition to the Christmas tree, many of us have special Christmas treats we enjoy making, baking for our family, friends and ourselves. Please let share a few with you.
HOLIDAY PECAN CRUNCH
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces, 6 oz.
1 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
Into large bowl, measure first five (5) ingredients. With hand, knead dough until well blended and it holds together. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees (F). Pat dough evenly into 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan. Bake 25 minutes. In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring frequently, set aside. Remove pan from oven; pour chocolate over baked layer; with spatula, evenly spread over; sprinkle with pecans. Cool on wire rack. When cool, cut lengthwise into 6 strips, cut each strip crosswire into 12 pieces. Store in tightly-covered container, use up within one (1) week.
PEANUT BRITTLE
1 3/4 cups shelled roasted peanuts
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspon butter
Rub hulls from nuts; arrange on a buttered, shallow pan. Add salt to sugar, and heat in skillet until melted and caramelized, stirring constantly. Add butter; spoon mixture over peanuts, spreading to distribute syrup evenly. Let stand until cold. Break up. Makes 1 1/4 pounds.
I had found a small unknown story about the Christmas tree. I hope you enjoy it.
LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
"There is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of Christianity in England. One of those helping to spread Christianity among the Druids was a monk named Wilfred (later Saint Wilfred).
One day, surrounded by a group of his converts, he struck down a hug oak tree, which, in the Druid religion, was an object of worship. As it fell to the earth, the oak tree split into four pieces and from its center sprung up a young fir tree.
Wilfred turned to speak, "This little tree shall be your Holy Tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of the fir. It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are evergreen. See how it points toward the heavens? Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child. Gather about it, not in the wilderness, but in your homes. There it will be surrounded with loving gifts and rites of kindness."
To this day, that is why the fir tree is one of our loveliest symbols of Christmas.
Author (unknown).
In addition to the Christmas tree, many of us have special Christmas treats we enjoy making, baking for our family, friends and ourselves. Please let share a few with you.
HOLIDAY PECAN CRUNCH
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces, 6 oz.
1 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
Into large bowl, measure first five (5) ingredients. With hand, knead dough until well blended and it holds together. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees (F). Pat dough evenly into 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan. Bake 25 minutes. In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring frequently, set aside. Remove pan from oven; pour chocolate over baked layer; with spatula, evenly spread over; sprinkle with pecans. Cool on wire rack. When cool, cut lengthwise into 6 strips, cut each strip crosswire into 12 pieces. Store in tightly-covered container, use up within one (1) week.
PEANUT BRITTLE
1 3/4 cups shelled roasted peanuts
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspon butter
Rub hulls from nuts; arrange on a buttered, shallow pan. Add salt to sugar, and heat in skillet until melted and caramelized, stirring constantly. Add butter; spoon mixture over peanuts, spreading to distribute syrup evenly. Let stand until cold. Break up. Makes 1 1/4 pounds.
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