Folk Calendar

Wednesday 9 December New moon

Born on this day: Meredydd Evans (1919)

Wednesday 16 December

Born on this day: Barney McKenna (1939)

Thursday 17 December

Saturday 19 December

Happy birthday to Ronald Hutton (73 today) and Tommy Sands (81 today)

Sunday 20 December

Happy birthday to Billy Bragg (69 today)

Monday 21 December

Folklore from the old calendars

Going a-gooding No longer kept Kent, Staffordshire, WarwickshireOn St Thomas's Day, the shortest day, poor women went round the parish begging money or food for Christmas, and gave sprigs of holly, mistletoe, palm or primroses in return.
Apple wassailing on St Thomas’s Day No longer kept Staffordshire, WorcestershireSt Thomas's Day falls on the shortest day, as the couplet has it, St Thomas gray, St Thomas gray, the longest night and the shortest day.
St Thomas’s onion Lore and belief EnglandMother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open, printed under St Thomas's Day, told a girl that this was the best time of year to learn who her husband would be.
Blowing the Yule-Girth at York No longer kept YorkshireAn old custom book of the city of York, printed by Leland, set down that on St Thomas's Day before Yule the sheriffs heard a mass of St Thomas at All Hallows on the Pavement.
Broughton for St Thomas’s night No longer kept NorthumberlandOn St Thomas's night the old Northumbrian dish of broughton came out again, as it did on Midsummer Eve.
St Thomas’s Day for killing fat swine Lore and belief Northern EnglandSt Thomas's Day, 21 December, was held to be a good day for brewing, baking and killing fat pigs.
Going a-Thomasing for wheat No longer kept YorkshireOn St Thomas's Day poor widows in the West Riding went round the farms asking for Christmas gifts, and were usually given a small measure of wheat.
Five shillings in the Thornton tombstone No longer kept DorsetBefore noon on St Thomas's Day the tenants of the manor of Thornton put five shillings into a hole in a certain tombstone in the churchyard.
A turf for Fingan’s Eve No longer kept Isle of ManManx people once went into the mountains before Christmas to catch deer and sheep, and in the evening lit a large fire on top of every cliff.
Doleing Day in Staffordshire No longer kept StaffordshireOn St Thomas's Day in a Staffordshire parish, old women, widows and someone from every poorer family went round asking for alms, and the clergyman gave each a shilling.
The St Thomas’s Day weathercock Lore and belief WorcestershireWorcestershire people looked at the weathercock at noon on St Thomas's Day, believing the wind would stay in that quarter for the next three months.
Mumping for wheat in Herefordshire No longer kept HerefordshireAt Christmas the Herefordshire poor went mumping, mostly on St Thomas's Day, and the farmers gave each a small dishful of wheat, with smaller gifts from other houses.
The St Thomas’s Day wardmotes No longer kept LondonOn St Thomas's Day every ward of the City of London held its wardmote to elect the inquest, the common councilmen and the other ward officers for the coming year.
The iron rattle at Guildhall before the St Thomas’s Day elections No longer kept LondonBefore the court of common council on St Thomas's Day, the members of the London council used to gather in the great hall of Guildhall until an officer of the lord mayor's household summoned them to their chamber with a harsh iron rattle.

Thursday 24 December Cold Moon

Happy birthday to Siân James (65 today)

Born on this day: Willie Clancy (1918)

Folklore from the old calendars

The ashen faggot Still kept DevonIn Devon the Yule log took the form of the ashen faggot, a bundle of ash sticks bound with bands of ash, ideally nine of them.
The Christmas Eve orchard wassail Still kept Devon, Hampshire, NorfolkOn Christmas Eve in parts of Devon the farmer, his family and friends ate hot cakes dipped in cider, then carried cake and cider to the chief apple tree in the orchard.
The kneeling oxen Lore and belief Cornwall, DevonIn west Devon and Cornwall it was believed that at midnight on Christmas Eve the oxen in their stalls knelt as if in prayer, and after the change of calendar they were said to do it only on Old Christmas Eve.
Hoodening Still kept KentAt Ramsgate the Christmas festivities began with a hoodening.
The Christmas mummers Still kept England, PembrokeshireThe mummers, called guisers in Scotland, set out on Christmas Eve to visit the chief houses of the parish and act the play of St George.
The Yule log and the mock Lore and belief Cornwall, EnglandThe Yule log was brought in with ceremony on Christmas Eve and lit from the saved remains of the year before.
Carols after midnight in Wales Still kept WalesHone found that carol singing, unknown in Presbyterian Scotland, was kept up in Wales more fully than in England.
Mistletoe at York Minster No longer kept YorkshireStukeley, writing in the eighteenth century, said that within the last hundred years mistletoe had been carried to the high altar of York Minster on Christmas Eve.
Kissing under the mistletoe Still kept EnglandBrand found that mistletoe was kept out of churches, where one sexton told him it had once been put up and the clergyman at once ordered it down, but that it was hung in state in the kitchen.
The Yule candle No longer kept EnglandAlongside the Yule log a candle of great size, called the Yule candle or Christmas candle, lit the table through the evening.
The cock crows all night Lore and belief EnglandIt was held that on the night before Christmas the powers of darkness were helpless and no evil could touch mankind.
The Christmas waits Still kept Cumberland, Lanarkshire, LondonThe waits were bands of musicians who played through the streets at night for two or three weeks before Christmas, usually finishing on Christmas Eve, and then called at the houses for a Christmas box.
The Lord of Misrule No longer kept EnglandStow wrote that at Christmas the king's house, and the house of every nobleman of honour, had a Lord of Misrule or Master of Merry Disports, and that the Lord Mayor of London and each of the sheriffs had one too, each trying to make the rarest pastime.
The Christmas standard at Leadenhall No longer kept LondonStow recorded that at Christmas every London house and parish church was decked with holm oak, ivy, bays and whatever else was green, and the conduits and standards in the streets were dressed too.
Ivy or his breeches No longer kept OxfordshireAubrey recorded that in several parts of Oxfordshire it was the custom at Christmas for the maidservant to ask the manservant for ivy to decorate the house.
Bees singing on Christmas Eve Lore and belief EnglandAlongside the belief that the cattle knelt in their stalls at midnight on Christmas Eve, it was said that the bees sang in their hives at the same hour.
The Quainton thorn No longer kept BuckinghamshireAfter the calendar change of 1752, crowds went to see whether the famous thorns would blossom on the new Christmas Day.
Old folks’ night in Cumberland No longer kept CumberlandA Cumberland correspondent told Hone that with Christmas Eve began a round of feasts and merrymakings that kept farmhouse fires and candles burning until the small hours night after night.
Greening the church Still kept EnglandOld church calendars marked Christmas Eve with the words templa exornantur, churches are decked.
Hagmena at Newcastle No longer kept NorthumberlandLittle troops of boys and girls at Newcastle upon Tyne and other places in the north of England went from house to house a few nights before Christmas, on Christmas Eve and on Christmas night, knocking and singing.
Hunting the wren in Man No longer kept Isle of ManWaldron wrote that on the evening of 24 December all the Manx servants had a holiday.
The threepenny loaf at Aston Hall No longer kept WarwickshireOn Christmas Eve at the house of the Holt family at Aston, near Birmingham, a table was set in the hall after supper with a brown loaf bearing twenty silver threepences on top, a tankard of ale, pipes and tobacco.
Frumenty on Christmas Eve No longer kept YorkshireMr Beckwith told the Gentleman's Magazine in 1784 that in the country about Rotherham frumenty had always been the breakfast and supper on Christmas Eve within his memory.
Rumbald Night at Folkestone No longer kept KentHasted recorded that the fishermen of Folkestone used to pick out eight of the largest and best whitings from every boat on its return from the whiting fishery and sell them apart.
The first yessle-cup singer Lore and belief Northern EnglandIn the North it was thought that turning away the first yessle-cup singer at Christmas without a gift meant losing the luck of the whole coming year.
No stirring the fire at the Yule supper Lore and belief Northern EnglandAt the northern Christmas Eve supper nobody was to stir the fire, move the candlestick or snuff the Yule candle, and nobody left the table until the meal was over.
Milly-boxes in the West Riding No longer kept YorkshireAt Christmas the children of the West Riding carried figures of the Virgin and Child from door to door in boxes lined with spice, oranges and sugar.
The Cleveland bessel cup No longer kept YorkshireChristmas singers in Cleveland carried a "bessel cup", that is a wassail cup, together with a boxed figure of the Virgin and Child decked with whatever ornaments they could gather.
The devil’s knell at Dewsbury Still kept YorkshireOn Christmas Eve the church bells at Horbury, near Wakefield, and at Dewsbury were tolled as the "devil's knell".
Pepper-cake and the Christmas cheese No longer kept YorkshireIn Cleveland the master of the house cut the Christmas cheese on Christmas Eve, and it sat on a platter beneath a thick gingerbread called pepper-cake.
The ox cake at Tretire No longer kept HerefordshireOn Christmas Eve at Tretire the farm men made a cake, pushed a stick through it and fixed it on the horn of an ox, saying words that begged a good crop of corn for the master.
Keeping back the yule-cake Lore and belief LincolnshireOn Christmas Eve in Lincolnshire the yule-clog blazed and the yule-candle burned while the family ate slices of yule-cake toasted and soaked in spiced ale.
Myrtle and laurustinum for Christmas in the West Still kept West CountryIn the West of England houses were decked for Christmas with myrtle and laurustinum as well as holly and mistletoe.
Christmas beer for the Cornish carol singers Still kept CornwallIn the west of Cornwall carol singers went from house to house at Christmas wherever they were encouraged, and in some parishes met in church on Christmas Eve to sing in the morning.
The Whitbeck ox kneels at midnight Lore and belief CumberlandIn Whitbeck it was said that the labouring ox knelt at midnight on the night before Christmas Day.
The Yule-clog in the northern parts No longer kept Northern EnglandOn Christmas Eve families lit candles of an uncommon size and laid a great log on the fire, called the Yule-clog or Christmas-block, to light the house and turn the night into day.
Born on Christmas Eve, blind to ghosts Lore and belief EnglandPeople born on Christmas Eve were thought to be unable to see spirits, even when a dog at their side plainly saw one and crept whining to its master.
Modranicht, the night of the mothers No longer kept EnglandThe heathen English called the night before Christmas Day Modranicht, the mothers' night, and kept ceremonies through it without sleeping.
Psaltries for luck while the Yule log kindles No longer kept EnglandOn Christmas Eve the new log was lit from last year's brand, and music was played while it caught so that good luck would come with its burning.
Unwashed hands and the Christmas fire Lore and belief EnglandMaids were warned to wash their hands before kindling the fire at Christmas, for a fire laid or lit with unwashed hands would not catch however hard they blew.
Ivy and holly to deck the house Still kept EnglandAt Christmas the farmer's wife decked the house with ivy and holly and boiled and soused the brawn.
Threshing wheat for the Christmas furmity No longer kept EnglandThe mock calendar in Poor Robin for 1670 read like a householder's Christmas diary.
Lamb’s-wool on Christmas Eve No longer kept EnglandOn Christmas Eve apples were roasted on a string until they dropped into a large bowl of spiced ale, and the mixture was drunk as lamb's-wool.
Dives on the serpent’s knee No longer kept WarwickshireAt Christmas the street carol singers of Warwickshire still sang Dives and Lazarus, in which two serpents come out of hell for the rich man's soul and tell him he has a place provided there to sit upon a serpent's knee.
The charity boy’s Christmas piece No longer kept EnglandAt Christmas the charity boys went from door to door showing a fair copy of their best handwriting, and were given pence for it.
The Yule log that burned Haughmond Abbey No longer kept ShropshireThe Yule logs of old country houses were great trees, big enough to be used as a weapon.
Rosemary and bays in St Margaret’s at Christmas 1647 No longer kept LondonIn 1647, when Parliament had forbidden the keeping of Christmas, the churchwardens of St Margaret's, Westminster, still paid for rosemary and bays to be stuck about the church.
A cake on the horns of the finest ox No longer kept WalesOn Christmas Eve in many parts of Wales the master of the house made a bowl of hot spiced beer and the mistress brought a cake, both decked with holly and ivy, and the household carried them in procession to the stall of their finest ox.
Never name the wolf at Christmas Lore and belief WalesWelsh farmers believed that if anyone spoke the name of a wolf between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night, misfortune would soon visit their homesteads.
The Aberglasney thorn on Christmas Eve Lore and belief CarmarthenshireAt Aberglasney in Carmarthenshire there was once a hawthorn that flowered every Christmas Eve, its blossoms faded by the next morning.
No evil spirit abroad on Christmas Eve Lore and belief WalesChristmas Eve was the one night of the year when no evil spirit could walk in Wales.
Onions on the altar at Christmas Eve No longer keptGirls laid onions on the altar on Christmas Eve to learn when they would be married and how many husbands they would have.
The rose of Jericho at Christmas Eve Lore and beliefThe rose of Jericho was said to flower every year about Christmas Eve, a story famous in Christian lore.

Friday 25 December

Happy birthday to Jacqui McShee (83 today)

Born on this day: Shane MacGowan (1957) and Trevor Lucas (1943)

Folklore from the old calendars

The Glastonbury Thorn Still kept SomersetGlastonbury tradition said Joseph of Arimathea stuck his hawthorn staff into Wearyall Hill, where it grew and blossomed every Christmas Day.
The Cumnor Christmas feast No longer kept BerkshireAfter evening service on Christmas Day the tithe-paying parishioners of Cumnor went to the vicarage to be given bread, cheese and ale.
Wrestling for the boar’s head No longer kept EssexAt Hornchurch the lessee of the tithes, which belonged to New College, Oxford, provided a boar's head, dressed and garnished with bay leaves, every Christmas Day.
West Country church carols Still kept Cornwall, DevonDavies Gilbert, who published the old carols of the West of England with their tunes, said that on Christmas Day they were sung in place of the psalms in all the churches, above all at the afternoon service, with the whole congregation joining in.
Yule doughs No longer kept County Durham, EnglandBakers once baked a little image of paste at Christmas, called a yule dough or dow, and gave one to each of their customers, just as chandlers gave their customers Christmas candles.
The hackin No longer kept EnglandAn old tract called Round about our Coal Fire described how an English gentleman had all his tenants and neighbours into his hall at daybreak on Christmas morning.
Christmas pie and plum porridge Still kept EnglandEvery family once made a great Christmas pie, which Misson found stuffed with neats' tongues, chicken, eggs, sugar, raisins, peel and spice, and Brand said that in the north of England goose was always its chief ingredient.
Christmas Day in the Highlands No longer kept HighlandsGrant's Popular Superstitions of the Highlands described a Highland Christmas.
Christmas weather lore Lore and belief Devon, England, ScotlandAn old song in the Harleian manuscripts foretold the year by the weekday of Christmas: a Sunday Christmas meant a good winter, a fair summer and peace, while a Saturday one brought storms that killed man and beast, failing crops and dying children.
The boar’s head at Queen’s College Still kept OxfordshireThe boar's head was once the first dish of every great Christmas dinner, carried in with minstrelsy and a carol, and Aubrey said that before the civil wars it came to the table in gentlemen's houses with a lemon in its mouth.
No spinning on Yule Day No longer kept ScotlandIn Scotland there was an old superstition against spinning on Christmas, or Yule Day.
The Yorkshire gooding carol No longer kept YorkshireOn Christmas morning children in Yorkshire went gooding from house to house, carrying a small Christmas tree as the badge of their errand.
A Christmas feed for the beasts No longer kept StirlingshireIn former times the charity of Christmas and New Year was extended to the animals.
Alexander and the King of Egypt No longer kept CumberlandA Whitehaven correspondent sent Hone the printed text of the mummers' play acted there every Christmas by companies of boys.
The bells under the valley Lore and belief NottinghamshireNear Raleigh in Nottinghamshire, a Hone correspondent wrote, there was a valley said to have been made by an earthquake centuries before, which swallowed a whole village and its church.
The apple Florentine No longer kept BedfordshireAt Potton in Bedfordshire and the places round about, some sixty years before Hone's Year Book, every Christmas entertainment had an apple Florentine on the table, of which all the guests ate.
A male first foot on Christmas morning Lore and belief EnglandEllis recorded a set of Christmas beliefs alongside the vessel-cup carol.
Crying Yule in Yorkshire No longer kept YorkshireBlount wrote that in Yorkshire and other northern parts the people would cry Ule, Ule even in the churches after the Christmas service, as a token of rejoicing, while the common sort ran about the streets singing a rhyme of puddings and nuts.
Hunting owls and squirrels on Christmas Day No longer kept SuffolkA man brought up in a village not far from Bury St Edmunds told Brand that when he was a boy the youths there had a country custom of hunting owls and squirrels on Christmas Day.
Christmas carols in Scilly church No longer kept Isles of ScillyHeath's account of the Isles of Scilly described the islanders singing carols in church on Christmas Day.
Red apples at Ripon No longer kept YorkshireAt Ripon on Christmas Day the singing boys came into the church with large baskets of red apples, each with a sprig of rosemary stuck in it, and gave them to the whole congregation.
Wad-shooting at Kirkden No longer kept AngusThe minister of Kirkden in Angus reported in 1792 that Christmas was kept as a great festival in his parish.
Ice to bear a goose Lore and belief LincolnshireEllis gave a Lincolnshire saying about the winter's ice.
The boy bishop tickled to death No longer kept WiltshireThe choristers of Salisbury Cathedral told of a boy bishop who fell melancholy in his term of office, so the other choirboys tickled him to make him merry and tickled him to death.
Christ’s mass-box No longer kept EnglandTaylor traced the Christmas box to a box kept on board ships, into which the poor put money so that priests would pray to a saint for the vessel's safe return.
The church of boughs Lore and belief EnglandChristmas greenery was said to recall the first Christian church in Britain, built of boughs.
Haggis for Christmas breakfast No longer kept Northern EnglandCountry people in the North of England used to eat haggis for breakfast on Christmas Day, and someone in the family sat up all night so it would be ready early.
A giblet pie at Christmas in Newcastle No longer kept NorthumberlandIn Newcastle almost every household, however poor, had a giblet pie at Christmas.
Largess for the fool-plough No longer kept Northern EnglandAt Christmas bands of rustics in white and coloured ribbons dragged a plough round the villages, begging drink money, with a man dressed as an old woman called the Bessy and a Fool rattling a collecting box.
The Christmas loving cup in Cumberland No longer kept Cumberland, WestmorlandAt Christmas parties in Cumberland and Westmorland a bowl of hot rum punch went round as the wassail or loving cup before the guests left.
A horse and a gig and a good fat pig No longer kept YorkshireAt Christmas the children of Woodhouse near Sheffield went from neighbour to neighbour to beg their Christmas box with a rhyme.
The kissing bush at York and Newcastle No longer kept Northumberland, YorkshireAt York and Newcastle upon Tyne a kissing bush was hung up at Christmas, made of mistletoe, evergreens, ribbons and oranges.
As many mince pies, so many happy months Lore and belief Cumberland, WestmorlandIn Westmorland and Cumberland it was said that you would have as many happy months in the coming year as mince pies you tasted at Christmas.
A fool that marries at Yule Lore and belief Northern EnglandA northern saying called anyone who married at Yule a fool, because the baby would come just when the corn needed cutting.
The Houghton pitmen’s sword dance No longer kept County DurhamAt Christmas a team of nine pitmen from Houghton Colliery went round as sword dancers: five dancers, a clothes-carrier, two clowns and a fiddler.
Mummers who swept the hearth No longer kept YorkshireChristmas mummers at Wakefield would come into a house and, if they found it dirty, sweep the hearth and clean the range, humming "mum-m-m" the whole time.
The ferryman’s dog at North Clifton No longer kept NottinghamshireBecause the people of North Clifton crossed the Trent free of charge, the ferryman and his dog each got a Christmas dinner at the vicarage.
The Lord Mayor of Pennyless Cove No longer kept PembrokeshireAround Christmas the fishermen of Tenby dressed one of their number in evergreens and a mask, named him Lord Mayor of Pennyless Cove, and carried him through the town in a chair with flags and two fiddlers.
The Ashton faggot at Lydeard No longer kept SomersetAt Christmas, Lydeard St Lawrence in Somerset burned a hooped bundle of sticks called the Ashton faggot, and a quart of cider went to those who watched.
A dark first foot, because Judas was red Lore and belief YorkshireIn parts of the West Riding, the first person to enter a house on Christmas morning and New Year's morning had to be dark-haired, or the year would be unlucky.
The Culfer bells of Christmas No longer kept YorkshireIn Josiah Beckwith's parish near Leeds two church bells were rung alternately at seven every morning and evening through the twelve days of Christmas, and at no other time of year.
The Merry Lewid at Monmouth Still kept MonmouthshireAt Christmas the boys round Monmouth carried the Merry Lewid from house to house: a white horse's head and neck, striped black like a zebra, on a pole carried by a man hidden under a sheet.
The Play of the Nativity in the Percy chapel No longer kept EnglandThe gentlemen and children of the Earl of Northumberland's chapel acted the Play of the Nativity before him in his chapel on Christmas morning, for which he gave them twenty shillings.
Christmas with the Devonshire farmers No longer kept DevonIn The Vindication of Christmas of 1653, Father Christmas said his best welcome in the Puritan years had been among the country farmers of Devonshire.
Carminow’s twelve fat bullocks No longer kept CornwallJohn Carminow, of a leading Cornish family in the time of Henry VIII, kept open house through the twelve days of Christmas for all comers, drinkers, minstrels and dancers.
An ancient Cornish mince-meat Still kept CornwallSandys printed a mince-meat receipt handed down in a Cornish family for many generations, headed as an ancient Cornish custom at Christmas.
A boon asked on Christmas Day Lore and belief EnglandIt was believed that anyone in a clean life who asked God for a boon on Christmas Day would be granted it, so far as it was right and good for him.
Goose in the West, turkey in London Still kept London, West CountryIn Sandys's day the Christmas dinner divided by region: goose was the dish in the western counties, while turkey prevailed in London.
The boar’s head at St John’s, Oxford No longer kept OxfordshireWhen St John's College, Oxford, kept its celebrated Christmas Prince in 1607, the boar's head was carried into hall by the tallest and lustiest of the prince's guard.
Neighbours’ gifts for the Wotton Christmas No longer kept SurreyIn 1634 Richard Evelyn, High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, kept a splendid Christmas at his house at Wotton with a regular Lord of Misrule.
The Middle Temple Lord of Misrule’s court No longer kept LondonAt the Middle Temple Christmas of 1632 the Lord of Misrule kept a full mock court, with his own Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, eight white staves, a band of pensioners with their captain, and two chaplains.
St George and General Wolfe in West Cornwall No longer kept CornwallAt Christmas young people in the west of Cornwall went round the towns, inns and gentlemen's houses acting the doggerel play of St George for money.
Geese-dancers in Cornwall Still kept CornwallBesides the St George players, Cornish guisards or geese-dancers went about at Christmas visiting the houses, the men and women often dressed in each other's clothes.
Lighting the candle from the pole No longer kept CornwallOne of the Christmas games of the country people of west Cornwall was played on a round pole about ten feet long laid between two chairs, with a lighted candle on one of them.
Cornyshe’s reward for a Christmas carol No longer kept EnglandThe book of expenses of Elizabeth of York, queen of Henry VII, shows William Cornyshe, a favourite poet and composer of the court, paid thirteen shillings and fourpence for setting a carol on Christmas Day.
Fifty-three Christmas carols at Rhuddlan No longer kept FlintshireDavid Jones, a Welsh village poet of Rhuddlan, sang a carol of his own composing in Rhuddlan church every Christmas Day for fifty-three years.
Hack-pudding for Christmas breakfast at Whitbeck No longer kept CumberlandOn Christmas morning the people of Whitbeck, under Black Combe, rose early to breakfast on hack-pudding.
Christmas dinner at Holm Cultram Abbey No longer kept CumberlandBefore the Dissolution every tenant of Holm Cultram and his wife dined at the abbey at Christmas.
Laurel in the college windows No longer kept Cambridgeshire, OxfordshireAt Christmas the windows of houses were dressed with bay and laurel, a custom Bourne said was seldom seen in the North but very common in the South.
Carols from Christmas dawn to Twelfth Day No longer kept EnglandAs soon as it grew light on Christmas morning the common people began to sing a Christmas carol, and carols went on being sung until Twelfth Day, alongside the New Year's songs and the one with the burden Hagmena.
Stanging the scholars at Cambridge No longer kept CambridgeshireAt Christmas-time in some Cambridge colleges a scholar who missed chapel was made to ride a colt-staff or pole as his punishment, which was called stanging.
Ale for as long as the Christmas block burns No longer kept Northern EnglandIn northern farmhouses the servants laid by a large knotty block of wood for the Christmas fire, and for as long as it lasted they were entitled by custom to ale with their meals.
Is it not Christmas? No longer kept EnglandAt Christmas people gave themselves up to cards, dice, tables, masking, mumming and bowling, as if the season gave them a special licence to do as they liked.
The heathen English New Year on 25 December Lore and belief EnglandThe heathen English began their year on 25 December, the day on which Christians keep the birth of Christ.
The wassail bowl after fox-i’-th’-hole No longer kept EnglandAt Christmas the wassail bowl was tossed off after a round of the game fox-i'-th'-hole, and blind-man's-buff was played by the fire.
Shoeing the mare at Christmas No longer kept EnglandAmong the Christmas sports of the young men was shoeing the mare, a game of the twelve holidays kept alongside blind-man's-buff and the wassail bowl.
Choosing husbands and wives by streaks in the ashes Lore and belief EnglandIn the Christmas holidays young people read streaks in the ash-heap to learn who they would marry.
Plough and harrow hung up for the twelve days No longer kept EnglandOver Christmas the farm labourers hung up the plough and harrow and did no field work until the twelve holidays were over, spending the time in piping and merriment.
Post and pair at Christmas No longer kept EnglandChristmas was the season for card games played for money, such as post and pair and slam, and a man with empty pockets had to sit them out.
The holly and ivy carol before the King at Whitehall No longer kept LondonAt the court of Charles I a Christmas carol was sung before the King in the Presence Chamber at Whitehall, opening with a flourish of music before the song.
Christmas comes but once a year Still kept EnglandThe saying that Christmas comes but once a year is found in Tusser's verses on the farmer's diet, added in the edition of 1580, as the reason to play and make good cheer at Christmas.
Christmas husbandly fare No longer kept EnglandA farmer's Christmas table had brawn, pudding and souse with mustard, beef, mutton and pork, shred pies, pig, veal, goose, capon and turkey.
A yawning match for a Cheshire cheese No longer kept EnglandAmong the Christmas gambols Addison had seen was a yawning match for a Cheshire cheese, which began about midnight when everyone was drowsy.
The quintain on Cornhill at Christmas No longer kept LondonAt Christmas a quintain was set up on Cornhill by Leadenhall, and the Lords of Misrule's followers rode at it.
The sectary who loved Christmas pies No longer kept EnglandIn the Restoration years Poor Robin mocked the Puritans who had tried to put down Christmas.
The husbandman’s great log and Christmas cheese No longer kept EnglandAt Christmas the countryman laid a great log behind the fire and gathered his neighbours round it.
Christmas only in the red letters No longer kept EnglandBy 1740 Poor Robin was complaining that the old Christmas could only be found in the red letters of the almanacs.
The wassail horn on the clog No longer kept StaffordshireOn the notched wooden clog almanacs, Christmas Day was marked with a drinking horn, the old vessel for wassailing and drinking healths.
Christmas on a Sunday or a Saturday Lore and belief EnglandIt was thought very lucky when Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, and ill-omened when it fell on a Saturday.
Cards only at Christmas No longer kept EnglandPeople who never touched a card for the rest of the year felt bound to play a few games at Christmas.
The Bungay watchmen’s Christmas verses No longer kept SuffolkAt Christmas the night watchmen of Bungay printed a copy of verses for the townspeople in the hope of a Christmas gift.
Private heralds crying Largesse at Christmas No longer kept EnglandIn the old great households a nobleman or gentleman of fair estate kept his own herald, who wore his master's coat of arms at Christmas and other solemn times and cried Largesse three times.
Christmas, not Hogmanay, in Forfarshire No longer kept Angus, HighlandsIn Forfarshire and much of the Highlands the great merry-making of the year was held at Christmas, when most of Lowland Scotland kept it at New Year instead.
Yule and Pasch in the isles No longer kept Inner Hebrides, Inverness-shireProtestants on many of the Hebridean islands still kept Yule and Pasch, Christmas and Easter, as feasts.
Christmas as Saturnalia in Moray No longer kept MorayChristmas was the only yearly festival kept by the people of Moray, and they kept it more like the old Roman Saturnalia than the birth of Christ.
The Montrose burghers’ round of feasts No longer kept AngusAt Christmas and the New Year the well-off burghers of Montrose began feasting their friends and going round each other's houses, a round of visits that took up many weeks.
Christmas broth and beef at Mains No longer kept AngusIn 1760 the people of Mains, outside Dundee, visited one another only once a year, at Christmas.
The young men’s Christmas begging for the poor at Grange No longer kept BanffshireIn the Christmas holidays the young men of Grange went round the parish in parties, begging on behalf of its neediest people.
Bloccyn gwilian, the festival block No longer kept WalesThe Welsh Christmas log was called bloccyn gwilian, the festival block, and it had to be big enough to burn right through the twelve days of Christmas.
A new carol every Christmas No longer kept WalesIn Wales a new Christmas carol was usually written each year by a local poet or rhymer and sung in church after the morning or evening service.
Twelve salted onions for the months Lore and belief WalesSome Welsh people foretold the coming year's weather with onions.
The Earl’s bearward at Christmas No longer kept EnglandThe fifth Earl of Northumberland kept a bearward, paid twenty shillings a year when he came to the Earl at Christmas with his beasts to make sport through the twelve days.

Saturday 26 December

Boxing Day

Born on this day: Seán McGuire (1927)

Folklore from the old calendars

Boxing Day in the old calendars 8 entriesThe Inner Temple Christmas, Christmas boxes, Goose pies in the North Riding, Hunting the wren at Middleton, Beating the lapstone, No game laws on St Stephen’s Day, No fasting on St Stephen’s even, Holly-beating on St Stephen’s Day
Bleeding the horses No longer kept EnglandIt was an old belief that on St Stephen's Day horses should be galloped hard and then bled, to keep them free of disease for the coming year.
Stephening No longer kept BuckinghamshireOn St Stephen's Day the whole parish of Drayton Beauchamp went to the rectory and claimed the right to as much bread, cheese and ale as they liked at the rector's expense.
The servants’ holiday at Chester No longer kept CheshireCheshire farm servants were hired from New Year's Eve to Christmas Day, and then took six or seven days off, leaving their masters to manage alone.
The Northumberland sword dancers Still kept NorthumberlandA correspondent of the Table Book, describing the miners of Northumberland, wrote that the old custom of sword dancing at Christmas was kept up there only by the pitmen.

Sunday 27 December

Monday 28 December

Happy birthday to Christine Collister (65 today)

Folklore from the old calendars

Childermas Lore and belief Cornwall, EnglandHoly Innocents' Day, or Childermas, was reckoned the unluckiest day of the year, and no one who could help it began any work or undertaking on it.
The King of Cockneys at Lincoln’s Inn No longer kept LondonDugdale printed an order of Lincoln's Inn from the ninth year of Henry VIII that the King of Cockneys should sit and have due service on Childermas Day.
Gawby Day at Wrexham No longer kept DenbighshireOn 28 December, Wrexham filled with country men and women servants for Gawby Day.
The weekday of Childermas unlucky all year Lore and belief EnglandIt was thought very unlucky to begin any work on Childermas, Holy Innocents' Day, and whatever day of the week it fell on was held unlucky for starting anything for the whole of the following year.
Colet’s scholars and the child bishop’s sermon No longer kept LondonEvery Childermas the boys of St Paul's School went to the cathedral to hear a sermon preached by the boy bishop and gave him a penny each.

Tuesday 29 December

Thursday 31 December

New Year's Eve

Happy birthday to June Tabor (79 today)

Born on this day: E. J. Moeran (1894)

Friday 1 January

Born on this day: George Petrie (1790) and Margaret Barry (1917)

Folklore from the old calendars

First-footing in Edinburgh Still kept Midlothian, ScotlandIn Scotland the new year was let in at midnight with a hot pint of spiced ale and spirits, carried from house to house in a kettle.
Riding the Stang on New Year’s Day No longer kept Cumberland, WestmorlandA writer in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1791 reported that in Westmorland and Cumberland crowds gathered early on New Year's morning carrying baskets and stangs, or stout poles.
The Hutton Conyers Pie Court No longer kept YorkshireThe lord of the manor of Hutton Conyers held his court on the first day of the year, when the shepherds of six townships around the moor came to keep their right of sheep-walk.
The Falkirk Guisards No longer kept StirlingshireIn the Daft Days around the new year, bands of guisards went from house to house in Falkirk acting a short play in which Galgacus, the Caledonian chief, fights and kills Jack, a doctor haggles over his fee and raises him, and Judas comes round with the bag for money.
The New Year Wassail Bowl Still kept Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, WarwickshireAt the New Year the head of an English household gathered his family round a bowl of spiced ale called lamb's wool and drank their health with the old greeting wass hael, and the bowl went round.
Jack of Hilton No longer kept StaffordshireHilton Hall in Staffordshire kept a hollow brass figure about a foot high, known across the county as Jack of Hilton, which was filled with water and set by the fire so that steam blew from its mouth like a bellows.
Coventry God-cakes No longer kept WarwickshireAt Coventry it was the custom to eat God-cakes on New Year's Day.
New Year’s Gifts No longer kept EnglandGiving presents on New Year's Day was once general in England, though by Chambers's day it had shrunk to parents and elders giving to children.
The Fair First-foot at Preston Lore and belief LancashireA gentleman of Preston told Notes and Queries that for many years he had called on an elderly lady early on New Year's Day at her own request, because he was fair-complexioned and so thought to bring good luck for the year.
Kiss ’em and Sugar Toast No longer kept EnglandA Table Book correspondent described seeing the new year in at a village party.
Juniper Smoke and the Dead and Living Ford No longer kept HighlandsHone gives an account from Stewart's Popular Superstitions of the Highlands of how the Strathdown Highlander let in the new year.
New Clothes on New Year’s Day Lore and belief EnglandHone notes from Forster's Perennial Calendar that many people made a point of wearing something new on New Year's Day and thought it unlucky not to.
New Year cakes at Cambridge No longer kept CambridgeshireA visitor to friends at Cambridge was woken at seven on New Year's morning by the familiar Good Friday cry of one a penny, two a penny, buns, all hot.
Take out, then take in Lore and belief LincolnshireIn Lincoln and the country round it people held that it was unlucky to carry anything out of the house on New Year's morning before something had been brought in.
Dancing at the stone of North Ronaldsay No longer kept OrkneyThe Statistical Account of Scotland described a great upright stone, some nine or ten feet high and four feet broad, standing in a plain on the Orkney island of North Ronaldsay.
Opening the Bible on New Year’s morning Lore and belief EnglandIn some parts of the country the Bible was consulted on New Year's morning to learn what the year would bring.
No light from the house on New Year’s Day Lore and belief EnglandEllis's edition of Brand gathers several warnings for New Year's Day.
Verses for luck at Eton No longer kept BuckinghamshireA manuscript account of Eton College written in 1560 records that on the feast of the Circumcision, New Year's Day, the boys played for small New Year's gifts before and after supper.
If the grass grows in Janiveer Lore and belief Northern EnglandA saying still heard in the north of England in Ellis's day warned against a mild start to the year: if the grass grows in January, it grows the worse for it all the year.
Summer till New Year, winter till May Lore and belief WalesThe Welsh held that if summery weather lasted until New Year's Day, wintry weather would last until May Day.
A needle and thread at Queen’s College Still kept OxfordshireOn New Year's morning at Queen's College, Oxford, the dean or bursar gave every fellow and scholar a threaded needle, saying take this and be a good husband.
Vervain from the grove of Strenia Lore and belief EnglandNew Year's gifts were said to go back to a bunch of vervain given to a Sabine king on the first day of the year.
A favoured youth for first-foot Still kept Northern EnglandThe first person over the threshold on New Year's Day was thought to shape the family's luck, above all the daughters', for the whole year.
The shoe left with the ale-wife No longer kept WestmorlandOn New Year's Day in Westmorland towns and villages the men lifted the women onto a ladder, pole or chair and carried them off to the nearest public house.
The bachelor first-foot at Stamfordham No longer kept NorthumberlandAt Stamfordham the first-foot on New Year's morning had to be a bachelor, and he usually carried in a shovelful of coals, though whisky was taking its place.
The hired Lucky-bird No longer kept County Durham, YorkshireIn the west of County Durham a man might be engaged in advance to be a household's first-foot, or Lucky-bird as Yorkshire called him, and was paid with a glass of spirits.
Nothing carried out on New Year’s Day No longer kept County DurhamIn the old farmhouses of County Durham nothing was allowed to leave the house on New Year's Day, though anything might be brought in.
Wishes through the keyhole in Cleveland No longer kept Northumberland, YorkshireEarly on New Year's morning the lads of Cleveland called a greeting through their neighbours' keyholes, wishing them a pantry full of roast beef and a barrel full of beer.
The cream of the well at Bromyard No longer kept HerefordshireAs midnight struck on New Year's Eve, people round Bromyard raced to the nearest spring for the first water of the year.
The globe of thorns and Old Cider No longer kept HerefordshireVery early on New Year's Day, Herefordshire farm boys wove blackthorn branches into a globe and singed it over a straw fire while the household stood round shouting "Old Cider".
New Year apple-trees at Monmouth No longer kept MonmouthshireOn New Year's Day little boys near Monmouth carried round a little tree made of deal, its branches tipped with apples that were gilded, covered in silver tissue, or floured and stuck with black and white oats.
Lads for hire as first-foot Lore and belief Shropshire, WorcestershireIn Worcestershire and Shropshire it was unlucky for a woman to be the first to enter the house on New Year's morning.
Le Fortresse dangerus No longer kept EnglandAgainst New Year's night in the Christmas of 1513 to 1514, Henry VIII had a castle with gates, towers and a dungeon built in the hall, garrisoned by six ladies in russet satin and gold.
Sir Thomas More keeps the gloves No longer kept LondonSuitors used to give New Year's gifts to the Lord Chancellor in hope of a favourable judgment.
Ferrers’s New Year’s robe No longer kept EnglandWhen George Ferrers of Lincoln's Inn was made Lord of Misrule to divert the young Edward VI, he had a different costume for Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Twelfth Day.
The Workington women’s club dinner on New Year’s Day No longer kept CumberlandWorkington had a friendly society of more than two hundred women, and every New Year's Day its members sat down to an annual dinner.
The monkish verses of unlucky days Lore and belief EnglandAn old monkish calendar gave the unlucky days of every month in a Latin verse, and for January it named the first and the seventh, days that cut like a sword.
Charming the first new moon of the year Lore and belief England, YorkshireTo learn whom she would marry, a girl went out on the evening the first new moon appeared after New Year's Day, stood over the bars of a gate or stile, and hailed the moon.
A New Year’s song at the door No longer kept EnglandAt the New Year people wished each other a good year whenever a gift was given or friends met, and singers came to the door with a New Year's song whose burden was a wish for a happy New Year.
Mumming in each other’s clothes No longer kept EnglandAt the New Year season men and women exchanged clothes and went disguised from one neighbour's house to another, sharing their Christmas cheer and making merry with dancing and singing.
All hail to the Moon after New Year’s Day Lore and belief EnglandAt the first new moon after New Year's Day, anyone wishing to see a future husband or wife went out in the evening, stood over the spars of a gate or stile, and hailed the moon with a rhyme asking it to reveal who that should be.
Crackling laurel for a plentiful harvest Lore and belief EnglandAt Christmas and the New Year laurel was thrown on the fire, and a loud crackling was taken to promise a plentiful harvest in the year ahead.
The wassailers’ blessing and the dry house No longer kept EnglandWassailers at the gate sang blessings on the household for the twelve months ahead, but a house that gave them no ale or beer was left with a parting reproach.
A crown under the chaplains’ plates No longer kept LondonThe last trace of the royal New Year's gift at court was a crown-piece laid under the plate of each chaplain in waiting on New Year's Day.
Lady Shelley’s New Year rewards at Maresfield No longer kept SussexEvery New Year's Day at Maresfield Park the industrious poor who had kept off parish relief were given prizes of up to two guineas.
Juniper before the cattle at New Year near Dingwall No longer kept Highlands, Ross and CromartyOn New Year's Day the Highlanders round Dingwall burnt juniper before their cattle.
Meat on the bench for Gobelyn Lore and belief EnglandIn the late Middle Ages some people left food and drink out on the bench overnight at the new year to feed a household spirit called Alholde or Gobelyn.
Leading the plough about the fire Lore and belief EnglandIn the late Middle Ages some country people began the year by leading a plough round the fire, so that they would fare the better all the year after.
Oidhche Choille, the night of the trees Lore and belief BanffshireOn the first night of January the people of Kirkmichael watched the wind with anxious attention, reading from it the weather for the whole year to come.
The royal well at New-year-field Lore and belief West LothianNear the house of Livingston stood the farm of New-year-field, where tradition held the Scottish kings had a hunting seat while they stayed at Linlithgow.
Thumb-holed cakes after New Year’s Day Lore and belief WalesWhen the first batch of bread was baked after New Year's Day, Welsh women made a small round cake for each person in the house, named it and pressed a hole in it with the thumb.

Monday 4 January

Happy birthday to Clive Gregson (72 today)

Folklore from the old calendars

Handsel Monday No longer kept ScotlandThe first Monday of the year was a great holiday for the Scottish peasantry and for children, the day for giving and receiving presents, or handsel.
Hansel Monday and the scholars’ king No longer kept Berwickshire, Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire, SelkirkshireOn the Scottish Borders the Monday after New Year's Day was Hansel Monday, when presents of money were put into people's hands.
The Handsel Monday ale that cured a Tillicoultry collier No longer kept ClackmannanshireOn Handsel Monday in 1738 the neighbours of a bedridden collier at Tillicoultry came to make merry with him, and he drank his share of the new ale as it went round.
Handsel Monday by the fireside at Auchterderran No longer kept FifeThe people of Auchterderran kept only one holiday for merry-making in the whole year, Handsel Monday, and spent it at home.

What’s on: folk sessions, morris, customs and folklore

Wednesday 9 December🌑 New moon

Wednesday 16 December

Thursday 17 December

Saturday 19 December

Sunday 20 December

Monday 21 December

Thursday 24 December🌕 Cold Moon

Friday 25 December

Saturday 26 December

Sunday 27 December

Monday 28 December

Tuesday 29 December

Thursday 31 December

Friday 1 January

Monday 4 January

Image credits

Wednesday 9 December New moon

Thursday 24 December Cold Moon