Being a Beefeater
As a beefeater in the Boar's Head Festival, I spent the last half of the processional, from King Wenceslaus to "Let All Mortal Flesh," standing at my post. At first, I thought I would hate the hymn "On a Bleak Midwinter," coming as it does, after the three kings sing "Messiah" and before "Let All Mortal Flesh," where I can leave my post and stretch my weary legs, dropping off my halberd and going to pick up the boar's head for the recessional.
But it turned out that the last few lines of that song always caught me. I would be standing there, the great red coat weighing on my shoulders, my calfs aching, the balls of my feet sore, trying to breathe relaxing breaths, staring up at the lanterns overhead, and the choir would get to that part:If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
What should I bring him? Bring my heart.
And I couldn't help but feel it. I've written about "Let All Mortal Flesh" before, and "Arise, Shine" -- both are great moments. But I think this year, it was "Bleak Midwinter" that caught me.
As I think back on the weekend, the other moment is the excitement of our first entrance. After getting dressed, the six "beefs" usually go down to the makeup room and play pitch (the card game) while we wait for our cue. Then we go up to the narthex, which is usually darkened. We watch the candlesprite go in with the lantern and come back out. Then the bagpipers enter and we form up for our entrance.
It is there, as the strains of "Scotland the Brave" begin. The doors are closed and we are queued up and ready to go in. The narthex is dark, with a yellow light coming in from the windows of the doors. Then, the doors open and we lower our halberds and go in.
But it turned out that the last few lines of that song always caught me. I would be standing there, the great red coat weighing on my shoulders, my calfs aching, the balls of my feet sore, trying to breathe relaxing breaths, staring up at the lanterns overhead, and the choir would get to that part:If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
What should I bring him? Bring my heart.
And I couldn't help but feel it. I've written about "Let All Mortal Flesh" before, and "Arise, Shine" -- both are great moments. But I think this year, it was "Bleak Midwinter" that caught me.
As I think back on the weekend, the other moment is the excitement of our first entrance. After getting dressed, the six "beefs" usually go down to the makeup room and play pitch (the card game) while we wait for our cue. Then we go up to the narthex, which is usually darkened. We watch the candlesprite go in with the lantern and come back out. Then the bagpipers enter and we form up for our entrance.
It is there, as the strains of "Scotland the Brave" begin. The doors are closed and we are queued up and ready to go in. The narthex is dark, with a yellow light coming in from the windows of the doors. Then, the doors open and we lower our halberds and go in.