History of the
The Boar’s Head Festival

The colorful ceremony of the Boar’s head has been part of a dinner celebration at Christmastime since the Middle Ages in England.  It has its roots deep in pagan times when the boar was the first dish served at a Roman feast. The church endowed the custom with symbolic meaning and elevated it to the service of God, enriching the lives of all it touched.  The ceremony became a Service of Praise to Jesus Christ, Lord of the Universe and Redeemer of the World.

In Medieval England the ferocious boar was sovereign of the forest, a menace to man and symbol of evil. The presentation of the Boar’s Head at Christmas signifies triumph of the Christ Child over sin.

No one knows who planned the first Boar’s Head Procession, but it was in use at Queen‘s College, Oxford, England, shortly after that university was founded in 1340 and continues to be presented there today.

The ceremonies attending the presentation of the boar’s head grew and became more elaborate over the centuries. The lighted candle symbolizing Christ as the “Light of the World,” the wise men, shepherds, King Wenceslas, lords, ladies, knights, hunters and others were added over the years.  Basic to all occasions has been the Boar’s Head Procession, a restaging of the Nativity story, and various Masques and Mummer’s Plays commemorating English historic events.

Apostles Lutheran Church presents this Festival as a gift to the people of Brandon and the surrounding communities.  It is not a story of tunes and times past and gone.  It is a living story told by modern day minstrels and echoed in all of us.  These performances are given with our best wishes for a blessed and joyous season.