The Boar’s Head Festival presented by Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania got the audience into the true Christmas spirit on December 11th at seven o’clock and 12th at five, 2010.
According to the program, “The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Ceremony is probably the oldest continuing festival of the Christmas season.” It was first presented around 1340 or earlier at Queen’s College, Oxford, England.
Director Marietta Reeb, her daughter, organist Carol Meeder, assistant director, Ellen Hamilton, and choir director Jane Ebner coordinated over one hundred participants in their twelfth annual performance.
In England, defeating the fierce boar became a symbol of the Christ Child’s triumph over sin.
The lighting of the Yule Log, traditionally from the embers of the log burned the previous year, encourages rekindling love, promises for the coming year, and a “prayer for God’s keeping.”
Familiar and well-loved Christmas songs such as “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” swelled as the audience joined the choir during the choruses.
Soloists sang with poise and excellent pitch. They delighted the crowd.
Lynn Timms -- “Holly and the Ivy"
Joe Schlereth -- “The Boar’s Head Carol”
Madeline Reeb – “Silent Night”
Christine Goetz – “Oh, Holy Night” with Jackie Grosick performing interpretive dance
Carla Adams – “Oh Come Emmanuel”
Chris Allen – “I Wonder as I Wander” and “March of the Kings”
Chrissy Shelleby – “What Child is This?”
Bill Staley, Jacob Reeb, and Tyler Foster as the Three Kings
A steady stream of actors --
Beefeaters, the guardians of the king,
Yule log carriers and two small boys, Landen Meeder and Adam Kaluzny, who rode the log
Angels, clowns, dancers, and townspeople entertained the king and queen elegantly played by Evelyn and Ed Pierce.
All presented their gifts and talents to the glory of God during the singing of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” in a touching climax where they reached toward the baby Jesus who slept in his mother Mary’s arms showing that “God comes down to man and man reaches up to God.”
As the company left they sang along with the audience, “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Twenty ten marks the twelfth annual presentation of the Boar’s Head Festival at Park U.P. Church. Hopefully it will continue for years to come.
May we all be reminded of the blessing of Christ coming to earth. May we rejoice in His loving sacrifice, His life, death, and resurrection so we may be forgiven of our sins and live with Him forever in Heaven.
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