Folklore of Northern England

1 May

Folklore from the old calendars

Seggs on the doorstep for Ascension No longer kept YorkshireNear York children used to lay rushes, called seggs, on their doorsteps to mark Ascension Day.
The Ince oatmeal dole No longer kept LancashireEdward Richardson, who owned an estate in the township of Ince, directed in 1784 that for fifty years after his death oatmeal should be given out to the poor of the neighbourhood on Ascension Day.
The Old Brine at Nantwich No longer kept CheshirePennant was told that the old people of Nantwich sang a hymn of thanksgiving on Ascension Day for the blessing of the brine that made the town's salt.
The smock race at Newburn No longer kept Leinster, NorthumberlandBrockett's glossary of north-country words mentions the smock race on Ascension Day, run by young countrywomen for a fine holland smock trimmed with ribbons.
The Tyne barges on Ascension Day No longer kept NorthumberlandOn Ascension Day the magistrates, the River Jury and other officers of Newcastle kept an old custom of going the bounds of the town's jurisdiction on the river in their barges, to guard against encroachments.

Folklore from the old calendars

Royal Oak, the Whigs to provoke No longer kept NorthumberlandBrand remembered that the boys of Newcastle had a taunting rhyme for Royal Oak Day, which they shouted at anyone they met on 29 May without oak leaves in his hat.
Scotland Feast at Sheffield No longer kept YorkshireOn the eve of Scotland Feast, kept every 29 May, the people of Scotland Street in Sheffield went out by night and brought back sixteen to twenty young trees, mostly birches from Walkley Bank, and planted them in rows down both sides of the street.
The end of birds’-nesting at Fishlake No longer kept YorkshireAround Fishlake, 29 May marked the close of the birds'-nesting season.
The Royal Oak Day holiday rhyme No longer kept Northern EnglandSchoolboys greeted the twenty-ninth of May with a rhyme threatening to run away if they were not given the day off.