Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 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 waß 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 wa3 then begun,— and the Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, etc., all terminated with an imitation of the ass’s bray— hin-haw, or heliawn. At the end of the mass, when the priest turned to the people, saying, “Ite, Minna ext,” he actually lie-hawned , or braved, twice, as ordained by the ritual. And instead of the usual re-, sponse, “Deo Gratias,” the people heliawned, or brayed, thrice, in like manner. A Latin hymn was sung duringthe 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. Choi-us. Hc-bawn, 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. Ass as big as ever; Lord of all the asses. Chorus. He-hawn, etc. “Now say Amen, O ass! [Here they fell on their knees.l' Belly full of clover. Amen! amen everl And away with fodder! Chorus. He-hawn!he-hawn! He-hawn-hel. Beautiful, sire Ass, for you can trot. Beantiiul-muzzle is touts to sing.” — Harpedß Magazine.