Mission Statement
(Adopted October, 1993):
The purpose of the Grosse Ile Boar's Head
Festival shall be primarily
to bring the word of God to
those who have not heard, to
strengthen the community of
Grosse Ile through
interaction and fellowship
and to bring healing and
remembrance for the loved
ones gone before us.
Watch Our Introduction
The
Festival: A highlight of the Advent season on Grosse
Ile will be the enacting of
the Boar's Head Festival at
Sacred Heart Church,
December 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
and 17, 2006.
A
Christmas celebration with
music and pageantry, the
Boar's Head Festival appears
to be an American custom of
English origin. Its roots
are in the ancient English
tradition of slaying a boar
for the Christmas feast,
roasting the severed head
with an apple in its mouth
and ceremoniously bearing it
into the castle's dining
hall so that royalty and
guests might admire it and
the hunter's prowess. With
the passage of time, the
slaying of the boar has come
to represent the conquering
of evil at the birth of the
Christ Child.
The
2006 Grosse Ile Boar's Head
Festival begins production
tapping the talents of over
600 Island residents. This
pageant displays both the
colorful magnificence of the
great feast and the simple
beauty of the Christmas
story.
Sponsored by
the Interfaith Council of
Churches, the Boar's Head
Festival is a truly
ecumenical undertaking.
Members of Island churches
make up the more than 600
people who sing, perform or
contribute their skills in
the production of the
festival by working on sets,
costumes, lights, sound,
publicity and programs.
Spectators will see and
hear a brass ensemble,
recorders, handbells,
bagpipes, harpsichord,
singers, dancers, tumblers,
jesters, townspeople and a
Christmas story. Musicians
include an adult, youth and
children's choir of over 100
voices and a 25 piece
orchestra.
History of Boar's Head
1980:
Josephine Ramage and the
Interfaith Council of
Churches of Grosse Ile
launched the first Grosse
Ile Boar's Head Festival.
The Islanders theater group
were also instrumental in
the initial performance that
involved about 200 to 300
people. Sacred Heart
Catholic Church hosted the
original pageant. And the
script was rented from the
Cherry Hill Presbyterian
Church.
1982: The
second Boar's Head took
place and the 12 Days of
Christmas was added to the
pageant. Doug Scott became
the musical arranger and
composer.
1984: The
third Boar's Head was
performed and King
Winsaslaus was added.
1986: King
Winsaslaus was removed.
1987: The
Interfaith Council and Mrs.
Ramage decided the
production would occur every
four years.
1990: The
Boar's Head was performed at
Grosse Ile High School.
Nothing new was added,
however a composition was
written called "The
Innocents." This piece would
be brought to life in 1994.
1992:
Josephine Ramage dies of
leukemia
1993: Jill
Ryan was appointed executive
director and producer to
succeed the late Josephine
Ramage.
1994:
Boar's Head is again
performed at Grosse Ile High
School and "The Innocents"
was performed. About 400 to
500 people were involved.
1998: The
pageant returns to Sacred
Heart Catholic Church and
the "The Annuciation" is
added as the new piece.
2002: The
pageant is performed again
at Sacred Heart Church and
"The Prophet, Isaiah" is
added to tell the prophecy
of the coming of the Christ
child. The pageant size
continues to grow, reaching
close to 600 people.
2004: The
Grosse Ile Boars' Head
Festival incorporates and
becomes a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization.
2006: The
ninth pageant will be
performed at Sacred Heart
Church.
2011: TBD
"No, Don't Eat Me!"
Don't
worry because no animals
are hurt or even used
during production.
