Customs

Monday 9 November New moon

Folklore from the old calendars

The Lord Mayor’s Show Still kept LondonEach new Lord Mayor of London went in procession to Westminster to be sworn in on 9 November, with the livery companies, their banners and a few men in armour.
Sprats on Lord Mayor’s Day No longer kept LondonIn his food calendar for November Hone noted that the season for sprats opened on Lord Mayor's Day, 9 November.
The Stationers’ wine at Lambeth No longer kept LondonWhen the Lord Mayor went by water to Westminster, the Stationers' Company barge, usually first in the procession, called at Lambeth Palace and was given sixteen bottles of the archbishop's best wine.
A pair of gloves for the new moon Lore and belief NorthumberlandA Newcastle reader told Hone of a custom he called very common and very pleasant.
The New Moon Through Glass Lore and belief SuffolkA Suffolk correspondent of Chambers kept a night school for rough country lads, and one winter evening they caught sight of the new moon through the schoolroom window.
Money Spinners Lore and belief EnglandTo make sure of always having money in your pocket, the 1831 list advised putting in it the small spiders called money spinners, or keeping in your purse a bent coin or one with a hole in it.
Turning Money at the New Moon Lore and belief EnglandA Chelsea reader sent Hone a charm he called well known and almost universal in former days, handed down by grandmothers.
Greeting the New Moon Lore and belief HerefordshireIn notes made about 1678 and printed by Chambers, John Aubrey recorded that Highland women curtsied to the new moon.

Wednesday 11 November

Folklore from the old calendars

Wroth Silver at Knightlow Cross Still kept WarwickshireBefore sunrise on Martinmas morning the parishes of the hundred of Knightlow paid their wroth silver, or ward money, to the lord of the hundred at the stump of Knightlow Cross near Rugby.
The Martinmas mart No longer kept Northumberland, ScotlandMartinmas was the time to kill beasts and salt them down for winter, so in Scotland and the north of England a fat ox for killing was called a mart.
St Martin’s little summer Lore and belief EnglandSt Martin's little summer was the name for the spell of fine days that sometimes breaks into the usual stormy weather about the beginning of November.
Martinmas is past and gone at Wooler Lore and belief NorthumberlandA Wooler rhyme lamented that Martinmas had come and gone with Christmas drawing near and no mutton left in the house for the feast.
Martinmas stray-sheep day at Patterdale No longer kept Cumberland, WestmorlandIn the dales round Ullswater nobody went looking for a strayed sheep; whoever found one simply looked after it.
Martlemas beef hung up for Easter No longer kept EnglandAt Martinmas the farmer killed a beast and hung the beef up to dry in the chimney, keeping it until Easter.
Rose garlands and wine for the singers on St Martin’s Day No longer kept LondonThe City church of St Martin Outwich kept its patron's day with bread, ale, wine and rose garlands for the singers.
Young people on the hill at Martinmas No longer kept WiltshireThe antiquary William Stukeley believed that on St Martin's Day the young people of the neighbourhood used to gather on Martinsall Hill for the drinking of healths to St Martin, the Martinalia of the Saxons and Danes.

Wed 11 Nov All day
Custom, day 1 of 4

Loughborough Fair

Sets off from Devonshire Square, Loughborough, Leicestershire
- Fair or wakes
Wed 11 Nov from 06:45
Custom

Wroth Silver at Knightlow Cross

Sets off from Knightlow Cross, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire
- Ceremony
Wed 11 Nov 12:00 16:00
Custom

Firing the Fenny Poppers

Sets off from Leon Recreation Ground, Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire
- Fire
- Fire Customs

Thursday 12 November

Thu 12 Nov Loughborough Fair day 2 of 4 · All day

Friday 13 November

Fri 13 Nov Loughborough Fair day 3 of 4 · All day

Saturday 14 November

Sat 14 Nov Loughborough Fair day 4 of 4 · All day
Sat 14 Nov from 05:00
Custom

Hatherleigh Carnival and Tar Barrels

Sets off from Market Street, Hatherleigh, Devon
Sat 14 Nov from 11:00
Custom

Lord Mayor’s Show

Mansion House, London, Greater London
- Procession

Customs

Monday 9 November New moon

Wednesday 11 November

Loughborough Fair

Wroth Silver at Knightlow Cross

Firing the Fenny Poppers

Thursday 12 November

Friday 13 November

Saturday 14 November

Hatherleigh Carnival and Tar Barrels

Lord Mayor’s Show

Sunday 15 November

Image credits

Monday 9 November🌑 New moon

Wednesday 11 November

Loughborough Fair

Wroth Silver at Knightlow Cross

Firing the Fenny Poppers

Thursday 12 November

Friday 13 November

Saturday 14 November

Hatherleigh Carnival and Tar Barrels

Lord Mayor’s Show

Sunday 15 November

Image credits

Monday 9 November New moon