gathered... On the Christmas Market. I had never before seen Bell ringers. I ended up in Masham before I went to the Nativity play. Picking up Cornflake for that event, and we decided to first browse the Market and have some lunch.
We could see something was going on at arrival, when we met with Blue Santa, his wife and their ancient bikes. They were to ride around the market spot, and amuse visitors. They did. A short chat with them learned us that normally, there is a whole group of bikers who meet on occasion, but the snow kept many of their group at home on that sunday. Too bad...
On to where we here the kling klang of little bells...
A collection of nicely dressed people are ringing them as if their life depended on it. A strange sound, actually music, we can recognize the songs. At least some of them.
I have not been raised in the Singing Carols tradition, so my knowledge of songs is very limited. Lets say I know the first line of Silent night, holy night... That’s it.
The ringers have a booklet to follow on, no music notes though, only numbers. Too much math to my liking.
The enthousiasm of the players is heart touching. I do stand there for a long time, just enjoying the music and all that is around.
I will see what looks like the head ringer back later in the afternoon, as he is also a Roman soldier in the nativity play. He looks better in bell ringing costume, and it must be warmer for him too. Romans had naked legs, and on a cold snippy day like this sunday in December, naked legs are to avoid at all cost.
More colorful figures to see, the Punch and Judy Man has arrived in town too. The kiddies will get their bit of fun at two o’clock. We will just see the start, we have to leave for the play around two...
Some activities are taking place in Masham Village Hall, and we point our direction there.
Healthy looking Yorkshire lasses, with rosy cheeks, selling home made jams and preserves. Not good if you are on a diet, but who cares about diet when spending Christmas in North Yorkshire?
A task that is bound to fail.
Some small samples of what we can get, cookies, ginger bread, more cookies, chocolate chip muffins, pick your pick...
Short bread, biscuits. I keep struggling with the difference between cookies and biscuits. English kids will tell you the difference, as they are NOT the same.
To me, they are all cookies alike. I really liked the Santa Cookie, with choc eyes and nose...
Outside, we meet up with the Town Crier again, for this occasion dressed in sharp green. He was blue at the Masham Run, and he remembers me, the Belgian photographer. Hec yeah...
An urgent matter has to be taken care off, another Victorian Gentleman will see that it gets done. Lots of people working together to make this Christmas Market better then the last one. It always gets better! Year after year!
Punch and Judy have started the presentation, and again it funny to see how kids are drawn into the play, and treat the puppets as real people...
Smiling kiddie faces, what more can one want???
The storyline is rather predictable, but the same tricks work year after year, and the kids yell their heart and lungs out to warn about things going on in the background behind the master puppets.
I have no resistence against happy kids faces. Love it. I am having as much fun as they have, just by watching them.
The story unravels, a crocodile will haunt us in a minute, and a giant ice cone. Anything goes. The kids imagination is unlimited.
I don’t know the name of this blue red character, but he sure looks ready for any party.
So does this doggie dressed in tucsedo by nature...
Cornflake and me have to go, time for the nativity play!
If we are still here next year, I will be back on the first sunday of December, to have fun again at Masham Christmas Market!!!
