The Boar's Head Carol by L. Edna Walter
A steward's servant carries in a bay- and rosemary-decked boar's head, calling the company to be merry and to sing praises to God as the dish is served in honour of the King of Bliss.
By L. Edna Walter · First published 1922 · Genre: Christmas Carol, Medieval Music, Religious/Spiritual Music · 162 words
First lines
[Music]
1. The boar's head in hand bear I, / Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary, / And I pray you, my masters, be merry / _Quot estis in convivio_. / CHORUS. / _Caput apri defero. / Reddons laudes Domino._
2. The boar's head as I understand / Is the bravest dish in all the land; / When thus bedecked with a gay garland / Let us _servire cantico_. / _Caput apri defero / Reddons laudes Domino._
3. Our steward hath provided this / In honour of the King of Bliss, / Which on this day to be served is / In _regimensi atrio_. / _Caput apri defero / Reddons laudes Domino._
Similar titles
- The Wild Knight And Other Poems A Christmas Carol by G. K. Chesterton
- Happy The Birth Where Grace Presides by John Newton
- Brixham Town by Sabine Baring Gould
- O How I Love Thy Holy Word by John Newton
- Christmas Hymn by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genres
- Christmas Carol — The work is a traditional festive song with religious devotion, celebrating the boar's head during a Christmas feast, featuring formal celebration of honor and communal joy.
- Medieval Music — The archaic English language, Latin liturgical phrases, references to court customs (stewards, formal feasting rituals), and formal religious tone indicate medieval origins and traditions.
- Religious/Spiritual Music — The work incorporates Latin liturgical elements, praise phrases directed toward the King of Bliss, and expressions of religious honor throughout the verses.
- Folk Music — The carol structure with participatory chorus, traditional form passed through generations, and communal celebration themes are central to folk music traditions.
Tags
carol · Christmas · boar's head · feast · banquet · merriment · celebration · festive · praise · God · religious · hymn
What this Textopian page supports
The Boar's Head Carol is listed on Textopian as a poem by L. Edna Walter, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: L. Edna Walter
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christmas Carol, Medieval Music, Religious/Spiritual Music, Folk Music, Festive/Celebratory Music
- Length: 162 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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- Work identity for The Boar's Head Carol by L. Edna Walter
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