History of the Festival

The tradition of the Festival goes back to the days of the Roman Empire nearly two thousand years ago when the boar was the first dish served at great Roman feasts.  In Norman England, the boar was the sovereign of the forests, a menace to man and a symbol of evil.  By the 12th century, the serving of the boar's head at Christmastide had become symbolic of the triumph of Christ over Satan, and was associated with Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Magi.

The Yule Log, a fresh log lighted by last year's embers and representing both the warmth of the family fireside and the continuance of human life and concern, has from earliest times symbolized the rekindling of love, and so of Christ's love incarnate.

No one knows who planned the original Boar's Head procession, but Queens College, Oxford records the Festival shortly after the founding of the University in 1340 A.D. After three or four centuries at Oxford and Cambridge, the mince pie, the plum pudding and an expanded cast were added to the ceremony.  The Festival was a popular Christmas event at the great manor houses of 17th century England and the custom was carried to colonial America, where it was first presented in Connecticut.