Twenty-three years ago, for one hour a week in the six wintry weeks leading up to Christmas, I sat glued to a televisual feast of magic and mystery. ‘The Box of Delights’ was written by John Masefield in the 1930s and adapted for television by the BBC in 1984, when I was ten and living in the UK. Something led me to think of the book a few days ago and by happy coincidence, a search on Amazon for a copy to replace my long-lost one led me to the recently-released DVD of the original series. I am now waiting in joyful anticipation of its arrival in my Wellington mailbox and would like to think that I can recreate the winter of 1984 over six weeks of spring 2007 (living in the southern hemisphere is playing havoc with my seasonal traditions). I suspect, however, that I won’t be able to resist the temptation of popping the disc straight into the player and watching the whole lot in one go.
I don’t remember much detail of the story, which was itself set at Christmas, but even at age ten I understood that it contained a large amount of pagan symbolism. Whether other children were aware of the pagan undertone or not, I’m not sure, but I do remember that the series was hugely popular (the DVD reviews on Amazon attest to that fact). I wonder if that popularity had something to do with the way in which the story stirred some long-forgotten understanding of the way in which Christmas used to be celebrated by many and still is by some. Next time you’re battling through the crowds in your own corner of the world, feeling the pre-Christmas buzz, take a moment to consider how many pagans and witches may be nearby. I’m betting it’s more than you might think and I’d also put money on you not knowing what the significance of the Christmas period is to the followers of the Old Religion, who will most likely be shopping for many of the same items as you. In her book ‘Hedge Witch: a guide to solitary witchcraft’, Rae Beth gives a thorough explanation of the eight festivals of the year, including Yuletide http://www.herebedragons.co.uk/rae/. Incidentally, she also explains the difference between a witch and a pagan (the former is by definition a pagan, while a pagan may not necessarily be a practising witch, who casts spells for the purposes of healing). For pagans, the Festival of Yule, the winter solstice, is the time of remaking, the birth of life and light. Candles, holly, and mistletoe are among the traditional decorations of this festival that have been adopted as symbols of the Christian festival. The tradition of gift-giving also originates with Yuletide celebrations and it’s likely that few people realise that by placing a fairy atop a tree they, like all the pagans of the world, are honouring the Mother Goddess. And if you find yourself waiting innocently underneath a sprig of mistletoe at your office party in a few weeks time, be aware that this plant evokes fertility – perhaps be careful who you choose to kiss!
Teachers and church leaders in the UK, Australia and elsewhere tried to ban the Harry Potter books for fear that it would lead children to dabble in the occult. I don’t recall a similar outcry when ‘The Box of Delights’ was broadcast, perhaps because the references were a little more subtle. But while JK Rowling’s portrayal of the use of magic may be more fantastical than John Masefield’s, witchcraft and magic are central themes of his book too, and they made a lasting impression on me. Many people lament the increasing commercialisation of Christmas, but while the cumulative value of the presents under the average tree may appear to be growing at an alarming rate, the decorations and traditions associated with the holiday remain largely unchanged, and have their roots in an ancient belief system. If you find it very comforting to dig out the same box of decorations and plonking the same dusty angel (likely made in year 4 using a toilet roll and double-sided sticky tape) on top of your tree year after year, and striving for reasons you can’t quite fathom to locate that elusive branch of holly that still has berries, perhaps the reason is that you are sub-consciously connecting to those old beliefs.
If you find yourself tempted to read the book and find that you love it, you might also like to check out Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark is Rising’ sequence, which is another corker. Unfortunately, every review of the film adaptation I’ve read so far (it has just been released in America) has labelled it as ‘appalling’, and apparently the plot and characters bear little resemblance to those of the book. So, a movie experience to be missed, perhaps, and a reason to rejoice in the BBC!