In medieval England, Christmas was an elaborate twelve day long celebration, from Christmas Day (December 25th) through Epiphany (January 6th). Christmas itself was referred to feasting on a surfeit of regional delicacies, from beef to venison to the inevitable lampreys, and there were a variety of other elaborate modes of celebration. Mumming, a practice of dressing up in masks and occasionally more elaborate costumes (usually as animals), was a common celebration. As was hoggling, a practice of seeking alms and charity by traveling door-to-door. It all culminated in the New Years Festival of Fools, an elaborate party in which: “Priests and clerks may be seen wearing masks and monstrous visages at the hours of office… They dance in the choir dressed as women, panders or minstrels. They sing wanton songs. They eat black puddings… while the celebrant is saying mass. They play at dice… They run and leap through the church, without a blush at their own shame.”

Hope you are having a nice holiday season, whether you hoggle or hog-poggle.