for Uhm and the Atrium Obscurum folks

[cyberina]

So, while on Christmas break I've been reading a book about old-world ritual, and how its found its way into modern sports, music, dance, etc.. Its written by a Victorian-era scholar on folklore.

I read a section this evening that reminded me a lot of the revelries this Saturday night (tonight).

"In the festivities of Yule an important part was played by the Lord of Misrule, who was master of the seasonal ceremonies. Such functionaries were appointed at Court and in the several colleges of the universities, while more than one city, particularly London, employed such a stage-manager or leader of the revels. His "reign" usually lasted until Twelfth Day, and he usually had carte blanche to dispose of the wherewithal of the institution he represented according to his entire freewill. The English "Bacchanalian Christmas," as guided by the Lord of Misrule, has been likened by one old writer to the Roman Saturnalia. In Scotland such a mock official received a pseudo-ecclesiastical title as the Abbot of Unreason, while in France he was dubbed "the Pope of Fools." He was followed by a train of mummers, some on hobby-horses, others representing dragons and similar monsters, some wearing the masks of bears or unicorns, who made riot wherever they went and cut the most fantastic capers. These people composed the dramatis personae of masques and other theatrical entertainments, which were not infrequently were tricked out with elaborate scenery and stage machinery. This was, of course, the more modern phase of the Christmas revels, from which the pantomime was latterly developed."

It goes on to talk about how the pantomime developed from this was later further modified into the modern day clown.

I love it.

Check out what Wikipedia has to say:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_Misrule

I can't decide if Uhm or Pibb should be named Lord of Misrule for the weekend, though.....