Event

The Boar's Head Festival

San Francisco Renaissance Voices (Todd Jolly, Music Director) ends the holiday season with music for Twelfth Night - with a traditional Boar's Head Festival featuring the music of Medieval through Contemporary England.

The Festival we know today originated at Queen's College, Oxford, England in 1340. Legend has it that a scholar was studying a book of Aristotle while walking through the forest on his way to Midnight Mass. Suddenly, he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his metal-bound philosophy book down the throat of the charging animal, whereupon the brute choked to death. That night the boar's head, finely dressed and garnished, was borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing "in honor of the King of bliss."

After the concert our audiences will enjoy a feast featuring wassail, king's cake and roast pork pie (or vegetarian alternative).