h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A674075
An article about Christmas Traditions on the Isle of Wight

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Nice (not that I'm biased ), but maybe it could do with retitling? I was expecting something about the current sorts of traditions like the Havenstreet Santa Special and Christmas in the Square.

Something to indicate the fact that it's about days of yore would be nice please.

You could also put in a link to the entry on mumming at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A655526


whisky

(I'll get back to you later when I've the chance to read the entry in more depth).

I was going to say exactly the same as Whisky!

I'd be interested to know what is particularly special to the IOW here as these customs were quite widespread at one time.

Nicely done BB. I went to a Wassail in Sussex in the 70's, where a similar ritual was performed. This one was concluded with shot-gun fire though, which warmed the old ears up.
In it goes!

The article deals with how Christmas was celebrated on the Isle of Wight - there is a certain amount of overlap, but not everywhere had the same traditions. I know of no-where else which shared a fatted Ox, for example. Other articles about how othe rpatrs of teh UK celebrated Christmas would be welcome, but this one is how Christmas was celebrated on the Island, in contrast to today's modern Christmas celebrations.
I've included the link. Including more modern traditions isn't a bad idea - I may. What else is there, apart from Sandown's funday and what you have already mentioned?

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Just to say, I really like the entry.

I've never heard of the carol "The Wold Hark". Any chance of a quote from it in the entry. Where is it published (for personal interest, not necessarily to go in the entry). Is it particular to the IOW or has it wider provenance?

In the version of

"Hat-fulls, cup-fulls, three bushel bag fulls
And a little heap under the stairs."

that I know, it finished with 'Hip hip hooray!'.

Hello BB!

Nice to see you at the meet the other day. Nicest signature I have, I think.

Now to business. Are you ignoring comments?

I have a pick coming up and I think the comment on the title at least needs looking at.

Sorry - not deliberatly ignoring comments by any means, I thought I had replied to this, but obviously I hadn't

In the 1920s in Yarmouth, when the Apple Tree was wassailed, a pistol was fired through the branches of the tree to the shout of Hip-Hip Horray, but apparently not before then, and not everywhere on the Island...

As for the name, I'm not really fussed about the name "Wight Christmas" - any name change to an edited version, such as "A Traditional Isle of Wight Christmas" would be great. I don't think there's much I could write to include how Christmas is celebrated on the Island now that is different to elsewhere apart from markets, which happen elsewhere, the Rotary Club and their Christmas Float that went around as a mobile Father Christmas's Grotto down each road, giving out sweets to all the children, and the Santa Special steam train.
Would it be better to include the more modern traditions or not, do you think?

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I agree with you that it would be better to stick to the traditional Christmas stuff.

I actually liked the name, with its little pun, however there were a couple of postings which suggested a change. Maybe Wight Christmas Traditions would do. What do you think?

I think you should put the bit about the Yarmouth apple tree in - I think it adds flavour. As it stands would be good, I think.

I'm still interested in the words to the carol. Are they available? If you don't know them, then you obviously couldn't include a snatch. I'd be interested in knowing this, in or out of the entry.

Let me know what you think!

PS: Let me know when you've made the changes!

I've been trying to find a copy of the words to "The Wold hark", but to no avail.

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Your Entry has been accepted for the Edited Guide.

Well Done!

spook