Xmas party

Last night I went to the joint Society of Archivists London Region and Archives for London Christmas Party. It was held on the HMS Belfast. Sue Hill sponsored the event and as I’ve found them helpful in the past for finding work I was pleased that they’re taking such an interest in the archive profession in London. The customary quiz took the form of a hunt for information around the ship, which was excellent fun. Although there was at least one other party on board (an IT department from some firm) we seemed to have the ship to ourselves and got to poke around into the cabins, nooks and other places, run up and down ladders and admire London by moonlight. All up it was a good night.

Christmas traditions

On the weekend I attended a seminar on the subject of mid-winter pagan traditions. It asked the question: “How much paganism is rooted in European customs and Christian celebrations?” Quite a bit it seems. My interest in early English history ensured that I was in for an enjoyable learning opportunity. What I didn’t expect was to start questioning the value of continuing to perform and sustain rituals and practices that are no longer relevant or meaningful to contemporary life. I found myself suffering a crisis, torn between a recognition of the historical (and evidential and informational) value of these traditions and a realisation that their original function has altered so much as to now be nonsensical. Mummers plays, blessing the plough ceremonies, the tradition of the “first-footers”, all these were ways of celebrating the turning of the season and of ensuring good luck for the coming year. Now we perform them because they’re historical. The reality of contemporary knowledge and contemporary life-styles means that beliefs and superstitions which found expression in these ritualistic forms are no longer relevant or even properly understood. Perhaps these traditional activities should be altered so that they resonate with contemporary life experiences, thereby giving back to the original form it’s original purpose.