Sujet

Cutting the Ashen Fagots; Devonshire, 1854. Creator: Edmund Evans.

Légende

Cutting the Ashen Fagots; Devonshire, 1854. Old English Christmas tradition. A faggot (large log or a bundle of ash sticks) is bound with nine green lengths of ash bands or 'beams', preferably all from the same tree. The faggot must be burnt in a hearth on Christmas Eve, while people sing Christmas carols. 'The ash is said to be the only wood that will burn green, and it is the policy of the wood-cutters to lay as many "binds" upon the fagot as possible, as it is an old established custom that every "bind" should represent a jug of cider, not that this is the limitation of quantity consumed on the occasion, only that this is part the ceremonial. A hot supper is usually provided, and the wives and children of the labourers and servants, together with the farmer and his family form a jocund party, and there is no end of good solid cheer and hearty enjoyment, which lasts far into the Christmas morning'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Notre référence

HRM22B08_224

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

30,3Mo (3,2Mo) / 32,7cm x 23,2cm / 3860 x 2744 (300dpi)

Mots clés

nature tree countryside season field fields female firewood wood women woman people male child children man men religious plant plants religion guy British tools tool traditional tradition annual Christianity rustic entrance gate farmland location century Britain newspapers press concept typical bundle B&W pitchfork wintry Christmas Eve 19th century black & white black and white B W nineteenth century rural trees The Print Collector Illustrated London News rural life ILN fagot christmas winter newspaper engraving faggot Regionalism Edmund Evans Evans Edmund Evans Edmund William Edmund William Evans 19th-century way in five-bar gate