Folklore of England

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31 December

Folklore from the old calendars

A coffin or a ring in the ashes Lore and belief EnglandOn New Year's Eve the ashes on the hearth were sifted or smoothed and left untouched overnight.
A hearty compotation for the old year No longer kept EnglandOrdinary people took care to see the old year out well with a hearty bout of drinking, and to begin the new one well by sending New Year's gifts to friends and acquaintances.
Burying Old Tom No longer kept HerefordshireHerefordshire labourers had an extra drink or two on New Year's Eve and called it burying Old Tom.
Hagman Heigh No longer kept YorkshireClarkson's History of Richmond, quoted in the Table Book, described the Hagman Heigh, kept in Yorkshire on New Year's Eve.
Letting in the New Year Still kept Northern England, ScotlandOne of the most general customs of the last night of the year was to sit up until twelve o'clock, and then, when the hour had struck, go to the house door and unbar it with great formality, to let the old year out and the new year in.
New Year’s gifts on the eve at Kirkby Stephen No longer kept WestmorlandAt Kirkby Stephen the children went round begging their New Year's gifts on New Year's Eve rather than on the day itself.
The ivy leaf in water Lore and belief EnglandLupton's book of Notable Things of 1660 gave a charm for the health of the coming year.
The lucky glass Lore and belief Northern EnglandThe last glass drained from the last bottle on New Year's Eve or Day was called the lucky glass and brought good fortune to whoever got it.
The Muncaster children’s New Year’s Eve ditty No longer kept CumberlandOn New Year's Eve the children of Muncaster went from house to house singing for a gift they said had been theirs since old King Edward's days.
The Richmond pinder’s Hagman song No longer kept YorkshireOn New Year's Eve old Master Craven, the pinder of the borough of Richmond, sang the last surviving verses of the Hagmena song.
The wind on New Year’s Eve night Lore and belief Northern EnglandThe wind on New Year's Eve night foretold the coming year.

29 February, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

A Piece of Coffin for the Cramp Lore and belief EnglandAmong the country cures of 1831 were several charms.
Friday, the Unlucky Day Lore and belief EnglandA correspondent who collected the superstitions still current in 1831 found respectable tradesmen and merchants who would not do business, be bled or take physic on a Friday, because it was an unlucky day.
The Bible and Key Lore and belief EnglandThe writer of the 1831 list was asked to lend his Bible to a neighbour whose lodger had lost her husband's shirt, since for the charm to work neither Bible nor key could belong to anyone in the house.
The Devil’s Seat at Yarmouth Lore and belief Berkshire, NorfolkA correspondent collected the superstitions still current in 1831 for the Year Book, which prints them under 29 February.
The Man on the Piebald Horse Lore and belief EnglandThe same list of superstitions of 1831 gives country cures for whooping cough.
Turning the Chair Lore and belief EnglandThe same list of 1831 gives the small omens of daily life.

Every new moon

1 January

Folklore from the old calendars

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Folklore of England

31 December

29 February, not tied to the day

Every new moon

1 January

1 January, not tied to the day

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