Nutting on Holy Rood Day

14 September

No longer kept

Holy Rood Day, the feast of the Holy Cross, was the day for going out to gather nuts in the hazel woods. Hone cites the old play Grim the Collier of Croydon, in which the young people have all gone nutting on this day. Chambers describes Nutting Day as still a rural holiday in September, when whole villages went out with bags, crooks, food and drink and their oldest clothes.

This day, they say, is called Holy-rood day, And all the youth are now a nutting gone.

From Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. 1, cols. 1293-1294; Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 2, p. 295. Read the original

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Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

The Eton Nutting Holiday No longer kept BuckinghamshireAn old manuscript about Eton recorded that on a certain day in September, most likely Holy Rood Day, the scholars had a holiday to go out and gather nuts.
The Rood of Grace No longer kept KentThe crucifix at Boxley Abbey, the Rood of Grace, drew pilgrims because its figure of Christ moved its eyes, lips and head.
The Holy Rood Buck in Richmond Park No longer kept SurreyOn Holy Rood Day the king's huntsmen hunted their free buck in Richmond New Park with bloodhounds.
Fools Fair at Lincoln No longer kept LincolnshireA cattle fair held in the Broad Gate at Lincoln on 14 September was known as Fools Fair.
The stag at Durham on Holy-rood Day No longer kept County DurhamA stag was once offered at the high altar of Durham Abbey on Holy Rood Day while horns were wound in the church.
The passion flower for Holy Rood Lore and belief EnglandThe passion flower, blooming about Holy Rood Day, was taken to show the signs of the Cross whose feast fell on 14 September.

Nutting on Holy Rood Day

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