York church puts on Elizabethan-era Boar's Head Festival
York, PA -
A knight with a 6-foot sword, a bagpiper, court jesters, three wise men and the baby Jesus combined merriment with reverence Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church in York.
Members of the church held their 13th annual Twelfth Night Celebration Boar's Head Festival with afternoon and evening productions for the public at their sanctuary, in the first block of North Broad Street.
The celebration has its roots in Elizabethan England, when the lord and lady of a manor would welcome neighbors and visitors to give gifts, feast and celebrate the 12th night after Christmas.
"This is a really small, inner-city church, and just about everybody in the congregation has a part in it," said Pat Steidler, the event's chairwoman.
Steidler said church member Betty Miles studied the clothes of the Elizabethan period, then designed and sewed the costumes for the nearly 40 characters.
"They're just fantastic," Steidler said of the costumes.
All donations from the productions will be given to York Hub of Mission Central, a charitable organization that helps groups such as the poor and the handicapped.
A harpist, singers, bagpiper Rodney Yeaple and two knights opened the ceremony. They were followed by a brief address from the Mother Abbess, played by Grace Pastor Judy Bupp.
The lady and lord of the manor arrived with all their guests, who gathered at the head table, sharing hugs and handshakes.
A group of women then emerged from the kitchen to pass out wassail, a hot cider, to those gathered. Court jesters, with bells jingling, bounded about.
Next, a mounted boar's head was brought to the front of the church.
"The boar's head, as I understand, is the grandest dish in all the land," sang a herald from the cast.
Church members also told the story of the birth of Christ by portraying Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men.
Wrightsville resident Jack Downs, 73, said he enjoyed the production.
"It's a great community thing," he said.
Megan Wachter, 29, of Dover Township, whose sister, Amanda Stevens, played Mary, said the event was "very neat. . . . I liked how they interacted with the audience."
tczech@ydr.com; 771-2033
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