tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21432259.post4373079611215521806..comments2023-09-07T18:57:41.344+01:00Comments on Early Modern Whale: “Don’t forget the good old way” … “Nappy Ale both brown and stale”. The ideal Christmas, 1688.DrRoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01351695058512676554noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21432259.post-33649933527414194932011-12-23T01:24:09.610+00:002011-12-23T01:24:09.610+00:00"If you drank small ale all the time as your ..."If you drank small ale all the time as your main liquid intake, the festive versions would be tend to end up as ale spiced, strengthened, and thickened"<br /><br />Indeed. Historically, celebrations tended to involve some ghastly drinks. Check out <i>Far from the Madding Crowd</i>:<br /><br />"Friends, it is not only the harvest home that we are celebrating to-night; but this is also a Wedding Feast. A short time ago I had the happiness to lead<br />to the altar this lady, your mistress, and not until now have we been able to give any public flourish to the event in Weatherbury. That it may be thoroughly well done, and that every man may go happy to bed, I have ordered to be brought here some bottles of brandy and kettles of hot water. A treble-strong goblet will he handed round to each guest."<br /><br />And in Hardy there's also the furmity woman, selling what's essentially majorly alcoholic porridge.Ray Girvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556764642402680159noreply@blogger.com