Christmas at Coverley Hall

Sir Roger explains why he makes Christmas such a special time for all his neighbours.

1712

Queen Anne 1702-1714

Introduction

Sir Roger de Coverley, a Worcestershire baronet, was created by Richard Steele in The Spectator for March 2nd, 1711. Sir Roger was the quintessence of the English rural squire, hearty, sometimes buffoonish, but lovable. Here, he speaks about Christmas on his estates. Steele’s friend Joseph Addison wrote this piece, which began with a line from Ovid: Most rare is now our old simplicity.

by Joseph Addison 1672-1719

Sir Roger, after the laudable custom of his ancestors, always keeps open house at Christmas. I learned from him that he had killed eight fat hogs, for this season, that he had dealt about his chines* very liberally amongst his neighbours, and that in particular he had sent a string of hogs’ puddings with a pack of cards to every poor family in the parish.*

“I have often thought,” says Sir Roger, “it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the middle of the winter. It is the most dead, uncomfortable time of the year, when the poor people would suffer very much from their poverty and cold, if they had not good cheer, warm fires, and Christmas gambols to support them. I love to rejoice their poor hearts at this season, and to see the whole village merry in my great hall.

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* A chine is the backbone of an animal as part of a cut of meat.

* Hog’s Pudding is a kind of sausage, associated with Devon and Cornwall. Pork meat is mixed with pork fat and bread, and seasoned with black pepper, nutmeg, sage, thyme and other herbs and spices.

Précis

Sir Roger de Coverley, Joseph Addison told readers of The Spectator, thought Christmas well-timed, for it came when cold and short commons hit the poor very hard. The fictional baronet very much enjoyed throwing his large house open to everyone in the neighbourhood, so they could be warm by his hearth, and well-fed on his home-bred pork.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why, in Sir Roger’s opinion, is it a good thing that Christmas falls in midwinter?

Suggestion

Because Christmas charity is most needed then.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Winter is cold. Food is scarce in winter. Winter is hard on poor people.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IHungry. IILack. IIIYear.

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