Relics of the Past observed at Torquay, Devonshire (1873) Pengelly. William, DA Transactions; Pages: 266-269
Without sighing for a return of the “good old times” I have occasionally regretted that the extension of the Railway system is so rapidly hunting down, killing, and burying the Past; and though unprepared to object to “compulsory education”, I cannot lose sight of the fact that its tendency will be to bring us so near one uniform level as to render individuality of character a startling phenomenon, and the observance of an ancient usage as something like an attempt to keep the dead too long unburied. Whilst honouring those employed in diffusing knowledge, and, still more, such as are doing their best to extend its boundaries, I must confess to pleasure in reading a collection of epitaphs, or old proverbs, or songs, or ballads, or nursery rhymes, or words and phrases hastening to extinction, or legends, or traditions, or stories of ghosts or fairies, in short, of anything and everything known as “Folk Lore”; and I entertain the hope that our Transactions may sooner or later be the repertory of everything of the kind to be met within our confines, whether peculiar to the county or not. They have their roots in remote antiquity, towards which they are so many steps...
The “Ashen Faggot”
I was present on Christmas Eve, 1836, in the old Torwood Manor House,* Torquay, then occupied as a farm house by the late Mr. John Madge, when the “ashen faggot” was prepared and burnt. It was “made” in the farm yard, and bound together with as many “binds” of withe as could be well put on it. When ready, it was, as orthodoxy required, drawn to the front door of the house by four oxen, though a single ox would have been fully sufficient for greater labour, and taken thence and placed on the blazing hearth. Cards and other amusements occupied the juniors of the very large party, whilst the seniors, “fast by the ingle bleezing finely”, talked of “old times”. All, however, were attentive to the fate of the “binds”, and as each was observed to “give way” a demand for a gallon of cider was made on the farmer, who promptly supplied it.
https://devonassoc.org.uk/devoninfo/relics-of-the-past-observed-at-torquay-devonshire-1873/
Collecting the ashen faggot. From Illustrated London News, 1854.
https://devonassoc.org.uk/event/christmas-in-devon-a-talk-by-dr-todd-gray/
Burning the Ashen Faggot (1879) Amery. P. F. S, DA Transactions; Pages: 107-108
Mr. Pengelly, in a paper read at the Sidmouth meeting of this Association, entitled “Relics of the Past observed at Torquay” describes being present at the burning of the “ashen faggot” on Christmas Eve, 1836, and concludes as follows: “At that time the custom was observed in all the principal farm houses of the district, but it appears to be now a thing of the past”.
https://devonassoc.org.uk/devoninfo/burning-the-ashen-faggot-1879/
Christmas in Devon – a talk by Dr Todd Gray Fri. 18 December 2020 at 2:00 pm
Some aspects of the Christmas holiday were particularly Devonian – mummers, a gooding and the ashen faggot, while others, like Stir Up Sunday were much like other parts of England.
This history will be explored along with other introductions over the last 400 years.
https://devonassoc.org.uk/event/christmas-in-devon-a-talk-by-dr-todd-gray/
Legendary Dartmoor The Ashen Faggot is a very old West Country tradition that at one time was widely seen on Dartmoor. The custom is considered to date back to Saxon times, however it is thought to have come from Scandinavia who at their feast of ‘joul’ would burn huge bonfires in honour of their god Thor. The ash tree was regarded as the ‘tree of life’ in Norse mythology. Sabine Baring Gold in his novel ‘Glámr’ describes an early instance of the tradition:
“Christmas Eve! How different in Saxon England! There the great ashen faggot is rolled along the hall with torch and taper; the mummers dance with their merry jingling bells; the boar’s head with gilded tusks, “bedecked with holly and rosemary,” is brought in by the steward to a flourish of trumpets.”
https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/christ_fagg.htm
Wikipedia The ashen faggot (also known as ashton fagot) is an old English Christmas tradition from Devon and Somerset, similar to that of the Yule log and related to the wassail tradition.
A faggot is a large log or a bundle of ash sticks. It was bound with nine green lengths of ash bands or 'beams', preferably all from the same tree. At the appropriate moment during Christmas Eve, the faggot must be burnt in a hearth while people who are watching sing Dunster Carols.
