The Shell of Old Coventry Cathedral,

 destroyed along with much of the city in air-raids, November 14^th 1940.

 

And what about that other great tradition, Christmas Carols? Do they drive you spare at the shopping centre? Many of them are certainly the deserving victims of muzak but there are a few I like and I am fortunate enough to know some very good singers who do both traditional carols, and sometimes, jazzier modern arrangements. But I guess I’m a traditionalist at heart and one of my favourites is one of the oldest - the Coventry Carol. This was performed on the steps of Coventry Cathedral in the Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors from 1534. The earliest written version of it dating from 1591.

 

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child

By by, lully, lullay, thou little tiny child

By by, lully lullay

O sisters too, how may we do

For to preserve this day

This poor youngling

For whom we do sing

By by, lully lullay?

 

Herod, the king

In his raging

Chargèd he hath this day

His men of might

In his own sight,

All young children to slay.

 

That woe is me

Poor child for thee!

And ever morn and day,

For thy parting

Neither say nor sing

By by, lully lullay!

 

Here’s a traditional example of the Coventry Carol performed by The Burgundian Cadence.

 

And another from those Spice Girls of the Middle Ages – The Mediæval Bæbes.

 

 

And here’s another of our family traditions that follows logically on from Christmas Pud. My Stepfather always makes this to go with the pudding, with all the other trimmings too of course.

 

 

Patrick’s Hard Sauce

 

250 grams unsalted butter at room temperature.

Beat in icing sugar 250+ grams until very stiff.

A few drops of vanilla essence and brandy or rum to taste (yes please). Should have a strong spirit flavour.

Beat egg whites stiff and fold into mixture after taste has been adjusted, adding sufficient to reach the desired texture (how many? he says probably 2-3).

Refrigerate. The sauce should be solid after refrigeration.

 

Sorry, typical “I know what I’m doing”, instructions but that’s how it came to me. He always makes it, so you’ll just have to play it by ear like I would if I had to wing it (which I may have to do this year).

In my experience, with a fair whack of brandy in it, a little goes a long way - got to save room for that custard, cream and ice cream too you know!

 

 

 

Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu!