There are many theories as to the origin of the term, none of which has been proven:
The word could be derived from the Norse word hum meaning 'night' or 'shadow', and the word bugges (used in the Bible), or bogey, meaning 'apparition'
In Old Swedish, humi means 'dark suspicion'. From this word is derived the Swedish verb hymla, still in use, which means 'to conceal, hide, not commit to the truth'.
According to the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, in English, to hum indeed meant 'to deceive'.
Originally bug (bwg in Welsh) meant ‘ghost or goblin’, which seems an ideal use in Dickens' novel about the Christmas ghosts.
The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica suggested that it is a form of "Hamburg", where false coins were minted and shipped to England during the Napoleonic wars, which is in itself a humbug as the Napoleonic wars occurred 50 years after the word first appeared in print…
So Bah Humbug means “ghostly (or invisible) fraud or deception”. When you consider how the peace and mystery of Christmas has been hijacked by modern commercialism, I rest my case.
You deserve at least one evening free of all the hype, so join your fellow Bah Humbuggers at the
Shoulder of Mutton, Worrall on Wednesday 13th December from 6pm,
where, for three hours to 9pm, “Christmas” is banned. Yes, we’re bringing the swear box again.
We have been allocated the restaurant area at the back of the pub. Good company, food and refreshment guaranteed – Wednesday is Curry Night, but the usual menu is also available (see sample menu in photos). If you intend to partake of the menu, please mention it in your “will attend” log so we can let the chef know how many to expect. Food is served up to 9pm.
The pub has a large car park, or if you come by public transport, take the No 57 bus service to Stocksbridge and get off in Worrall. Walk up Kirkedge Road and take the second right, Top Road, to a warm caching welcome at the Shoulder.