Feast of the Ass

thumb The Feast of the Ass (Latin: Festum asinorum or Asinaria festa; French: Fête de l'âne) is a medieval Christian feast observed on 14 January, celebrating the flight into Egypt. It was originally celebrated primarily in France, as a by-product of the Feast of Fools celebrating the donkey-related stories in the Bible, in particular the donkey bearing the Holy Family into Egypt after Jesus' birth. Quotes At the end of the mass, the priest turning to the people with the words, "Ite, missa est." (Ye may depart, church is over,) shall neigh thrice, and then the people, with the formula, "Deo gratias," (all thanks to God,) shall thrice answer "Hi-haw, hi-haw, hi-haw." Then the following hymn was sung:—From the east came the ass, fair and sturdy, fitted for burdens. Ha, sir ass, open your fine mouth to sing, you shall have hay enough, and plenty of oats.He was slow of foot, unless the stick, or the goad, should prick him in the buttocks. Ha, sir ass, &c.He on the hills of Sichem, reared by Reuben, crossed the Jordan, bounded into Bethlehem. Ha, sir ass, &c.Lo with his great ears, the son of the yoke, the excellent ass, the lord of asses. Ha, sir ass, &c.In frisking he excels fawns, deer, and kidlings, swift beyond the dromedaries of the Midianites. Ha, sir ass, &c.Gold from Arabia, frankincense and myrrh from Saba, asinarian worth has brought into the church. Ha, sir ass, &c.While he drags wagons, with many a little load, with his jawbones he crushes hard food. Ha, sir ass, &c.Barley with its beard, and thistles he eats; wheat from the chaff, he winnows on the thrashing-floor. Ha, sir ass, &c. Say Amen, O Ass, (here all knelt,) having now thy fill of grass, Amen, Amen repeat, spurn your former way of life. . . . . Fine sir ass for going, fine mouth for singing. At Beauvais, Autun, &c., they celebrated the Feast of the Ass. — Rubricæ MSS. festi asinorum (13th cent.), in Ducange, Glossarium. Reported in Jules Michelet, History of France, trans. G. H. Smith (New York, 1882), vol. i, pp. 323-4 Orientis partibusAdventavit asinusPulcher et fortissimus, Sarcinis aptissimus. Hez, sire asnes, car chantezBelle bouche rechignez, Vous aurez du foin assez Et de l'avoine a plantezLentus erat pedibus Nisi foret baculus Et eum in clunibus Pungeret aculeus. Hez, sire asnes, &c.Hic in collibus Sichem, Jam nutritus sub Ruben, Transiit per Jordanem, Saliit in Bethleem. Hez, sire asnes, &c. Ecce magnis auribusSubjugalis filius, Asinus egregius, gregius, Asinorum dominus. Hez, sire asnes, &c. Saltu vincit hinnulos, Damas, et capreolos, Super dromedarios Velox Madianeos. Hez, sire asnes, &c. Aurum de Arabia, Thus et myrrhum de Saba, Tulit in ecclesiaVirtus asinaria.Hez, sire asnes, &c. Dum trahit vehicula Multa cum sarcinula, Illius mandibula Dura terit pabula. Hez, sire asnes, &c.Cum aristis hordeum Comedit et carduum; Triticum e paleâ Segregat in areâ.Hez, sire asnes, &c.Amen dicas, asine,   (hic genuflectebatur,)Jam satur de gramine: Amen, Amen itera,Aspernare vetera.Hez va! hez va! hez va hez!Biax sire asnes car allez,Belle bouche car chantez. External links Category:Catholicism Category:Middle Ages