The annual Boar’s Head Festival and Feast is a celebration honoring the Feast of the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, which is the day the Three Kings are said to have arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts for the infant Jesus.
It was held on Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos. The event has been held at St. Mark’s since 1977 and was well-attended by members of the congregation and the community who came to enjoy the closing of the Christmas season with pageantry, song, and dinner.
The history of the Boar’s Head reaches back into the days of the Roman Empire. The festival was a popular Christmas event of the great manor houses of England in the 17th century. The custom of the Boar’s Head and Yule Log was carried to colonial America. The ceremony serves as an offering of praise to Jesus Christ of His Epiphany and to remind us the great gift of love given to us all at Christmas.
The festival began with members of the Central Coast Pipes & Drums marching up the center aisle of the church playing bagpipes, followed by the Yule Sprite, carrying the Yule candle ahead of Father Christmas.
Interim Rector Rev. Scott Claassen welcomed the congregation and explained the meaning of the Boar’s Head Festival.
“We gather this evening for an enjoyable celebration of the birth of Jesus at the end of this Christmas season, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany,” he said. “The traditional English boar’s head dates back to the 1300s in Queen’s College, Oxford. The serving of the boar symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.”
Claassen then went on to tell the story of the origin of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (played by Greg Johnson), a real fourth-century bishop and Saint, Nicolas of Myrna.
“Father Christmas is here to remind us that the real Santa Claus was a saint who loved Jesus and did good and unusual things, because of this love,” he said.
The Yule Sprite, played by Anita Finifrock, then came to remind us of our Christmas memories and of all the Christmases to come. She then lit the candle in the stand as those attending sang the traditional carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” while several little angels, shepherds, and little ones dressed as sheep walked up the aisle and seated themselves around the altar.
Rev. Claassen then read from the Gospel of Matthew, telling the story of the three Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem and brought the newborn baby Jesus gifts of gold (symbolic of his kingship), frankincense (symbolic of his high priesthood), and myrrh (his suffering and death) and ultimately outwitting Herod.
While the congregation sang “We Three Kings,” the three kings played by Nichole Dechaine, Nathan Kreitzer, and Carl Johnson arrived bearing gifts.
Then Claassen spoke of the Good King Wenceslas, played by Scott Wolfe, who along with the Page (Martine Surey), recognized the need of a poor person (John Surey), and responded to that need. The audience sang “Good King Wenceslas.”
The time had arrived for the feast to begin, but not before The Ruler of Misrule, played by Sean Duggan, arrived on the scene to disrupt the festivities. He was invited to join the guests at dinner and the Steward of the Feast beckoned the Boar Bearers, to carry the boar’s head down the aisle as the congregation sang the “Boar’s Head Carol.”
Everyone then proceeded to Stacy Hall to enjoy a feast of pork, potatoes, red cabbage, and applesauce, along with wine or beer and a plethora of desserts.
“The Boar’s Head Festival feels a lot like family and has a real sense of community,” said Maisy Curtis, a dinner guest.
Following dinner, the traditional singing of “The 12 Days of Christmas” was acted out by guests at each table to a great amount of laughter. A sincere round of applause was given to those who worked for days arranging this event, and Chef Mike Chadsea for roasting the pork and preparing the side dishes that were enjoyed by all.
“The Boar’s Head Festival is a warm community family-filled event,” said Cori Curtis.
The evening came to a close with the singing of “Silent Night” and all the guests helped with the clean-up.
“The Boar’s Head Festival is a simple Christmas pleasure,” said Finn Curtis. “It’s not something that people think a lot about when listing popular events.”
