Christmas
is coming
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please to
put a penny in the old man’s hat;
If you
haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you.
This is an old English carol, often sung as a round. It was first seen in print around 1895. (The words here are the version I have always sung.)
As geese were associated with Christmas, as a fine bird to eat, the idea also was that it was a good time to behave charitably, either giving money, or, if that were not possible, a blessing. In this case, the blessing was for the poor person who didn’t even have a ha’penny to spare.
Far more than a penny or ha'penny needed these days. So many people in Great Britain and other broadly "Christian" countries endure miserable Christmases in poverty and sorrow with not a whiff of roasted goose.
ReplyDeletePudding
DeleteChristianity is the largest religion in Australia, with a total of 44% of the nation-wide population identifying with a Christian denomination (2021 census). So it would be interesting to ask those who are too poor to celebrate Christmas, or the 56% of citizens who are not Christian, what they do over the summer (here) holiday season.
I don't eat meat, but I would be keen to try the fruit pies etc.
Every charity is begging for contributions, particularly at Christmas. How can need be greater in December than February, for example? Not many people pay a tithe these days, though I knew one child who was expected to do so with birthday money.
DeleteI suspect the charities are counting on people feeling more generous at Christmas time.
DeleteI do feel sorry for those who have a miserly Christmas and used to donate to several charities when I was still working and for a year or two after, but I can no longer afford to.
ReplyDeleteI remember my mum having ducks and geese to raise each year, then the killing and plucking and getting them ready for the people who had ordered them for their Christmas dinners. I got quite good at plucking but never enjoyed it. We always had chickens for our Christmas dinners, huge home grown chickens.
We had chicken twice a year, at Christmas and Easter, and it was a treat. Plucking makes fingers quite sore, as I remember.
DeleteLove the Mug!
ReplyDeleteI saw the title in my Blog Feed and started singing the song before I even read the post lol
😀🎅
DeleteI don't think I've ever had a Christmas Goose ... perhaps add that to my Bucket List!
ReplyDeleteI've never eaten goose. My mother always said it was 'very fatty.'
DeleteI've never eaten goose and don't expect I ever will - doesn't really appeal to my taste buds. They are actually quite lovely creatures, both the wild and domesticated varieties. We get thousands - maybe millions - of the wild varieties spending winter with us here in southeast Texas.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather see them alive - such beautiful birds. To see them in such numbers must be uplifting.
DeleteOh, I do love that goose mug! When I saw your title that song immediately came into my mind. I was singing it my head before I even opened your post!
ReplyDeleteIt has that effect. It's a cheery little song.
DeleteIt's a nice little ditty. I've never eaten goose and I have no real desire to. This mug looks very stylish.
ReplyDeleteI like geese as living creatures. They're beautiful.
DeleteI have eaten goose once, many, many years ago. It was quite good I seem to remember.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it was the same one that had bitten the back of my leg on a visit to the Wildfowl Reserve earlier?
You were wreaking your revenge, maybe? 😶
ReplyDeleteChristmas goose makes me think of Scrooge and Bob Cractchet and family and the little boy in the lane. We have watched the Alistair Sim version for many a year at Christmas. George C Scott too.
ReplyDeleteGoose was the traditional Christmas fare for most people in Dickens' time.
DeleteA pretty mug! I remember that old Carol.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that a lot of people are familiar with it.
DeleteOur food pantries are in such need this holiday season. Supposedly our economy is booming but many are hurting. Love that mug.
ReplyDeleteIt's a similar situation here, with ever-widening gaps between rich and poor. The latest government isn't helping, either, despite all its protestations.
DeleteI didn't know this particular carol, so thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever eaten goose ... xxx
My mother always told me goose was very fatty, so that put me off trying it.
DeleteHaven't heard that one in years. Catchy tune, but sad for those without home and food.
ReplyDeleteFood banks are becoming more evident in UK now - very sad.
Deleteit cost me 14,440 pennies for my groceries this week. 379 pennies for a gallon of milk, 400 pennies for eggs. OH MY, I do remember the song and it made me smile. I read it out loud to bob
ReplyDeleteI dare not translate my grocery costs into pennies. We cannot buy anything for one penny now, nor probably twenty. Shocking!
DeleteGreat mug. I like to see Canadian geese.
ReplyDeleteGeese amuse me - they're elegant and comical at the same time.
DeleteIt is almost Christmas. I don't know that song.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is a long time coming, it seems, and then suddenly it's on us!
DeleteI find myself singing that song now!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the mugs and your new header photograph is lovely.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan.
ReplyDelete