Stratford-upon-Avon
Decorative and Fine Arts Society

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STOP PRESS

• ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 16 February 2012 11.00 am – Civic Hall, Rother Street, Stratford–upon–Avon

  RESOLUTIONS – any resolutions, from Members only, must be in writing and received by the Secretary, no later than 15 December 2011. Details from the Secretary in the Civic Hall on Thursday 17 November 2011, or telephone 079797 748163 (mob) or e–mail to secretary@sadfas.org.uk

  NOMINATION FOR ELECTION TO THE COMMITTEE – nominations, from Members only, must be in writing and received by the Secretary, no later than 15 December 2011. The Committee consists of 4 Officers (Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary) and 8 Ordinary Members. Forms available from the Secretary in the Civic Hall on Thursday 15 December 2011, or telephone 079797 748163 (mob) or e–mail to secretary@sadfas.org.uk

• 2012 – The 40th Anniversary of SADFAS

  This year we shall be celebrating this anniversary with a Special Lecture, followed by cake and bubbly to mark the occasion. The lecture will be on Tuesday 17 July 2012 at 11.00 at the Civic Hall, and the well-known broadcaster Mr Lars Tharp will be speaking to us on “Harlots, Rakes and Crashing China”. Many of our members will know Mr Tharp from his frequent appearances on the Antiques Road Show on BBC, where his specialist knowledge of ceramics is much in demand. Mr Tharp is renowned for his passion for William Hogarth, as well as his wit and sense of humour, and we look forward to a very special Anniversary Lecture.

• 2012 Tour of Kent - booking is now full. Please see Extended Tours

• Evesham DFAS trip 2012 to Tallinn, Estonia

  Evesham DFAS are running a 5–day visit to Tallinn in Estonia in 2012 and could accommodate one or two extra members from SADFAS. The dates are 21–25 May, departing from Gatwick, with transfer by coach from local pick–up points. The cost, including flights, accommodation on a B&B basis, local transport, services of a local guide and entrance to all local venues is just over £600 for two sharing, with a single room supplement of £160. If you are interested, please contact David Pollitt on 01905 381739 or by e–mail (pollitt.david@virgin.net)

OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION

• Thursday 19 January 2012 – Lecture – The Ancient Greek Olympics: a Visitor's Guide

  We were transported to the baking August heat of remote Olympia for our spell–binding lecture entitled “The Ancient Greek Olympics: a Visitor's Guide” by Dr. Neil Faulkner. Every four years, under the height of the summer sun, around 100,000 men made their way from around the Mediterranean to Greece by sailing boat, donkey or oxen to enjoy a five–day festival of sport and culture. Visitors stayed in make–shift tents around the site and feasted on meat, fish and wine in between the many events, so there was a great deal of merrymaking, especially as no women except courtesans were allowed.

  The original site of Olympia (sadly lost in a 6th century earthquake) consisted of an enclosed sanctuary, which held several enormous temples, including ones for the Greek Gods Zeus and Hera and here a visitor could hear music, poetry and philosophy lectures; near the sanctuary was a stadium (a simple earth track with banks for the spectators) and a large hippodrome for the sporting events.

  Unlike today, there were no tickets and no seating. However there was an Olympic Committee consisting of nine Greek judges, as well as heralds, whip–bearers (to keep order), priests and groundsmen. To be eligible for the competitions, the athletes (who always competed naked) had to be Greek, free–born, in peak physical condition and of a pure and upright character. All Greek towns had a gymnasium for the young men to train in, but the athletes were usually from wealthy families as they needed special diets, trainers, equipment and exercises to help them win.

  The first day was devoted to the Opening Ceremony and praying to the Gods, followed by the swearing–in of the athletes. On day two there were two–horse or four–horse chariot races, consisting of twelve laps around the hippodrome, and then bare–back horse racing of one lap. On the third day there was another religious ceremony, followed by the sacrifice of one hundred oxen, which were then cooked for an enormous feast for everyone. The following day the foot races took place, including sprints, middle–distance and long–distance running around the stadium. Later there were combat sports such as wrestling, boxing and pankration; this last was a race in armour reminding us that the original Olympic Games were to encourage fitness for war as each Greek City State needed to provide soldiers to defend their city.

  On the final day the award ceremony took place, after which each winning competitor went home to a hero's welcome. Although there were no Olympic prizes (just a crown of olives) the winners achieved great glory, monetary gifts and celebrity status – just like today!

• Thursday 15 December 2011 – Lecture – Deck the Hall: Yuletide Customs and Traditions

  A lecture designed to put us in the Christmas spirit amused SADFAS members this month. Our lecturer, Dr David Bostwick, explained that many of the customs we regard as traditional come, in fact, from a combination of different beliefs and customs. Even the date of 25 December is partly based on the Christian calendar, but also because it is one of the shortest days and because of the Roman mid–winter festival Saturnalia. Romans thought that the sun might disappear totally, so lit fires to encourage the sun to return – hence our Yule Log! After Christmas, there were twelve days of revelry and misrule in grand households until 6th January and Elizabeth I is known to have given extravagant gifts at Epiphany.

  During Advent, in the middle ages, no meat was eaten so that by Christmas Day a great feast of meat was a real treat and a boar's head was considered to make you healthy and vigorous. In Shakespeare's time a lidded cold swan pie was popular, or six birds stuffed inside one another and goose was the most popular choice. By the 19th century turkey (originally from Mexico) had overtaken goose in popularity, but many families still ate goose on Boxing Day. This day, also called St Stephen's Day after the first Christian martyr, was when young apprentices collected tips or Christmas boxes for their masters. Mince pies, of course, contained real mince together with spices, fruit and nuts, while the family Christmas pudding was always made on “Stir Sunday” – the last one in November.

  The tradition of Father Christmas has many sources, but most people believe that it originates with St. Nicholas in Holland (and prior to that with the 4th century Turkish Bishop of Myra, known to be especially kind to children). St Nicholas Day is celebrated on 6th December in the low countries and as the Dutch settlers arrived in America they took this tradition with them. By the 19th century this tradition had returned to Europe in the guise of Santa Claus.

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