Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest(ers), and Simple Fare

A Nottinghamshire Christmas, edited by John Hudson
I found the first of these Sutton Christmas anthologies (A Worcestershire Christmas, if you care) at a library book sale several years back, and another at a library sale a couple of years later. Anyway, these collections contain short excerpts of Christmas/Christmastide passages from various British novels, histories, memoirs, and poetry books, with the action taking place in the shire or historical era denoted in the title.

As with the Monmouthshire volume, this one has some unique entries. One is a history of Christmas customs in the area through the Victorian era, which spanned sixty years, in which some customs flourished and others died away. Several other narratives recount memories of the holiday in which, although budgets were small, the participants enjoyed the holiday season immensely. One account is a sobering revelation from one of the occupants of a workhouse, in direct contradiction to the glowing accounts of the rich of the feasts the "paupers" had on Christmas day. There's a fascinating description of a country custom called "Poor Owd 'Oss" that resembles the Welsh Mari Lywd ceremony, complete with the horse's skull. There's also a humorous account of how a butler inadvertently thwarted a fox hunt, partying 100 years ago, and a charming Robin Hood tale that has the outlaw and Maid Marian helping two orphans.

A very enjoyable entry in this series!