There has been a ‘breaking up’ banquet at this academy since its opening year in 1884, but the ceremony the cadets are about to enjoy is a tradition brought to the school from England in 1906. Thus this is the 106th anniversary of the ‘Boar’s Head Pageant.’
This ceremony has remained virtually unchanged throughout the long history of the academy, although it was discontinued for a few years after the death of Sidney Smythe because it was a particular favorite of his.
The purpose of the banquet is to provide opportunity for scholars and their tutors to say “Fare thee well” as they lay aside their mutual tasks for a well deserved holiday.
The Boar’s Head Legend
The ceremony that they will enjoy tonight comes from an early 16th Century English legend. As the story is told…One day a schoolboy from Queen’s College in Oxford was reading in a nearby forest when – in the midst of his studies – he was suddenly attacked by a wild boar which came charging furiously toward him with open mouth. Weaponless, but ever resourceful, as all young men are, the young scholar thrust his Greek textbook into the open throat of the beast and choked him to death!
Jubilantly, the scholar then returned to the college, told his tale, and persuaded some of his friends to help him retrieve the boar. They brought it to the college kitchen where the Boar’s Head (which in those days was regarded as a special delicacy) was removed and prepared for roasting.
Queen’s College still celebrates this event, as we do at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy. The Boar’s Head Pageant was not unique to Queen’s College. It became a common custom in one form or other at all great medieval feasts. Many of these great castle feasts lasted well into the night, and special dishes - such as the Boar’s Head - were served with great pomp and circumstance. Tonight we are privileged to see just how one of these processions may have been done in medieval England.
There is a procession, several cadets dressed in period costumes, with the "boars head" singing and merriment as our cadets, dressed in their parade dress uniforms along with the staff dressed in their holiday finery, join together for a special feast before they begin their travels home for winter break.
The final event of the evening is the lighting of a candle that will stay lit all throughout the time that our cadets are away from campus awaiting their safe return on Monday January 5th, 2015 before it is extinguished.
Pictures from Boar's Head Banquet last year are available if you would like to take a peak into this very special evening: http://sjnma.smugmug.com/Other-5/20131219Boars-Head-Banquet/
We will post pictures as appropriate following the event - stay tuned for more!
Safe travels to all as we prepare to bring our cadets home for the holidays.
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