December 25th – The sterre schon
Merry Christmas one and all! For Christmas Day, we have chosen this medieval carol which finds the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, and a golden… Read More »December 25th – The sterre schon
Rare Book Collection
December 23rd – A measure of winters
The tale unfolding in verse today, centred upon Adam disobedience in plucking an apple from the tree, is preserved in just one manuscript. Happily, that… Read More »December 23rd – A measure of winters
December 22nd – The sound(er) of feasting
Though early modern students at St Andrews were expected to live beneath one college roof, and eat at a common table, the presbyterian tradition, and… Read More »December 22nd – The sound(er) of feasting
December 21st – Deck the Halls
Today’s advent door opens onto winters of yesteryear spent in University Hall, the University of St Andrews’ first residence for women students. The records of… Read More »December 21st – Deck the Halls
December 20th – Blown away by feathers
“It is most remarkable”, declares an aghast J.R. Planché in his ‘Cyclopædia of costume’ (1876 – 1879, rf GT510.P5), “that these most graceful and effective… Read More »December 20th – Blown away by feathers
December 16th – A little sheepish
In Scotland, at least, ‘tis the season of all things wool – woolly sweaters, hats and gloves, to keep the chill at bay, and this… Read More »December 16th – A little sheepish
December 15th – By the fruits of her labours
Today’s pick is another plucked from the basket of oddball carols. To the modern layperson’s ear, “Mary and the cherries” does not immediately conjure up… Read More »December 15th – By the fruits of her labours
December 14th – Reflecting on the stars
While at times – especially in the depths of December – the small City of St Andrews can feel very far from the centre of… Read More »December 14th – Reflecting on the stars
December 13th – All a-buzz with festive spirit
The twelfth-night tradition of wassailing, either awakening orchard trees with singing and cider or roving groups of wassail-singers visiting homes, is a custom associated with… Read More »December 13th – All a-buzz with festive spirit
December 12th – Has anyone seen this chicken?
Many of us will feast on turkey this festive season, which may even be followed by a family favourite animation featuring a rubber-glove-combed penguin. So,… Read More »December 12th – Has anyone seen this chicken?
December 11th – Away in a manger
Taken from a medieval source, this carol transcribed by Thomas Wright has many of the hallmarks of the seasonal songs we still sing today: In… Read More »December 11th – Away in a manger
December 10th – None but the howlets
We’ve all heard of “The Holly and the Ivy”, but what about “The Ivy and the Holly”? Pay closer attention to the version of this… Read More »December 10th – None but the howlets