Christmas Folk

by Natalia Maree Belting, Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)

The little-known traditions and folklore of Christmas as it was celebrated long ago come to life again in this joyful book, grace by Natalia Belting's rich poetry and aglow with Barbara Cooney's superb illustrations.
Natalia Belting has carefully researched the Christmas folklore of the Elizabethan period and describes in beautiful poetry such marvelous entertainments as mumming, in which children dressed in masks and costumes to perform a play for the holiday season; wassailing, the merry practice of going about from house to house, singing carols for a reward of spicy drinks and hot food; and a variety of other customs, beliefs, and tales that were and important part of Christmas holidays from November 30 (St. Andrew's Day) to January 5 (Twelfth Night).
Natalia Belting's highly individual blank-verse style is complemented by Barbara Cooney's accurate, detailed Elizabethan illustrations to make Christmas Folk as high-spirited as the lively mummers of old.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book, wonderful illustrations by Barbara Cooney. The cover made me really excited about reading this, just the way the title is written in red in such a gorgeous type face makes me happy! It appears that the inside front dust jacket has been signed, sadly this has been cut out but it looks as if it were signed by Barbara Cooney judging by the rest of the writing still there. The illustrations inside do not disappoint either, they use beautiful and fitting colours, terracotta, olive green, mustard yellow and reds. The rhyming text takes us from November the 30th to the twelfth night and covers Saint's days and folk tradition. As the text is rhyming and poetic it read well as a book, but I did really want some factual information about the customs at the back, written by an assistant professor of history I was surprised this wasn't included. This additional information would have raised this to a 5 star for me.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many Christmas associations I do not have:

-Snap the Dragon
-Little Green Men
-onions under pillows
-the Christmas bull
-Tul'ya'een
-cross-dressing for St Andrew

It's like I don't even know Christmas!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalia Belting, the author of many thematic folktale collections presenting traditional lore from around the world, turns in this lovely 1969 picture-book to some of the obscure Christmas customs observed in Elizabethan England. Her poetic text covers some of the traditions of the Yule season, beginning with the first appearance of holiday mummers on November 30th, the feast of St. Andrew, and concluding on January 5th, AKA Twelfth Night (the conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas), with the dancing, feasting and revels associated with that night. In between are the dawn "hunsupping," or seasonal visits from a fiddler; the fireworks and canon-roar of St. Barbara's Day on December 4th; the pageantry and gift-giving of St. Nicholas' Day on December 6th; St. Finan's Eve on December 12th; Tul-ya-e'en on December 17th, on which the trows of Orkney and Shetland folklore were said to emerge; St. Thomas Eve on December 20th; and then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself...

I fully expected to enjoy Christmas Folk, given my appreciation for so many of Belting's other books, and given that the accompanying artwork was done by the marvelously talented Barbara Cooney. The subject matter, moreover - historical English Christmas customs - is fascinating. All that said, although I did find this engaging, I wasn't as thrilled as I'd hoped to be. The poetic free verse here sometimes felt a little difficult, and the folklorist in me was left wanting more, when it came to details about the customs described. Like the online friend who recommended it to me - thanks, Hilary! - I think Christmas Folk would have benefited greatly from an afterword giving more information. Of course, what I did learn was very interesting, and the illustrations were delightful. The frequent mentions of mumming made me think of things like the Christmas Revels, or the Waites in Kate Milford's brilliant middle-grade novel, Ghosts of Greenglass House . Having had this sample of Elizabethan customs, I would love to track down something more detailed, even if it were historical fiction, but as it is, I still recommend this one, both to Barbara Cooney fans, and to those readers interested in historical Christmas folk customs.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd actually read this book many years ago and managed to get hold of a copy this year. A great addition to my Christmas collection, especially for someone who loves the Christmas Revels. Worth finding a second-hand copy or checking your local library. Highly recommended.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute poetry an pictures of Elizabethan Christmas traditions.