● Boar’ s Head Festival
The Boar’ s Head Festival
PAGEANTRY, TRADITION, AND FAITH: A CENTURIES-OLD STORY
Story By Beckie Erwin • Photos contributed by Amy Sutton and David Gill
Each January as Epiphany arrives and the Wise Men’ s journey is remembered, trumpets echo through the dim, candlelit sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Sharon, Pennsylvania. It’ s the sound that signals the beginning of the Boar’ s Head Festival. Velvet-robed actors sweep down the aisle, bold banners sway overhead, ancient carols fill the air, and a grand boar’ s head dressed in holly and ribbons makes its dramatic entrance. Though the tradition began centuries ago in the great halls of Oxford, England, it has become a cherished blend of
20 VALLEY VOICES theater, music, and worship in many American churches.
At the center of it all is the boar’ s head itself. Historically, it symbolized triumph and protection, celebrating the victory of good over evil and Christ over death. Around this symbolic moment, a colorful cast gathers: a royal court in flowing robes, beefeaters in distinctive uniforms, shepherds and angels from the Nativity story, and musicians whose melodies feel as though they’ ve traveled straight out of another era. Every character adds a thread to a story that weaves medieval pageantry with Christian meaning.
The festival may last only an hour, but it takes months to bring to life. Handmade costumes are sewn, repaired, and refitted. Wooden platforms and props are built or freshened up. Choirs and instrumentalists rehearse their music. All of this work unfolds quietly behind the scenes long before the audience arrives.
Volunteers fuel every part of the effort. Some families have participated for generations; others join once and become hooked. Children practice carrying banners or candles with a mix of excitement