Folklore of England

27 December, not tied to the day

28 December

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.
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.
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.
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.

28 December, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Come, butter, come Lore and belief EssexAdy, in his Candle in the Dark of 1655, told of an old Essex woman who came into a house where the maid had churned a long time and could not make the butter come.
Houseleek against lightning Lore and belief EnglandOld writers held that the bay tree was never struck by lightning, and that whoever wore a bay leaf was safe from thunder.
Mary Dore, the witch of Beaulieu Lore and belief HampshireWarner's Topographical Remarks on south west Hampshire, of 1793, told of Mary Dore, the parish witch of Beaulieu, who had died about fifty years before.
Slunk calves and moonwort Lore and belief Devon, SuffolkGrose recorded the belief, commonly acted on in Suffolk, that a slunk or stillborn calf buried in a highway used by cattle would stop cows casting their calves.
The taman of Tipperary Lore and belief County Durham, Munster, NorthumberlandCunning men, sometimes called white witches, were consulted to cure diseases laid on by witches, to find thieves, recover stolen goods and tell of absent friends.

29 December

30 December, not tied to the day

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.

27 December, not tied to the day

28 December

28 December, not tied to the day

29 December

30 December, not tied to the day

31 December

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