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Perhaps the best-loved Feast of all is the one brought to the home of Bob Cratchitt by Scrooge on Christmas Day, of Turkey and Plum Pudding and Tiny Tim saying, "God Bless us, everyone!" Dining with the Bishop, in "The Diary of a Country Parson", is well worth noting, with five strange Clergymen attending from a distant Diocese, and the Bishop's Chaplain dressed in Gown, Cassock and Scarf. Haunch of Venison was on the menu, with Roast Partridge, Madeira and red and white wines, followed by peaches, nectarines and grapes. The Bishop was known to be very fond of his food, and on this auspicious occasion, behaved with great affability to his own Clergy present and to the visitors, as the candle light shone down on silver salt cellars, ornamental glassware, silver fish knives and forks and other cutlery, well-filled crystal decanters and the monogrammed linenfolds, half in darkness. Then of course, there are the Picnics, and the sweltering August Sundays after Church, when a short walk means at least a mile to a nice green spot under the trees. Off the party would set, some with baskets to gather wild flowers and then to the picnic, with shouts of "Oh, isn't it scrumptious," with a few ordered to scatter and gather sticks to build a fire for the kettle. When butter fried on the bread and wasps seized the jam, the cakes being devoured with enthusiasm by determined armies of black and red ants, some said rather glumly that they didn't care much for open air picnics. The kindly Badger in Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows", where the weary Ratty and Moley were told to remove their wet coats and boots and were soon wrapped in warm dressing gowns and slippers, to toast themselves in front of the merry firelight, flickering cheerfully over the china on the dresser, and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind them, is another favourite feast. James Bond, 007, is famous, of course, for his liking of Turbot, Sauce Mousseline, half a Roast Partridge, half a bottle of Mouton Rothschild '53 and a glass of ten-year old Calvados with his three cups of coffee. The invited persons in the dark dining-room of School House, dusty and echoing as a vault, were given Pea Soup and Cottage Pie, and a broken Cruet for their use, in Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood", whilst the pupils at St Ambrose College, Oxford, had spatchcocked chicken and Plovers Eggs for breakfast. Breakfast with Merlin of King Arthur's Court, would have left little opportunity for conversation, with cream and strawberries, mushrooms on toast, fricassee of kidneys and boiling coffee or best chocolate made with cream in large cups. The Eve of St Agnes was at one time celebrated in country cottages in Devon and Wiltshire, with a feast set out on a blanched linen table cover, scented with lavender, of Turkey Poult, Plum Tart and Steamed Syrup Pudding, with the table family silver wreathed in blue Periwinkles, said to be St Agnes' favourite flower, and much used on St Agnes Eve, filling the chilly rooms with its faint scent. Who would not have felt sympathy for Mrs Bridges and Ruby, of "Upstairs Downstairs" who worked tirelessly through one whole day to produce a lavish spread for King George V who was to be the Guest of Honour that night at dinner, only to have a sumptuous cake, iced by Mrs Bridges herself, waved away by a limp Royal hand and a brief glance, after it was offered for the Royal approval by the ubiquitous Mr Hudson and Edward, the chirpy Footman? As the Christmas Season of Feasts approaches, it might be fitting to recall Captain Scott of the Antarctic, celebrating the Festival in his hut with his gallant Team, in a howling blizzard. Quite recently, a sprig of holly said to have been used on that occasion, was sold for over £1,000 at an Auction. As he himself would have said on raising his glass for a Christmas Toast, amid the snowy scene, "Merry Christmas to all our dear friends." Rosemary Goulding |
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page last updated 1 DECEMBER 2000 |
