The Christmas Waits 1848

Town waits, playing their musical instruments while people are standing around listening. From medieval times up to the early 19th century, every British town and city of any note had a band of waites (modern spelling waits). Their duties varied from time to time and place to place, but included playing their instruments through the town at night, waking the townsfolk on dark winter mornings by playing under their windows, welcoming Royal visitors and leading the Mayor's Procession

Amateur Carols Clarinet Fiddler Foggy Gloomy Lamps Seasonal Traditions Urchins Waites Waits

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > MEI