Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1885 — A Curious Mediaeval Ceremony. [ARTICLE]

A Curious Mediaeval Ceremony.

One of the most singular and ludicrous mediaeval ceremonies of the season was held at Beauvais, France, in the fourteenth century, called the Feast of Asses. The flight into Egypt was represented in church. A beautiful young woman, with an infant in her arms, was seated upon an ass elegantly adorned. Entering the church, the girl and ass were placed near the altar, on the gospel side. High mass was then begun, and the Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, - etc., all terminated with an imitation of the ass’s bray— hin-haw, or hehawn. At the end of the mass, when the priest turned to the people, saying, “Ite, Missa est,” he actually he-hawned, or brayed, twice, as ordained by the ritual. And instead of the usual response, “Deo Gratias,” the people hehawned, or brayed, thrice, in like manner. . A Latin hymn was sung during the mass. A translation of a stanza or two will give an idea of it: “In an Eastern region Chanced an Ass to be. Beautiful and bravest. Fittest loads to bear. Chorus. He-hawn, sire Ass, you sing; Fierce mouth you grin. Hay enough you’ll have, Oats enow to plant. “Here he Is with big ears, Primitive clod-hopper, z Ass as big as ever; Lord of all the asses. Chorus. He-hawn, etc. “Now ray Amen, O ass! [Here they fell on their knees.t Belly full of clover, Amen! amen ever! And away with fodder! Chorus. He-hawn! he-hawn! He-hawn-he! Beautiful, sire Ass, for you can trot. Beautiful muzzle is yours to sing.” —Harper’s Magazine.