Barring Out The Schoolmaster

One of the more unusual customs that marked Christmas in certain areas of Pennsylvania was barring out the schoolmaster. Alfred L. Shoemaker, in his book, Christmas in Pennsylvania, says that custom had its roots in the 18th century pay schools. In his book Danville Past and Present, Montour County author and newspaper Editor D.H.B. Brower wrote: “There was one day in the year when the "master's" anger was braved, and that was in the time-honored custom of "barring out the master" on Christmas.