Folklore of Northern England

Shrove Tuesday

Folklore from the old calendars

Ringing the Pancake Bell in York Minster No longer kept YorkshireAt York it was an old custom that on Shrove Tuesday the apprentices, journeymen and servants of the city were free to go into the minster and ring the pancake bell.
Shrovetide cockfights at Crosthwaite school No longer kept CumberlandAt Shrovetide the scholars of the school in Crosthwaite parish each brought a cock to fight at the school, and gave the master a present of money for allowing it.
Shying at buried cocks at Manchester school No longer kept LancashireAt the grammar school in Manchester the master provided cocks on Shrove Tuesday, which were buried up to their necks for the boys to shy at, and he was well paid for them.
Six silver glaives for the Chester runners No longer kept CheshireEvery Shrove Tuesday the shoemakers of Chester gave the drapers a leather football before the mayor at the cross on the Roodee, and the game was played from there to the Common Hall.
The Bromfield silver bell and churchyard football No longer kept CumberlandWhen the Bromfield scholars had barred out their master at Fastings Even, one of the terms they always won was a cock-fight and a football match.
The football over Alnwick Castle wall Still kept NorthumberlandBrand was told, and saw for himself on 5 February 1788, that at Alnwick the town waits came playing to the castle at two o'clock every Shrove Tuesday.
The noon bell at Newcastle No longer kept NorthumberlandAt Newcastle upon Tyne the great bell of St Nicholas's church was tolled at twelve o'clock on Shrove Tuesday.
The Shrovetide ball and the bull-ring Still kept County DurhamIn a Durham town Hazlitt calls Sedgwick (Sedgefield), townspeople and country folk played a Shrovetide ball match.
Whemmeled on the muck-midden No longer kept Northern EnglandOn northern farms each servant, man or woman, had to fry and toss a pancake on Shrove Tuesday in order of seniority.

Ash Wednesday

1 March

35 days before Easter

10 March, not tied to the day

the first Thursday on or after 8 March

12 March, not tied to the day

Mothering Sunday

20 March

14 days before Easter

Folklore from the old calendars

Boys pelting with carlings No longer kept Northern EnglandIn the North the fifth Sunday in Lent was called Care, Carle or Carling Sunday, and the proper food was grey peas soaked overnight and fried in butter.
Carlings on Carling Sunday Still kept Northern EnglandOn the second Sunday before Easter northern families ate carlings, grey peas soaked overnight and fried in butter.
The carling-groat No longer kept Northern EnglandAt carling time a northern drinker's carling-groat was the money he spent at the public-house, and in return the landlord set out the carlings free.
The gy-carling on Carling Sunday Lore and belief NorthumberlandOn the Borders people were told to eat carlings on Carling Sunday until they were too full for the gy-carling to get a grip of their belly.

Folklore of Northern England

Shrove Tuesday

Ash Wednesday

1 March

35 days before Easter

10 March, not tied to the day

the first Thursday on or after 8 March

12 March, not tied to the day

Mothering Sunday

20 March

14 days before Easter

26 March, not tied to the day

27 March, not tied to the day

Palm Sunday

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