A few centuries ago, when the calendar changed, Christmas moved from January to December causing confusion across the land. When should the celebrations start and when should they end?
The lighting of the Ashen Faggot, traditionally carried out on Christmas Eve, was now postponed to the new Twelfth Night, which was today, January 5th. This meant that faggot burning rather lost the point because originally this was to keep the ash glowing for as long as possible over Christmas.
However, at Curry Rivel in Somerset, the faggot is still carried round the village this evening, with many stops along the way to partake of the local cider. It used to be taken to the King William Inn and burnt, but since the closure of the Inn, it now ends up at the The Firehouse, another local hostelry.
By the time that the faggot is reduced to ashes, and with the drink flowing, I expect that not many people are bothered about whether it is Christmas Eve or Twelfth Night!
The lighting of the Ashen Faggot, traditionally carried out on Christmas Eve, was now postponed to the new Twelfth Night, which was today, January 5th. This meant that faggot burning rather lost the point because originally this was to keep the ash glowing for as long as possible over Christmas.
However, at Curry Rivel in Somerset, the faggot is still carried round the village this evening, with many stops along the way to partake of the local cider. It used to be taken to the King William Inn and burnt, but since the closure of the Inn, it now ends up at the The Firehouse, another local hostelry.
By the time that the faggot is reduced to ashes, and with the drink flowing, I expect that not many people are bothered about whether it is Christmas Eve or Twelfth Night!
