Boar's Head Ceremony

The Feast of the Boar's Head is one of the oldest known customs of the Christmas Period.

In Bedford, at The Swan Hotel, the Bedford Morris Men dance at the Ceremony on Boxing Day every year and sing the ancient Boar's Head Carol, accompanying its procession to the Mayor's table:

The Boar’s Head Carol

The Boar's Head in hand bear, I
Bedecked with bay and rosemary;
So I pray you my masters be merry,

Quot estis in convivio:

Caput apri defero,

Reddens laudes Domino.

The boar's head as I understand,
Is the bravest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico:

Our steward hath provided this,
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be servèd is
In Reginensi atrio.