Chapter Yuga to Yvetot of Y by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Yuga to Yvetot

Yuga A mundane period of years, four of which have already passed, making up an aggregate of four million solar years. In the first period men were innocent and free from disease, in the second their life was shortened by one quarter. In the first period devotion was man's object, in the second spiritual knowledge, in the third sacrifice. Compare the Hindu legend with the account given in Genesis.

Yule (1 syl.). Christmas time.

Yule Log A great log of wood laid in ancient times across the hearth-fire on Christmas Eve. This was done with certain ceremonies and much merry-making. (Norwegian, juul, Christmas.)

“Ever at Yuletide, when the great log flamed
In chimney corner, laugh and jest went round.”
Aldrich Wyndham Towers, stanza 5

Yule Swain (The). A kind of Santa Klaus among the Lapps. He is eleven feet high, and rides on a goat. He appears on St. Thomas's Day, and continues his visits till Christmas Eve; but where he comes from and whither he goes nobody has the least idea.

Yuletide has been held as a sacred festival by numberless nations.
   Christians hold December 25th as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus.
   China on the same day celebrates the birth of Buddha, son of Mâa. (Bunsen.
   Druids held during the winter solstice the festival of Nolagh. (Higgins.
   Egypt held that Horus, son of Isis, was born towards the close of December (Le Clerk de Septehenes.
   Greece celebrated in the winter solstice the birth of Demeer (Cercs), Dionyos (Bacchus), and Herakle (Hercules).
   India. Numerous Indian tribes keep Yuletide as a religious festival. (Monier Williams.
   Mexïco holds in the winter solstice the festival of Capacrame (History of the Indies, vol. ii. p. 354.)
   Persia at the same period honours the birth of Mithras. (Gross.)
   Rome celebrated on December 25th the festival “Natais Solis Invicta
   Scandinavia held at Yuletide the festival called Jul, in honour of Freya, wife of Odin.

Yumboes (2 syl.). Fairies of African mythology, about two feet high, of a white colour, and dressed like the people of Jaloff. Their favourite haunt is the range of hills called The Paps.

“When evening's shades o'er Goree's isle extend,
The nimble Yumboes from The Paps descend,
Silly approach the natives' huts, and steal
With secret hand the pounded coos coos meal.”
Keightley. Fairy Mythology

Yves (St.) (1 syl.). Patron saint of lawyers, being himself a lawyer. As he used his knowledge of the law in defending the oppressed, he is called in Brittany “the poor man's advocate.”

“Advocatus, sed non latro,
Res miranda populo.”
Hymn to St. Yves.

Yvetot (pron. Eve-tó). The King of Yvetot. Yvetot is a town in Normandy, and the king referred to is the lord of the town, called roi d'Yvetot in old chronicles. The tradition is that Clotaire, son of Clovis, having slain Gaulthier, lord of Yvetot, before the high altar of Soissons, made atonement by conferring the title of king on the heirs of the murdered man.

“Il était un roi d'Yvetot
Peu connu dans l'histoire;
Se levant tard, se couchant tôt,
Dormant fort bien sans gloire,
Et couronne par Jeanneton
D'un simple bonnet de coton,
Dit-on.
Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah!
Quel bon petit roi c'éctait, là! là! là!”
Beranger: Roi d'Yvetot (1813).
A king there was, “roi d'Yvetot” clept,
But little known in story;
Went soon to bed, till daylight slept,
And soundly without glory
His royal brow in cotton cap
Would Janet, when he took his nap,
Enwrap.
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ho! ho! ho! ho!
A famous king this “roi d'Yvetot.”
E. C. D.