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A boar's head is carried into a banquet hall accompanied by musicians. The boar's head festival we know today originated at Queen's College, Oxford, England. Legend has it that a scholar was studying a book of Aristotle while walking through the forest on his way to Midnight Mass. Suddenly, he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his metal-bound philosophy book down the throat of the charging animal, whereupon the brute choked to death. That night the boar's head, finely dressed and garnished, was borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing "in honor of the King of bliss."

Boar's Head Festival Procession

A boar's head is carried into a banquet hall accompanied by musicians. The boar's head festival we know…

Setting up the framework of a booth for a fair, festival, or carnival.

Booth Construction

Setting up the framework of a booth for a fair, festival, or carnival.

A very lively group of people at the fair. A marching band plays, children ride the merry-go-round, and a fountain sprays water high into the air.

Fair

A very lively group of people at the fair. A marching band plays, children ride the merry-go-round,…

The Cherry Festival is a pen drawing by artist Gertrude M. Bradley. The drawing shows a crowd of children and adults going to a festival.

The Cherry Festival

The Cherry Festival is a pen drawing by artist Gertrude M. Bradley. The drawing shows a crowd of children…

"And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year. And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made. According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise." 1 Maccabees 5:52-56 DRA <p>Illustration of large crowd gathered to observe the rededication of the altar of holocausts.

Judas Machabeus Restores the Temple

"And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month…

"Represents an ox adorned for sacrifice." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Ox sacrifice

"Represents an ox adorned for sacrifice." — Anthon, 1891