Folklore of England

1 June, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Dancing in the hog’s trough No longer kept East Anglia, West CountryA clergyman writing to Chambers about marriage customs among East Anglian labourers said that when a younger sister married before the elder, the elder had to dance in the hog's trough.
Lida, the gentle months for sailing Lore and belief EnglandThe heathen English called both June and July Lida, meaning gentle or fit for sailing, because the breezes were mild and the seas could be sailed in both.
Marry in Lent Lore and belief East AngliaThe same East Anglian correspondent gave Chambers two sayings about choosing when and whom to wed.
The dow purse No longer kept CumberlandChambers traced the old custom of a bridegroom giving his bride a gift of money on marriage, known in England as the dow purse.
Wafers and cakes for the sheep-shearing No longer kept NorthamptonshireSheep-shearing was one of the ploughman's feast days, when the farmer's wife was told to spare neither meat nor corn.

Folklore from the old calendars

Holm Cultram fairs at Maundy Thursday and Corpus Christi No longer kept CumberlandThe lordship of Holm Cultram held two fairs a year, one on Maundy Thursday and one on Corpus Christi day.
The Coventry pageants No longer kept WarwickshireBefore the Reformation Coventry was famous for the pageants played on Corpus Christi day, which drew crowds from far and near.
The Dean’s gloves on Corpus Christi No longer kept County DurhamThe Durham trades companies' Corpus Christi procession to the cathedral outlived the Reformation and lasted until about eighty years before Henderson wrote.
The Skinners’ procession on Corpus Christi Day No longer kept LondonOn Corpus Christi Day the members of the Skinners' Company of London walked in procession from their hall on Dowgate Hill to the church of St Antholin in Watling Street to hear a service.
The York Corpus Christi play Still kept YorkshireThe Guild of Corpus Christi at York was bound to put on a Corpus Christi play every year, and it was acted in the city until 1584.
Torches about the parish on Corpus Christi No longer kept LondonOn Corpus Christi Day the London parish of St Mary-at-Hill hired men to carry torches round the parish, with flags and garlands for the procession.