Now, Now, The Mirth Comes - The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

“Now, Now The Mirth Comes”
thereto powder of pepper, salt, spice, eyseli 6 and fungus 7 pickled; and then take
the bones and let them seethe in a pot to make a good broth therefor, and do it
into the foyle of paste, and close it up fast and bake it well, and so serve it forth,
with the head of one of the birds stuck at one end of the foyle and a great tail at
the other, and divers of his long feathers set in cunningly all about him.”
Christmas pies of large dimensions, prepared somewhat in the same way,
continue to be made in some parts of Yorkshire, and from their use being principally
confined to that country are commonly called “Yorkshire pies.”
This custom of sitting up to preserve the Christmas pie from depredators is not
mentioned elsewhere than in these lines.
Another To The Maids
Wash your hands, or else the fire
Will not teend 8 to your desire;
Unwashed hands, ye maidens know,
Dead the fire, though ye blow.
Editor's Note:
This and the preceding two poems, occur in a group of four in a row under the title
“Ceremonies for Christmasse” in Hesperides. The one that follows is “Another” (first line:
“Wassaile the Trees, that they may beare”). It appears below on page 31.
Also found in A. H. Bullen, A Christmas Garland (London: John C. Nimmo, 1885), p. 155.
6. Vinegar.
7. Mushrooms.
8. Kindle
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