The Boar's Head Festival Tradition

The Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival was already steeped in tradition when presented at Queens College in Oxford, England in 1340. The Festival is perhaps the oldest continuing Festival of the Christmas season. It was first brought to America in Colonial Days and continues to be an annual event in many congregations across our nation.

At Apostles Lutheran in Brandon, The Boar’s Head Festival began in 2005 and has continued to grow and change each year. We present this Festival as a gift to the community and invite all to share in the beautiful tradition that includes the story of the Nativity, the birth of Christ . . . the Light of the World.

Like the march of history, the Festival begins with the heavy tread of the Beefeaters, guardians of the King. As the Sans Day Carol is sung, the Beefeaters solemnly stand their Watch of Honor as a pause is taken to contemplate the approaching miracle of the Incarnation.

After the carol, a young Sprite carries a burning candle into the hall. The candle light symbolizes the coming of the Light of Christ into our bleak world. The Sprite lights the Christ candle that is held by the Friar, and the Light of Christ is given to the Church not only to preserve it, but to extend the message of the coming of Christ to the world.

The trumpets sound and the flamboyant Boar’s Head singer enters to begin the Grand Processional. As he sings, the Boar’s Head story unfolds and the secular life of the middle ages is portrayed by a procession of peasants and nobles as they celebrate the Yuletide in a medieval manor. Following the Grand Processional, King Wenceslas and his Page, led by love and concern, sing Good King Wenceslas. As they sing this carol and relate to the woodsman and trudge through the snow, the words of this well known carol reflect on the Christian ideals in daily life.