British Popular Customs, Present and Past / Illustrating the Social and Domestic Manners of the People. Arranged According to the Calendar of the Year.

Dec. 26.] ST. STEPHEN’S DAY.

Dec. 26.]

ST. STEPHEN’S DAY.

For some unexplained reason St. Stephen’s Day was a great period with our ancestors for bleeding their horses, which was practised by people of all ranks, and recommended by the old agricultural poet Tusser, in his Five Hundred Points of Husbandry (chap. xxii. st. 16), who says:

Mr. Douce says that the practice was introduced into this country by the Danes.

Naogeorgus, according to his translator, Barnaby Googe, refers to it, and assigns a reason:

In explanation, it may be stated that the Saint was the patron of horses, and that on this day, which the Germans call Der grosse Pferdstag, the Pope’s stud was physicked and bled for the sake of the blood which was supposed to be a remedy in many disorders.

Aubrey, in his Remains of Gentilisme (MS. Lansd. 226), says: “On St. Stephen’s day, the farrier came constantly and blouded all our cart-horses.” In the “Receipts and Disbursements of the canons of St. Mary in Huntingdon,” is the following entry: “Item, for letting our horses blede in Chrystmasse weke, iiij^d.”—Med. Ævi Kalend. 1841, vol. i. p. 118.

Christmas Boxes is a term now applied to gifts of money at Christmas given away on St. Stephen’s Day, commonly called Boxing Day, whereas, anciently, it signified the boxes in which gifts were deposited. These boxes closely resembled the Roman Paganalia, for the reception of contributions at rural festivals; from which custom, with certain changes, is said to have been derived our Christmas Boxes. At Pompeii have been found earthen boxes, in which money was slipped through a hole. Aubrey found one filled with Roman denarii.—Timbs’ Something for Everybody, 1861, p. 152; see N. & Q. 3rd S. vol. xi. pp. 65, 107, 164, 245; see also Fosbroke’s Enclyclopædia of Antiquities, 1840, p. 662.

Bedfordshire.

In Bedfordshire there formerly existed a custom of the poor begging the broken victuals the day after Christmas Day.—Time’s Telescope, 1822, p. 298.

Buckinghamshire.

It is stated in the Parliamentary Returns in 1786, that some land, then let at 12l. per annum, was given by Sir Hugh Kite for the poor of the parish of Clifton Reynes. It appears from a book, in the custody of the minister, dated 1821, compiled by an antiquary for a history of the county, that the rector holds a close of pasture-ground called Kites, which had been formerly given to support a lamp burning in the church of Clifton Reynes, but which was subject to a charge of finding one small loaf, a piece of cheese, and a pint of ale to every married person, and half-a-pint for every unmarried person, resident in Clifton on the feast of St. Stephen, when they walked in the parish boundaries in Rogation week. The close was annexed to the rectory in the 12th of Elizabeth.—Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 120.

There was formerly a custom in the parish of Drayton Beauchamp called Stephening. All the inhabitants used to go on St. Stephen’s Day to the rectory, and eat as much bread and cheese and drink as much ale as they chose at the expense of the rector.

The usage gave rise to so much rioting that it was discontinued, and an annual sum was distributed instead in proportion to the number of the claimants. In time, the number of inhabitants, however, increased so considerably, that about the year 1827 the custom was dropped.—Ibid. p. 121.

Cambridgeshire.

St. Stephen’s Day was formerly observed at Cambridge. Slicer, a character in the old play of the Ordinary says,

This, says the annotator, was called St. Stephen’s pudding; it used formerly to be provided at St. John’s College, Cambridge, uniformly on St. Stephen’s Day.—Dodsley’s Old Plays, 1721, vol. x. p. 229; Med. Ævi Kalend. vol. i. p. 119.

Isle of Man.

Hunting the wren has been a pastime in the Isle of Man from time immemorial. In Waldron’s time it was observed on the 24th of December, though afterwards it was observed on St. Stephen’s Day. This singular ceremony is founded on a tradition that, in former times, a fairy of uncommon beauty exerted such undue influence over the male population, that she, at various times, induced, by her sweet voice, numbers to follow her footsteps, till by degrees she led them into the sea where they perished. This barbarous exercise of power had continued for a great length of time, till it was apprehended that the island would be exhausted of its defenders, when a knight-errant sprang up, who discovered some means of countervailing the charms used by this siren, and even laid a plot for her destruction, which she only escaped at the moment of extreme hazard by taking the form of a wren. But though she evaded instant annihilation, a spell was cast upon her by which she was condemned, on every succeeding New Year’s Day, to reanimate the same form with the definite sentence that she must ultimately perish by human hand. In consequence of this legend, on the specified anniversary, every man and boy in the island (except those who have thrown off the trammels of superstition) devote the hours between sunrise and sunset to the hope of extirpating the fairy, and woe be to the individual birds of that species who show themselves on this fatal day to the active enemies of the race; they are pursued, pelted, fired at, and destroyed, without mercy, and their feathers preserved with religious care, it being an article of belief that every one of the relics gathered in this laudable pursuit is an effective preservative from shipwreck for one year; and that fisherman would be considered extremely foolhardy who should enter upon his occupation without such a safeguard; when the chase ceases, one of the little victims is affixed to the top of a long pole with its wings extended, and carried in front of the hunters, who march in procession to every house, chanting the following rhyme:

After making the usual circuit and collecting all the money they could obtain, they laid the wren on a bier and carried it in procession to the parish churchyard, where, with a whimsical kind of solemnity, they made a grave, buried it and sang dirges over it in the Manks language, which they call her knell. After the obsequies were performed, the company, outside the churchyard wall, formed a circle and danced to music which they had provided for the occasion.

At present there is not a particular day for pursuing the wren: it is captured by boys alone, who follow the old custom principally for amusement. On St. Stephen’s Day a group of boys go from door to door with a wren suspended by the legs, in the centre of two hoops crossing each other at right angles, decorated with evergreens and ribbons, singing lines called Hunt the Wren. If at the close of this rhyme they are fortunate enough to obtain a small coin, they give in return a feather of the wren; and before the close of the day the little bird may sometimes be seen hanging about featherless. The ceremony of the interment of this bird in the churchyard, at the close of St. Stephen’s Day, has long since been abandoned; and the sea-shore or some waste ground was substituted in its place.

Norfolk.

It is an old custom in the town of East Dereham, to ring a muffled peal from the church tower on the morning of St. Stephen’s Day.—N. & Q. 3rd S. vol. iii. p. 69.

Oxfordshire.

The three vicars of Bampton, give beef and beer on the morning of St. Stephen’s Day to those who choose to partake of it. This is called St. Stephen’s breakfast.—Southey’s Common Place Book, 4th S. 1851, p. 395.

Yorkshire.

A correspondent of the Gent. Mag. (1811, vol. lxxxi. pt. i. p. 423) says, that in the North Riding of Yorkshire on the feast of St. Stephen large goose pies are made, all of which they distribute among their needy neighbours, except one, which is carefully laid up, and not tasted till the Purification of the Virgin, called Candlemas.

On this day, also, six youths, clad in white and bedecked with ribbands, with swords in their hands, travel from one village to another, performing the “sword dance.” They are attended by a fiddler, a youth whimsically dressed, named “Bessy,” and by one who personates a physician. One of the six youths acts the part of a king in a sort of farce, which consists chiefly of music and dancing, when the “Bessy” interferes while they are making a hexagon with their swords, and is killed.—Time’s Telescope, 1814, p. 315.

WALES.

On St. Stephen’s Day, everybody is privileged to whip another person’s legs with holly, and this is often reciprocally done till the blood streams down.—Southey’s Common Place Book (1851, 4th S. p. 365). In Mason’s Tales and Traditions of Tenby (1858, p. 5) this custom is alluded to as being celebrated at that place.

IRELAND.

On the anniversary of St. Stephen it is customary for groups of young villagers to bear about a holly-bush adorned with ribbons, and having many wrens depending from it. This is carried from house to house with some ceremony, the “wren-boys” chanting several verses, the burthen of which may be collected from the following lines of their song:

A small piece of money is usually bestowed on them, and the evening concludes in merry-making with the money thus collected.—Croker, Researches in the South of Ireland, 1824, p. 233.

Dec. 28.] HOLY INNOCENTS’ DAY.

Dec. 28.]

HOLY INNOCENTS’ DAY.

In consequence probably of the feelings of horror attached to such an act of atrocity as Herod’s murder of the children, Innocents’ Day used to be reckoned about the most unlucky throughout the year; and in former times no one who could possibly avoid it began any work or entered on any undertaking on this anniversary.[96] To many Childermas Day was especially inauspicious. It is said of the equally superstitious and unprincipled monarch, Louis XI., that he would never perform any business, or enter into any discussion about his affairs, on this day, and to make to him then any proposal of the kind was certain to exasperate him to the utmost. We are informed too that, in England, on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward IV., that solemnity which had been originally intended to take place on Sunday, was postponed till the Monday, owing to the former day being in that year the festival of Childermas. This idea of the inauspicious nature of the day was long prevalent, and is even yet not wholly extinct. To the present hour the housewives in Cornwall, and probably also in other parts of the country, refrain scrupulously from scouring or scrubbing on Innocents’ Day.—Book of Days, vol. ii. p. 776.

It was, moreover, not considered lucky upon this day to put on new clothes or pare the nails.

In 1517, however, King Henry VIII., by an order, enjoined, “that the King of Cockneys, on Childermas Day, should sit and have due service; and that he and all his officers should use honest manner and good order, without any waste or destruction making in wine, brawn, chely, or other vitails; and also that he and his marshal, butler, and constable marshal, should have their lawful and honest commandments by delivery of the officers of Christmas, and that the said King of Cockneys, he, none of his officers, medyl neither in the buttery nor in the stuard of Christmass, his officer, upon pain of 40s. for every such meddling; and lastly, that Jack Straw and all his adherents should be thenceforth utterly banisht, and no more to be used in this house, upon pain to forfeit, for every time, five pounds, to be levied on every fellow happening to offend against this rule.”—Every Day Book, 1862, vol. i. p. 1648; Dugdale’s Orig. Jurid.

It was at one time customary on this day to whip the juvenile members of a family. Gregory remarks that “it hath been a custom, and yet is elsewhere, to whip up the children upon Innocents’ Day morning, that the memorie of this murther might stick the closer; and, in a moderate proportion, to act over the crueltie again in kind.” Gregory also states another custom, on the authority of an old ritual belonging to the Abbey of Oseney, communicated to him by his friend, Dr. Gerard Langbain, the Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford, from which it appears that, at the church of Oseney, “they were wont to bring out, upon this day, the foot of a child prepared after their fashion, and put upon with red and black colours, as to signify the dismal part of the day. They put this up in a chest in the vestry, ready to be produced at the time, and to be solemnly carried about the church to be adored by the people.”—Gregorie’s Works, Episcopus Puerorum in Die Innocentium, 1684, p. 113.

Gloucestershire.

At Woodchester a muffled peal is rung on this day.—Kalendar of the English Church, 1866, p. 194.

Northamptonshire.

In Northamptonshire this festival was called “Dyzemas Day.” Miss Baker, in her Glossary of Northamptonshire Words (1854, vol. i. p. 207), says she was told by a sexagenarian on the southern side of the county that, within his remembrance, this day was kept as sacred as the Sabbath, and it was considered particularly unlucky to commence any undertaking, or even to wash, on the same day of the week throughout the year on which the anniversary of this day last fell, and it was commonly said, “What is begun on Dyzemas Day will never be finished.”

The source of the ill-omened Dyzemas has not been settled: its origin has been suggested from Greek dus, and mass, as being expressive of misfortune, evil, peril, in allusion to the massacre of the Innocents. A correspondent of N. & Q. (2nd S. vol. iii. pp. 289 and 495) asks if it has not reference to the name Desmas, given to one of the thieves crucified with our Lord; universal tradition seeming to attach Desmas to the penitent, and Gestas (or Yesmas) to the impenitent thief? And if the local tradition has any reference to these names, it would seem as if Desmas was the name of ill-omen. It has also been suggested that Dyzemas Day is tithe day: in Portuguese, dizimas, dizimos, tenths, tithes; in law Latin, decimae, the same. Timbs thinks it referable to the old north-country word disen, i.e., to dress out in holiday finery, especially at this festive season.—Something for Everybody, (1861, p 154).

Somersetshire.

From time immemorial a muffled peal has been rung on this festival at Leigh-upon-Mendip. At Wells, also, on this day, the bells of the cathedral ring out a muffled peal in commemoration of the martyrdom of the Innocents.—Kalendar of the Church of England, 1866, p. 194.

Worcestershire.

At Norton, near Evesham, it is customary, says a correspondent of N. & Q. (1st S. vol. viii. p. 617), to ring first a muffled peal for the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, and then an unmuffled peal of joy for the deliverance of the Infant Christ.

IRELAND.

Holy Innocents’ Day is with the Irish “the cross day of the year,” which they call in their own tongue “La crosta na bliana,” or sometimes “Diar daoin darg,” the latter phrase signifying “blood Thursday.” On this day the Irish housewife will not warp thread, or permit it to be warped; and the Irish say that anything begun on this day must have an unlucky ending. The following legend regarding the day is current in the county of Clare:—

Between the parishes of Quin and Tulla in this county is a lake called Turlough. In the lake is a little island, and among a heap of loose stones in the middle of the island rises a white thorn-bush, which is called “Scagh an Earla” (the earl’s bush). A suit of clothes made for a child on the “Cross day,” or “Diar daoin darg,” was put on the child—the child died. The clothes were put on a second and on a third child—they also died. The parent of the children at length put out the clothes on the “Scagh an Earla,” and when the waters fell which for a time covered the bush, the clothes were found to be full of dead eels. Such is the story; and other stories like it are freely told of the consequences of commencing work on “the cross day of the year” in Ireland.—N. & Q. 4th S. vol. xii. p. 185.

Dec. 31.] NEW YEAR’S EVE.

Dec. 31.]

NEW YEAR’S EVE.

The last night of the old year has been called Singing-E’en, from the custom of singing carols on the evening of this day.

This eve is called by the Wesleyan Methodists Watch Night, because at their principal chapels the ministers and congregations hold a service to watch out the old year, i.e., they pray until about five minutes to twelve o’clock, and then observe a profound silence until the clock strikes, when they exultingly burst forth with a hymn of praise and joy. Latterly, this service has been very generally observed by evangelical churchmen.—See Timbs’ Something for Everybody, 1861, p. 156.

Wassail-bowl.—Formerly, at this season, the head of the house assembled his family around a bowl of spiced ale, from which he drank their healths, then passed it to the rest, that they might drink too. The word that passed amongst them was the ancient Saxon phrase, wass hael; that is, to your health. Hence this came to be recognised as the Wassail or Wassel-bowl. The poorer class of people carried a bowl adorned with ribbons round the neighbourhood, begging for something wherewith to obtain the means of filling it.—Book of Days, vol. i. p. 27; See Nare’s Glossary (Halliwell and Wright), 1859, vol. ii. p. 943; Antiquarian Repertory, vol. i. p. 218; Ritson’s Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 304.

Cornwall.

New Year’s Day and Eve are holidays with the miners. It has been said they refuse to work on these days from superstitious reasons.—Hunt’s Romances of the West of England, 1871, p. 350.

Cumberland.

At Muncaster, on the eve of the new year, the children used to go from house to house singing a ditty which craves the bounty “they were wont to have in old King Edward’s days.” No tradition exists as to the origin of this custom. The donation was twopence or a pie at every house.—Hutchinson, History of Cumberland, 1794, vol. i. p. 570, note.

Derbyshire.

On New Year’s Eve a cold possett, as it is called, made of milk, ale, eggs, currants, and spice, is prepared, and in it is placed the wedding-ring of the hostess; each of the party takes out a ladle full, and in doing so takes every precaution to fish up the ring, as it is believed that whoever is fortunate enough to “catch” the ring will be married before the year is out. On the same night it is customary in some districts to throw open all the doors of the house just before midnight, and to wait for the coming year, as for an honoured guest, by meeting him as he approaches, and crying, “Welcome!”—Jour. of the Arch. Assoc. 1852, vol. vii. p. 201.

Gloucestershire.

On New Year’s Eve the wassailers go about carrying with them a large bowl, dressed up with garlands and ribbons, and repeat the following song:

Isle of Man.

In many of the upland cottages it is customary for the housewife, after raking the fire for the night, and just before stepping into bed, to spread the ashes smooth over the floor with the tongs in the hope of finding in it, next morning, the tract of a foot; should the toes of this ominous print point towards the door, then it is believed a member of the family will die in the course of that year; but should the heel of the fairy foot point in that direction, then it is firmly believed that the family will be augmented within the same period.—Train, History of Isle of Man, 1845, vol. ii. p. 115.

Nottinghamshire.

Of the New Year’s customs observed in this county the wassail was until recently observed to a considerable extent. This friendly custom was observed by the young women of the village, who accustomed themselves to go about from door to door on New Year’s Eve, neatly dressed for the occasion, and bearing a bowl richly decorated with evergreens and ribbands, and filled with a compound of ale, roasted apples, and toast, and seasoned with nutmeg and sugar. The bowl was offered to the inmates with the singing of the following amongst other verses:

On this night also, in many parts of this county, as well as in Derbyshire, a muffled peal is rung on the church bells till twelve o’clock, when the bandages are removed from the bells whilst the clock is striking, and a merry peal is instantly struck up; this is called “ringing the old year out and the new year in.”—Jour. of the Arch. Assoc., 1853, vol. viii. p. 230.

Oxfordshire.

It is a custom at Merton College, says Pointer, in his Oxoniensis Academia (1749, p. 24), on the last night in the year (called Scrutiny Night), for the college servants, all in a body, to make their appearance in the hall before the warden and fellows (after supper), and there to deliver up the keys, so that if they have committed any great crime in the year their keys are taken away, and consequently their places, otherwise they are of course delivered to them again.

At the opening of the scrutiny the senior Bursar makes this short speech:

Isle of Wight.

At Yarmouth the following doggerel is sung at the season of the new year:

Yorkshire.

At Bradford it is the practice of men and women, dressed in strange costumes, with blackened faces, and besoms in hand, to enter houses on New Year’s Eve so as to “sweep out the old year.”—N. & Q. 5th S. vol. i. p. 383.

SCOTLAND.

Hogmanay is the universal popular name in Scotland for the last day of the year. It is a day of high festival among young and old—but particularly the young, who do not regard any of the rest of the Daft Days with half so much interest. It is still customary, in retired and primitive towns, for the children of the poorer class of people to get themselves on that morning swaddled in a great sheet, doubled up in front, so as to form a vast pocket, and then to go along the streets in little bands, calling at the doors of the wealthier classes for an expected dole of oaten bread. Each child gets one quadrant section of oat-cake (sometimes, in the case of particular cases, improved by an addition of cheese), and this is called their hogmanay. In expectation of the large demands thus made upon them, the housewives busy themselves for several days beforehand in preparing a suitable quantity of cakes. The children, on coming to the door, cry “Hogmanay!” which is in itself a sufficient announcement of their demands; but there are other exclamations, which either are or might be used for the same purpose. One of these is:

What is precisely meant by the word hogmanay, or by the still more inexplicable trollolay, has been a subject fertile in dispute to Scottish antiquaries, as the reader will find by an inspection of the Archæologia Scotica. A suggestion of the late Professor Robison of Edinburgh seems the best, that the word hogmanay was derived from Au qui menez, (“To the misletoe go”), which mummers formerly cried in France at Christmas. Another suggested explanation is, Au queux menez—that is, bring to the beggars. At the same time, it was customary for these persons to rush unceremoniously into houses, playing antic tricks, and bullying the inmates, for the money and choice victuals, crying: Tire-lire (referring to a small money-box they carried), maint du blanc, et point du bas.” These various cries, it must be owned, are as like as possible to “Hogmanay, trollolay, give us of your white bread, and none of your grey.”—Chambers’ Pop. Rhymes of Scotland, 1870, pp. 164-165; see Hales’s Analysis of Chronoloqy, 1830, vol. i. pp. 50, 51, also N. & Q. 5th S. vol. ii. pp. 329, 517.

In Scotland also, upon the last of the old year, the children go about from door to door, asking for bread and cheese, which they call “Nog-money,” in these words:

Lanarkshire.

At the town of Biggar (in the upper ward of Lanarkshire) it has been customary from time immemorial among the inhabitants to celebrate what is called “burning out the old year.” For this purpose, during the day of the 31st of December, a large quantity of fuel is collected, consisting of branches of trees, brushwood, and coals, and placed in a heap at the “cross;” and about nine o’clock at night the lighting of the fire is commenced, surrounded by a crowd of lookers-on, who each think it a duty to cast into the flaming mass some additional portion of material, the whole being sufficient to maintain the fire till next or New Year’s Day morning is far advanced. Fires are also kindled on the adjacent hills to add to the importance of the occasion.

It is considered unlucky to give out a light to any one on the morning of the new year, and therefore if the house-fire has been allowed to become extinguished, recourse must be had to the embers of the pile. This then accounts for the maintenance of the fire up to a certain time on New Year’s Day.

Some consider these fires to be the relics of Pagan or of Druidical rites of the dark ages; perhaps of a period as remote as that of the Beltaine fires, the change of circumstances having now altered these fires, both as to the particular season of year of their celebration, and of their various religious forms.—N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. ix. p. 322.

Morayshire.

In the village of Burghead, situated on the southern shore of the Moray Frith, about nine miles from Elgin, the county town of Morayshire, the following curious custom is observed:

On the evening of the last day of December (Old Style), the youths of the village assemble about dusk, and make the necessary preparations for the celebration of the “Clavie.” Proceeding to some shop they demand a strong empty barrel, which is usually given at once, but if refused taken by force. Another for breaking up, and a quantity of tar are likewise procured at the same time. Thus furnished they repair to a particular spot close to the sea-shore, and commence operations. A hole about four inches in diameter is first made in the bottom of the stronger barrel, into which the end of a stone pole, five feet in length, is firmly fixed: to strengthen their hold a number of supports are nailed round the outside of the former, and also closely round the latter. The tar is then put into the barrel, and set on fire, and the remaining one being broken up, stave after stave is thrown in until it is quite full. The “Clavie,” already burning fiercely, is now shouldered by some strong man, and borne away at a rapid pace. As soon as the bearer gives signs of exhaustion, another willingly takes his place; and should any of those who are honoured to carry the blazing load meet with an accident, as sometimes happens, the misfortune incites no pity even among his near relatives. In making the circuit of the village they are said to confine themselves to its old boundaries. Formerly, the procession visited all the fishing-boats, but this has been discontinued for some time. Having gone over the appointed ground, the “Clavie” is finally carried to a small artificial eminence near the point of the promontory, and interesting as being a portion of the ancient fortifications, spared probably on account of its being used for this purpose, where a circular heap of stones used to be hastily piled up, in the hollow centre of which the “Clavie” was placed still burning. On this eminence, which is termed the “durie,” the present proprietor has lately erected a small round column, with a cavity in the centre for admitting the fire end of the pole, and into this it is now placed. After being allowed to burn on the “durie” for a few minutes, the “Clavie” is most unceremoniously hurled from its place, and the smoking embers scattered among the assembled crowd, by whom, in less enlightened times, they were eagerly caught at and fragments of them carried home and carefully preserved as charms against witchcraft. At one time superstition invested the whole proceedings with all the solemnity of a religious rite, the whole population joining in it as an act necessary to the welfare and prosperity of the little community during the year about to commence.

The “Clavie” has now, however, degenerated into a mere frolic, kept up by the youngsters more for their own amusement than for any benefit which the due performance of the ceremony is believed to secure.—N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. ix. p. 38; see also N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. ix. pp. 106, 169, 269; and Book of Days, vol. ii. pp. 789-791.

Orkney.

It was formerly the custom in Orkney for large bands of the common class of people to assemble on New Year’s Eve, and pay a round of visits, singing a song which commenced as follows:

IRELAND.

On the last night of the year a cake is thrown against the outside door of each house by the head of the family, which ceremony is said to keep out hunger during the ensuing one.—Croker, Researches in the South of Ireland, 1824, p. 233.

A correspondent of N. & Q. (5th S. vol. iii. p. 7) says, on New Year’s Day about the suburbs at the County Down side of Belfast, the boys run about carrying little twisted wisps of straw, which they offer to persons whom they meet, or throw into their houses, as New Year’s offerings, and expect to get in return any small present, such as a little money or a piece of bread.

About Glenarm, on the coast of County Antrim, the “wisp” is not used, but on this day the boys go about from house to house, and are regaled with bannocks of oaten bread, buttered; these bannocks are baked specially for the occasion, and are commonly small, thick, and round, and with a hole through the centre. Any person who enters a house on New Year’s Day must either eat or drink before leaving it.

INDEX.

• Abbé de Liesse, 459
• Abbot of Misrule, 459
• Acres Fair, 388
• Advent Bells, 431
• Agatha (St.), 374
• Agnes’ (St.) Day, 47
• Agnes’ (St.) Eve, 46
• Agnes’ (St.) Fast, 46
• Alaf-mass, 347
• Ale, the Whitsun, 278
• Allan Day, 395
• Alleluia, Funeral of the, 45
• All Fools’ Day, 184
• All Hallows’ Day, 397
• All Hallow Mass, 55
• All Saints’ Day, 404
• All Souls’ Day, 409
• All Souls’ Eve, 405
• Andermess, 430
• Andisop, 431
• Andrew’s (St.), Day, 429
• Andrew’s (St.), Under Shaft, 247
• Androis Mess, 430
• Andrys Day, 430
• Anne’s (St.) Day, 346, 357
• Annunciation, Festival of, 180
• Apparition of St. Michael, 275
• Apples, given away on New Year’s Day, 5
• Apples, ducking for, on Halloween, 394
• Apple-trees, wassailing of, 450
• April Gouks, 187
• Apprentices’ Feast, 355
• Array, Court of, 287
• Ascension Day, 210
• Ash Wednesday, 84
• Ashton faggot, 446
• Ass-ridlin, 199
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 357
• Aughrim, battle of, 340
• August, Gule of, 347
• Auld Handsel Monday, 19
• Avage or Avisage, 416
• Bacchus, Verses written in honour of, 58
• Bacon, gammon of, eaten at Easter, 162
• Bairn bishop, 291
• Baker’s Clem, 423
• Balmoral Castle, Halloween at, 401
• Bannich Bruader, 90
• Bannich Junit, 89
• Barchan’s (St.) Day, 437
• Barnabas’ (St.) Day, 310
• Barring out, 72
• Bartholomew’s (St.) Day, 361
• Barton Fair, 379
• Bay, used as a decoration at Christmas, 458
• Beans, kings created by, 20
• Bear-baiting, 385
• Beating the Bounds, 210
• Beating the Cross, 213
• Becket, Thomas-à-, 338
• Becket’s Fair, 339
• Bedfordshire, 151, 205, 290, 374, 439, 493
• Bees, Superstition regarding, 451
• Bells, 5, 62, 82, 87, 476, 496, 499, 500, 504
• Beltein, 223, 269
• Berkshire, 119, 152, 191, 194, 233, 346, 377, 439, 466
• Bezant, festival at Shaftesbury, 207
• Bible, opening of, on New Year’s Day, 5
• Biddenham Cakes, 165
• Binding Tuesday, 188
• Birch, used as a decoration at Whitsuntide, 281
• Black Cherry Fair, 357
• Blaize’s (St.) Day, 60
• Blasius (St.), 60
• Blayse (St.) Night, 62
• Blessing of the Brine, 210
• Blood Thursday, 500
• Bloody Thursday, 148
• Bluecoats, worn on St. George’s Day, 193
• Boar’s Head, at Christmas, 455, 470, 473, 477
• Boat Sunday, 443
• Boggons, 32
• Bonfires, 22, 61, 313, 395
• Bounds, beating of the, 210
• Bounds Thursday, 210
• Boxing Day, 493
• Boy’s Bailiff, 287
• Boy Bishop, 291, 432
• Boyne, battle of, 337
• Braggot, 117
• Braggot Sunday, 117
• Bread, baked on Good Friday, 149
• Bread Mass, 347
• Brices’ (St.) Day, 421
• Bride-Ale, 278
• Bridget’s (St.) Eve, 344
• Brine, blessing of the, 210
• Buckinghamshire, 6, 58, 69, 135, 169, 210, 234, 290, 291, 314, 323, 331, 354, 373, 390, 419, 426, 467, 493
• Bull-baiting, 369, 439
• Bull-running, 421
• Buns, made on Good Friday, 150, 157
• Burning out the Old Year, 506
• ‘Buryin’ Peter,’ 333
• Burying the Mace, 380
• Bustard, eaten at Christmas, 456
• Cake Night, 398
• Cambridgeshire, 39, 105, 123, 234, 323, 334, 343, 419, 423, 426, 468, 494
• Candles offered to St. Blayse, 62
• Candle Bearing, 54
• Candle Day, 428
• Candlemas Ba’, 57
• Candlemas bleeze or blaze, 56
• Candlemas Candle, 55
• Candlemas Day, 54
• Candlemas Eve, 52
• Card-playing at Christmas, 463
• Careing Fair, 118
• Careing Sunday, 119
• Care Sunday, 121
• Carl Sunday, 122
• Carlings, 122
• Carling Groat, 123
• Carling Sunday, 122
• Carol Singing, 456
• ‘Catching,’ 109
• Catherine’s (St.) Day, 426
• Cathern bowl, 429
• Cattern Day, 426
• Chalk-back-Day, 370
• Chare Thursday, 139
• Charles I., King of England, execution of, 50
• Charles II., King of England, celebration of Twelfth Night by, 29; his Restoration, 301
• Charlton Fair, 387
• Cheese, given away at Christmas, 482
• Cheshire, 69, 169, 195, 210, 234, 283, 314, 324, 405, 409, 441, 446
• Childermas Day, 498
• Children’s Day, 177
• Chimney Sweepers’ Dance, 231
• Chopping at the Tree, 167
• Christ’s Bed, making of, 158
• Christ’s Hospital, London, 179, 311, 374, 422
• Christ’s Presentation, 54
• Christmas under the Commonwealth, 454
• Christmas Book, 456
• Christmas Box, 19, 493
• Christmas Candles, 456
• Christmas Carols, 457
• Christmas Clog, 52, 452
• Christmas Day, 452
• Christmas Decorations, 457
• Christmas Drink, 473
• Christmas Eve, 446
• Christmas Presents, 19
• Christmas Sports, 403
• Christmas Tree, 463
• Clome, the, used in wassailing, 21
• Cloth Fair, 363
• Church-porch, watching in the, 200
• Churches decorated, 157, 162, 280, 281, 457
• Claudius Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne, 204
• ‘Clavie,’ the burning of, 507
• Clement’s (St.) Day, 423
• Clipping the Church, 176
• Cob loaf stealing, 451
• Cobbs, given away on St. Thomas’ Day, 442
• Cocks and Dumps, 67
• Cock Crower, 92
• Cock Fighting, 65, 177
• ‘Cock in the pot,’ 39
• ‘Cock on the dunghill,’ 39
• Cock Penny, 79
• Cock running, 78
• Cock throwing, 78
• Cocque’els, 81
• Coelcoeth, 398
• Coffin Crusts, 458
• Cold Possett, 502
• Collar of Brawn, 468
• Collop Monday, 57
• Columbkill, 310
• Columb’s (St.) Well, 310
• Commencement Day, 334
• Compostella, Shrine of St. James at, 345
• Coquerells, 81
• Coquilles, 81
• Corn Showing, 172
• ‘Corning, going a-,’ 443
• Cornwall, 47, 58, 73, 120, 121, 128, 162, 216, 235, 275, 279, 302, 315, 324, 338, 339, 378, 395, 431, 446, 468, 501
• Corpus Christi Day, 297
• Corpus Christi Eve, 297
• Coteswold Games, 292
• Court of Array, 287
• Coventry Show Fair, 300
• Crab-Apples, gathered on Michaelmas Day, 376
• Crabbing the Parson, 341
• Crack-nut Sunday, 375
• Cracklin Friday, 153
• Cramp Rings, 49
• Cresset-light, 317
• Creeping to the Cross, 148
• Crispin’s (St.) Day, 388
• Cross, Invention of the, 275
• Cross Day of the Year, 500
• Crowdie, 88
• Crowning of the Cock, 487
• Croyland Abbey, knives given away at, on St. Bartholomew’s Day, 367
• Cuckoo, 187, 192
• Cuckoo Ale, 192
• Cumberland, 29, 72, 159, 163, 279, 291, 310, 315, 356, 419, 469, 501
• Curfew Bell, 78
• Cushion Dance, 253
• Cuthbert’s (St.) Day, 371
• ‘Cutting off the fiddler’s head,’ 34
• Cymhortha, 110
• Cypress, used as decoration at Christmas, 458
• Daft Days, 505
• ‘Dart, throwing the,’ 370
• David’s (St.) Day, 110
• ‘Dead and Living Ford,’ 17
• Decoration of Churches, 157, 162, 280, 281, 457
• Deptford Fair, 296
• Derbyshire, 30, 39, 74, 99, 105, 128, 165, 170, 211, 237, 283, 302, 404, 409, 412, 446, 469, 502
• Desmas, one of the thieves crucified with our Lord, 499
• Devils’ Knell, 452
• Devonshire, 20, 59, 76, 100, 152, 212, 217, 237, 302, 308, 324, 348, 446
• ‘Dipping,’ 5
• Dipping Day, 235
• Dirge Loaf, 410
• Dish Fair, 387
• Dismal Day, the, 275
• Distaff’s (St.) Day, 36
• Doggett, Thomas, 349
• Dogs, Whipping of, 386, 387
• Dole Bread, 401
• Doleing Day, 443
• Dorsetshire, 30, 55, 152, 159, 205, 385, 441, 470
• Dough-nut Day, 78
• Dover, Robert, 292
• Drinking Sowins, 489
• Druids, 1, 223
• Duck-under-water, 253
• Dulce Domum, sung at Winchester School, 284
• Dumb-cake, 199, 312, 384
• Durham, 303, 371
• Dutton, family of, privileged to license the Cheshire minstrels, 324
• Dyzemas Day, 499
• Easter Day, 161
• Easter Eve, 159
• Easter Monday, 169
• Easter Tuesday, 179
• Eccles Cakes, 369
• Eccles Wake, 369
• Edward IV. of England, his Coronation, 498
• Eel Fair, 293
• Egg-hopping, 329
• Egg Saturday, 52
• Elecampane, 171
• Election of kings by beans, 24
• Elizabeth, Queen of England, her accession observed, 422
• Epiphany, 24
• Epping Hunt, 171
• Erconwald’s (St.) Day, 422
• Essex, 6, 94, 153, 171, 212, 237, 280, 378, 416, 470
• Eton Montem, 290
• Eve of the Epiphany, 20
• Eve of Paul’s Tide, 47
• Evelyn, John, 183, 454
• Evil May-day, 248
• Execution of Charles I., King of England, 50
• Fadé-dance, 276
• Fag-pies, 119
• Fairchild Lecture, 291
• Faith’s (St.) Day, 384
• Farthing Loaf Day, 319
• Fastren’s E’en, 88
• Fastyngonge Tuesday, 81
• Fern, superstitions connected with, 312
• Ferrers, George, 460
• Festival of Kings, 20
• Fiddler’s Head, cutting off of the, 34
• Fig-one, 15
• Fig-pies, 119
• Fig-pie Wake, 119
• Fig-sue, 15, 153
• Fig-Sunday, 128, 133
• Fires, lighting of, on Eve of the Epiphany, 22; on St Blaize’s Day, 61; on St. John’s Eve, 313; on Hallow Eve, 395
• ‘First Foot,’ 5, 17, 483
• Flag Day, 332
• Flap-dragon, 463
• Flap-jack, 63
• Flitting Day, 301
• Floralia, 223, 245
• Flower of the Well, 17
• Flower Sermon, 291
• Flowering Sunday, 134
• Font-hallowing, 159
• Fool-plough, 37
• Foot ball, 75, 83, 87, 401
• Freemen’s Well, the, 201
• Friars’ Girdles, worn by ladies, 94
• Friday in Lide, 120
• Fritter Bell, 78
• Fritter Thursday, 96
• Fruttors Thursday, 96
• Funeral of the Alleluia, 45
• Furmity, 117, 472, 483
• Furry Festival, 275
• Gammon of Bacon, eaten at Easter, 162
• Gang Monday Land, 210
• Gangweek, 204
• Ganging Day, 380
• Garland Day, 243
• Garland Sunday, 376
• Garlic Sunday, 376
• Gaunt, John of, 358
• George’s (St.) Day, 192
• Gerard’s Hall, 247
• Gestas, one of the thieves crucified with our Lord, 499
• Giants, display of, at Chester, 314
• Gregory’s (St.) Day, 125
• Glastonbury thorn, 34, 454, 467
• Gloucestershire, 22, 238, 280, 292, 379, 388, 447, 470, 499, 502
• Gloves, at Fairs, 297, 348
• Glove Money, 4
• Glove Silver, 348
• God Cakes, 12
• Goddes Day, 148
• God’s Day, 148
• God’s Friday, 148
• ‘God speed the Plough,’ 41
• Goluan, 315
• Good Friday, 148
• Good Friday Bread, 149
• ‘Gooding, going-a,’ 438
• Goodish Tuesday, 86
• ‘Good Morrow, Valentine,’ 109
• Good Pas Day, 118
• Goose, eaten at Michaelmas, 376
• Goose Fair, Nottingham, 383
• Goose-pies, 196
• Gosling, May, 233, 265
• Gospel Trees, 208
• Gowk, hunting the, 188
• Grace Cup, 450
• Grass Week, 204
• Green Bower Feast, 289
• Greenock Fair, 337
• Grimaldi, Joseph, 461
• ‘Grotto, pray remember the,’ 345
• Guisards, 488
• Guisings, 181
• Gule of August, 347
• Gunpowder Plot, 410
• Guy Fawkes, his day, 410
• Gyst Ale, 181
• Hackin, the, at Christmas, 456
• Hailing the Lamb, 212
• Halgaver Court, 389
• Hall’ Monday, 58
• Hallow Eve, 394
• Hampshire, 77, 119, 187, 238, 281, 284, 296, 304, 305, 372, 448
• Handsel Monday, 19, 488
• Harlequinade, 461
• Harrow School, shooting at, 357
• Hay, strewn in churches, 327, 338
• Hays, the, 34
• Heaving, 173, 177
• Heaving Days, 175
• Heavy Cake, 216, 236
• Helen’s (St.) Day, 274, 360
• Hempseed, divination by, 99, 313, 400
• Hen-threshing, 68
• Hentzner, Paul, visits Bartholomew Fair, 361
• Herb-pudding, 151
• Herefordshire, 7, 22, 106, 128, 281, 409, 441, 448, 471
• Heriot’s Hospital, 309
• Hertfordshire, 78, 128, 181, 238, 380, 442
• Het Pint, 15
• Hilary’s (St.) Day, 44
• Hirings, for servants, 279
• Hobby-horse, 236, 461, 463, 486
• Hobby-horse Dance, 480
• Hobby-horsing, 262
• Hock Day, 180
• Hock Money, 191
• Hock-tide, 188
• Hocktide play at Chester, 189
• Hock Tuesday, 188
• Hodening, 472
• Hogmanay, 488, 505
• Hoke Day, 189
• Holiday of St. Simeon, 54
• Hollantide Eve, 396
• Holly, used as a decoration at Christmas, 458
• Holly, its derivation, 457
• Holly Boy, 107
• Holly Bussing, 180
• Holly Night, 35
• Holy Cross Day, 372
• Holy Innocents’ Day, 497
• Holy Rood Day, 372
• Holy Thursday, 215
• Holy Saturday, 160
• Honey Fairs, 469
• Hood, throwing the, 32
• Hoofing-place, 12
• Horns, blown on May Day, 260
• Horses, bled on St. Stephen’s Day, 492
• Horses, decorated on May Day, 243
• Hot Cockles, 463
• Hot Cross Buns, 150, 157
• Hot Pint, 15, 17
• Hunting the Gowk, 188
• Hunting the Ram, 354
• Hunting the Squirrel, 404, 429, 430, 463, 481
• Hunting the Wren, 494
• Huntingdonshire, 40, 78, 217, 241, 334
• Inns of Court, 396, 473
• Ireland, 23, 75, 91, 96, 125, 136, 139, 158, 160, 168, 178, 183, 198, 222, 270, 282, 300, 310, 321, 329, 337, 340, 344, 370, 375, 383, 403, 408, 420, 452, 491, 497, 500, 508
• Irving, Washington, his remarks on seeing a Maypole, 234
• Isle of Axholme, 30
• Isle of Man, 8, 33, 80, 154, 221, 246, 316, 325, 348, 395, 431, 442, 449, 472, 494, 503
• Isle of Thanet, 183, 428
• Isle of Wight, 87, 504
• Ivy, used as a decoration at Christmas, 458, 478
• Ivy Girl, 107
• Jack and Joan Fair, 385
• Jack of Hilton, 10
• Jack O’Lent, 93
• Jack of May, 264
• Jack-pudding, 463
• James’ (St.) Day, 344
• James (St.) the Less, his day, 234
• James’ (St.) Palace, 153
• Jeu-nhydn, 468
• John’s (St.) Day, 323
• John’s (St.) Eve, 311
• John O Gaunt’s Day, 191
• Jolly Lads, 134
• Joseph of Arimathea, legend regarding his staff, 467
• Judas Iscariot, flogging of, 155
• Jough-ny-nollick, 473
• Juniper, burnt before cattle, 18
• Kenelm’s (St.) Day, 341
• Kenilworth Castle, Queen Elizabeth’s visit to, 189
• Kent, 78, 107, 165, 207, 242, 296, 332, 339, 345, 385, 423, 427, 429, 448, 471
• Ket Bank, 220
• Kill Bull, the, 477
• Kings created by Beans, 20
• King’s Cock Crower, 92
• King of the Bean, 26
• King of Cockneys, 498
• King of the Millers, 285
• Kit-dressing, 231
• Knappan, 184
• Knives, given away on St. Bartholomew’s Day, 367
• Knotting-sowins, 489
• Laa’l Brushey, 51
• Lad’s Valentine, 99
• Lady Day, 180
• Lady Godiva, 280, 300
• Lady of the Lamb, 297
• Lamb Ale, 278
• Lambert Simmel, 115
• Lambs’ Wool, 23, 449, 483
• Lammas Day, 347
• Lammas Towers, 351
• Lamprey-pies, 470
• Lancashire, 7, 79, 119, 134, 153, 181, 213, 217, 243, 284, 316, 334, 345, 355, 368, 369, 384, 385, 395, 406, 472
• La Sheachanna na bleanagh, 275
• Lating or Leeting the Witches, 395
• Laurel, used as a Christmas decoration, 458
• Lawless Court, at King’s Hill, 378
• Lawless Hour, at Kidderminster, 379
• Leaping the Well, 201
• Leeks, worn on St. David’s Day, 110, 113
• Leek Pasties, 83
• Leet Ale, 278
• Leicestershire, 40, 79, 197, 284, 338
• Leith Races, 335
• Lent Crocking, 76
• Leonard’s (St.) Day, 416
• Lide, Friday in, 120
• Lifting, 173
• Lincolnshire, 30, 40, 128, 154, 220, 245, 294, 367, 372, 412, 421
• Loaf Mass, 347
• Looe Fair Day, 236
• Long Rope Day, 157
• “Looking through the keyhole,” 105
• Lord Mayor’s Day, 417, 459
• Lord Mayor of Pennyless Cone, 487
• Lord of Misrule, 339, 459, 474, 478
• Louis XI. of France, his superstition regarding Holy Innocents’ Day, 498
• Lotts, the, 350
• Low Easter Day, 184
• Low Sunday, 183
• Luke’s (St.) Day, 386
• Mace Board, 246
• Mace, burying the, 380
• Mace Monday, 346
• Mainstyr Fiddler, 34
• Mallard Night, 44
• Mandate Thursday, 140
• Margaret’s (St.) Day, 343
• Mari Lwyd, 486
• Mark’s (St.) Day, 200, 203
• Mark’s (St.) Eve, 199, 200
• Marlings, 181
• Marlocking, 181
• Mart, its meaning, 418
• Martinmas, 347
• Martin’s (St.) Day, 418
• Mary’s (St.) Day, in Lent, 180
• Matthew’s (St.) Day, 373
• Maternus (St.), 463
• Maundy Loaves, 140
• Maundy Money, 140
• Maundy Thursday, 139
• May Bough, 243
• May Day, 223
• May Dew, 225, 242
• May Dolls, 216
• May Eve, 215
• May Fair, 249
• May Feast, 263
• May Gads, 245
• May Games, 225
• May Gosling, 233, 265
• May Lady, 234
• May Music, 216
• Maypoles, 228
• May Queen, 238, 246, 251, 255
• May Songs, 232, 233, 238, 240, 242, 251, 255, 257, 259, 261, 262, 263, 273
• May Syllabub, 257
• ‘Maying, going a,’ 224
• Michael (St.), Apparition of, 275
• Michaelmas Cake, 383
• Michaelmas Day, 376
• Michaelmas Eve, 375
• Michaelmas Goose, 376
• Michael’s (St.) Bannock, 383
• Middlesex, 32, 48, 80, 113, 147, 154, 160, 166, 174, 179, 187, 213, 247, 291, 297, 305, 316, 326, 344, 345, 316, 349, 355, 357, 361, 374, 396, 406, 413, 429, 473
• Midlent Sunday, 113, 116
• Midsummer Day, 323
• Midsummer Eve, 311
• Midsummer Men, 312
• Midsummer Watch, 316, 318
• Milk Maids’ Dance, 231
• Millers, King of the, 285
• Mince-pies, 458
• Minched pies, 458
• Minstrels’ Festival, 358
• Miracle Plays, 283, 298, 343, 478
• Mischief Night, 217
• Misrule, Lord of, 339, 459, 474, 478
• Mistletoe, 458, 459
• Mock, the, 446
• Modwen’s (St.) Day, 390
• Molly Grime, figure in Glentham Church, 154
• Monmouthshire, 407
• Morris-dancers, 30, 227, 258
• Moseley’s Dole, 10
• ‘Mothering, going a,’ 116
• Mothering Sunday, 116
• Mummers, 430, 461, 469, 478, 480
• Mumping Day, 441
• ‘Mumping, going a,’ 441
• Mutton-pies, 458
• Myche, a kind of bread, 96
• Nativity of the Virgin Mary, 372
• Newark Raffling Day, 51
• New Year’s Day, 1
• New Year’s Eve, 501
• New Year’s Gifts, 1
• New Year’s Ode, 4
• New Year’s Offerings, 509
• New Year’s Song, 19
• Newton, Sir Isaac, on the time of Christ’s birth, 453
• Nicholas (St.), tradition relating to, 436
• Nicholas’ (St.) Day, 432
• Nicholas’ (St.) Eve, 432
• Nickanan Night, 58
• Nicking, of Swans, 346
• Nod Beuno, 295
• Nog Money, 506
• Norfolk, 42, 81, 95, 100, 107, 166, 183, 293, 298, 344, 370, 449, 475, 496
• Northamptonshire, 42, 82, 108, 132, 199, 213, 251, 281, 286, 305, 306, 327, 332, 340, 413, 427, 430, 449, 476, 499, 503
• Northumberland, 9, 83, 175, 180, 201, 214, 257, 282, 294, 298, 306, 318, 327, 332, 335, 389, 476
• Nottinghamshire, 9, 51, 54, 83, 109, 124, 175, 214, 257, 306, 318, 380, 383, 397, 413, 442, 449, 476
• Nut Crack Night, 394
• ‘Nutting, going a,’ 373
• Oak Apple Day, 301
• Offering Days, 5
• Offering Silver, 481
• Oiel Verry, 449
• Olave’s (St.) Day, 346
• ‘Old Ball,’ 486
• Old Christmas Day, 30, 34, 467
• ‘Old Clem,’ 432
• Old Michaelmas Day, 380
• Old Midsummer Day, 328
• Old Year, burning out the, 506
• Onion Fair, 373
• Oswald’s (St.) Day, 355
• Oxen, superstition regarding, 447
• Oxfordshire, 9, 43, 52, 84, 97, 110, 113, 123, 124, 133, 134, 156, 167, 208, 214, 222, 258, 282, 287, 297, 319, 327, 414, 442, 450, 476, 496, 504
• Oysters, eaten on St. James’ Day, 344
• Pace Eggs, 163
• Pack Monday Fair, 385
• Paganalia, 493
• Paignton Fair, 308
• Palm Saturday, 126
• Palm Sunday, 126
• ‘Palming, going a,’ 127
• Pan-burn-Bell, 82
• Pancakes, 63, 375
• Pancake Bell, 62, 87
• Pancake Month, 65
• Pantomime, 461
• Parish Clerks’ Meeting, 177
• Parkin, 416
• Paschal Day, 148
• Paschal Taper, 159
• Passion-dock, 151
• Passion Sunday, 121
• Paste-Egg Day, 118
• Patrick’s Crosses, 136
• Patrick’s (St.) Day, 135
• Patrick’s Pot, 137
• Paul’s (St.) Cathedral, 49
• Paul’s (St.) Day, 49
• Paul’s (St.) Eve, 47
• Paul Pitcher Night, 48
• Penderell, Richard, his monument decorated on Oak Apple Day, 305
• Penny Hedge, the, 209
• Penny Loaf Day, 125
• Pepper Cake, 483
• Pershore Fair Day, 192
• Peter’s (St.) Day, 331
• Peter-Pence, 347
• Philip’s (St.) Day, 234
• Picrous Day, 431
• Piepowder, Court of, 364
• Pin-money, 4
• Pippins, divination by, 397
• Piran’s (St.) Day, 121
• Plough Bullocks, 39
• Plough-lights, 37
• Plough Monday, 37
• Plough Witchers, 40
• Plough Witching, 40
• Plowlick Monday, 42
• Plum porridge, 462
• Plumb-pudding, 462
• Plumb-pudding Money, 482
• Poisson d’Avril, 184
• Pope Joan, 181
• Pope-Ladies, 181
• Pork Acre, 413
• Pot-fair, 323
• Preston Guild, 368
• ‘Progging, going a,’ 414
• Procession Week, 204
• Processioning, 208, 213
• Psalm Caking, 406
• ‘Pudding-pieing, going a,’ 172
• Pulgen, 487
• Purification of the Virgin Mary, 54
• Push-penny, 303
• Quaaltagh, 8
• Raffling-Day, at Newark, 51
• Ram, hunting the, 354
• Ram Feast, 257
• Ravenglass Fair, 356
• Rayer, or Rahere, founder of Bartholomew Fair, 361
• Ream of the Well, 17
• Red Spear Knights, 291
• Reed Day, 332
• Relic Sunday, 340
• Restoration Day, 301
• Rhyne Toll, the, 390
• Richard’s (St.) Day, 188
• ‘Riding of the George,’ 197
• ‘Riding the Marches,’ 292, 307
• ‘Rising Peter,’ 333
• Robin Hood, 220, 257
• Roche’s (St.) Day, 350
• Rock Day, 36
• Rogation Sunday, 204
• Rope-pulling, at Ludlow, 85
• Rosemary, used as decoration at Christmas, 458
• Rowan-tree, use of, 154, 394
• Rowan-tree Day, 274
• Rowan-tree Gads, 274
• Royal Oak Day, 301
• Rumbald Night, 448
• Running Lands, 242
• Rushes, strewn in churches, 280, 294
• Rush-bearing, 334, 367
• Salmon, superstition regarding, 270
• Salt-Silver, 418
• Saturnalia, 458, 463
• Sauin, 395
• Scalding Thursday, 375
• Scambling Days, 95
• Scarlet Days, at Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, 278
• Scholastica’s (St.) Day, 97
• Scilly Isles, 84, 479
• Scotland, 14, 19, 43, 46, 56, 88, 120, 126, 177, 188, 267, 275, 292, 301, 307, 309, 320, 334, 335, 351, 382, 394, 399, 408, 410, 430, 437, 438, 487, 505
• Scrutiny Night, 504
• Septuagesima, 45
• ‘Setting the Colne,’ 213
• ‘Seven joys of the Virgin,’ 464
• Shaftesbury Bezant, 205
• Shamrock, 136, 139
• Sharp Tuesday, 86
• Sheelah’s Day, 139
• Sher, Shere, Sheere, Thursday, 146
• Shier Thursday, 146
• Shig-Shag, 305
• Shrewsbury Show, 300
• Shrid-pies, 458
• Shropshire, 82, 262, 287, 301, 407, 410
• Shrove Tuesday, 39
• Shying at Leaden Cocks, 67
• ‘Shy for Shy,’ 67
• Simeon (St.), holiday of, 54
• Simnel Bread, 115
• Simnel, Lambert, 115
• Simnels, 114
• Simnel Sunday, 113
• Singed Sheeps’ Heads, carried on St. Andrew’s Day, 430
• Singing E’en, 501
• Slap-dragon, 463
• Sloe Fair, 351
• Smock Race, 214
• Smuchdan, 18
• Smugging, 68
• Snap-dragon, 462
• Sollaghyn, 80
• Somersetshire, 34, 86, 95, 262, 282, 328, 479, 500
• Song of the Mallard, 44
• Song of the Wren, 35
• Sonsy-haggis, 491
• Soul Cakes, 405
• Souling, going a, 405, 407
• Soul Mass Cakes, 409
• Sow Day, 438
• Sowans-bowie, 490
• Spirit Fire, 463
• Squirrels, hunting of, 404, 429, 430, 481
• Staffordshire, 10, 23, 34, 86, 203, 208, 215, 263, 287, 340, 358, 390, 407, 425, 443, 480
• Stagg, offering of, on St. Cuthbert’s Day, 371
• Staylaces, given to the Clergy on Ascension Day, 213
• Stephening, 493
• Stephen’s (St.) Day, 492
• Stephen’s (St.) Pudding, 494
• Stir-up-Sunday, 431
• Subterranean Christmas Bells, 476
• Suffolk, 86, 215, 263, 481
• Sugar-Cupping, 165
• Surrey, 86, 133, 156, 263, 293, 341, 357, 373, 375
• Sussex, 11, 157, 264, 381, 389, 414, 430, 443, 450
• Swan-upping, 346
• Swarf Penny, 420
• ‘Sweeping the Girls,’ 106
• Swig, 113
• Swithin’s (St.) Day, 341
• Swithin’s (St.) Farthings, 341
• Sword-dance, 485
• Tander, Tandrew, name given to St. Andrew’s Day, 430
• Tansy Cake, 167
• Tenbury Fair Day, 192
• Terminalia, 204
• Tharve Cake, 30
• Thomas’ (St.) Day, 438
• Thomas’ (St.) Onion, 439
• ‘Thomasin, going a,’ 441
• Threshing the Hen, 68
• Throwing at Cocks, 66
• ‘Throwing the Dart,’ 370
• ‘Throwing the Hood,’ 32
• Tibba’s (St.) Day, 438
• Timber Waits, 203
• Timbrel Waits, 203
• Tindles, 409
• Tinley, 405
• Toothache, remedy for, 464
• Tooting-horn, 352
• Trap and ball, 86
• Trinity Monday, 296
• Trinity Sunday, 294
• Trolollay, derivation of, 505
• Trundling of Eggs, 178
• Turkey, 148, 465
• Tuth Day, 192
• Twelfth Cake, 24
• Twelfth Day, 24
• Twelfth Night, 24
• Twelfth Night Cards, 25
• Tynwald Day, 325
• Usque-Cashrichd, 488
• Valentine’s (St.) Day, 375
• Valentine’s (St.) Eve, 98
• Valentines, 101
• Valentine dealing, 105
• Valentining, 105
• Vessel Cup, 464
• Vitus’ (St.) Day, 311
• Virgin Mary, Annunciation of, 180; Assumption of, 357; Nativity of, 372; Purification of, 54
• Wad-Shooting, 489
• Waits, 465, 485
• Wakes Monday, 404
• Wales, 35, 88, 113, 134, 158, 168, 177, 184, 222, 265, 289, 295, 297, 320, 390, 398, 410, 425, 445, 486, 496
• Walk Money, 183
• ‘Walking the Fair,’ 203
• Walnut-tree, legend of a miraculous, 467
• Ward Penny, 420
• Warwickshire, 12, 175, 300, 419, 443, 450
• Wrath Money, 420
• Wassail Bowl, 501
• Wassail Eve, 23
• Wassaile, 28
• Wastel, the, 115
• Watch Night, 501
• Weaver, introduces the Pantomime, 461
• Well-dressing, 211
• Wesley Bob, 483
• Westminster School, tossing the pancake at, 80
• Westmoreland, 6, 35, 264, 415, 481
• ‘Wetting the Block,’ 119
• Wheel, its origin, 454
• Whip-dog Day, 387
• Whipping Toms, 79
• Whirlin Cakes, 123
• Whirlin Sunday, 123
• White Sunday, 183
• White Thursday, 468
• Whitsun Ale, 278
• Whitsunday, 278
• Whitsun Monday, 283
• Whitsun Mysteries, 283
• Whitsuntide, 278, 281
• Whitsun Tuesday, 290
• Whitsun Tryste Fair, 282
• ‘Wigs,’ a sort of Cake, 426
• Wilfrid’s (St.) Feast, 351
• Wiltshire, 76, 133, 295, 309, 329, 415
• Wives’ Feast, 54
• Worcestershire, 12, 157, 176, 188, 192, 215, 265, 306, 319, 341, 416, 428, 443, 482, 500
• Wren, hunting of, 494
• Wren-boys, 497
• Wroth Money, 420
• Wycoller Hall, Christmas at, 472
• Yarrow, divination connected with, 273
• Yew, Churches decorated with, on Good Friday, 156
• Yorkshire, 12, 23, 43, 56, 87, 96, 110, 123, 133, 148, 157, 160, 167, 200, 209, 274, 299, 320, 329, 331, 333, 341, 351, 367, 386, 398, 416, 420, 444, 451, 482, 496, 504
• Yorkshire Hagmena Song, 14
• Youling, 207
• Yule, derivation of the term, 453
• Yule of August, 347
• Yule Babies, 476
• Yule Candle, 451
• Yule Clog, 452, 465
• Yule Day, 487
• Yule Log, 453, 465
• Yule Straw, 489
• Yule-tide, 453