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26 to 34 of 34 entries in December

25 December

Folklore from the old calendars

The Middle Temple Lord of Misrule’s court No longer kept LondonAt the Middle Temple Christmas of 1632 the Lord of Misrule kept a full mock court, with his own Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, eight white staves, a band of pensioners with their captain, and two chaplains.
The quintain on Cornhill at Christmas No longer kept LondonAt Christmas a quintain was set up on Cornhill by Leadenhall, and the Lords of Misrule's followers rode at it.

26 December

Folklore from the old calendars

Christmas boxes Still kept England, LondonThe day after Christmas was called Boxing Day because tradesmen's boys, apprentices and servants went round the customers collecting money in their Christmas boxes.
Stephening No longer kept BuckinghamshireOn St Stephen's Day the whole parish of Drayton Beauchamp went to the rectory and claimed the right to as much bread, cheese and ale as they liked at the rector's expense.
The Inner Temple Christmas No longer kept LondonThe lawyers of the Inner Temple kept Christmas with elaborate mock ceremony.

28 December

Folklore from the old calendars

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.

28 December, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

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.

29 December

Folklore from the old calendars

Becket’s Tuesdays Lore and belief KentTuesday, the day of Mars the god of war, was held to have been the fateful day of Thomas Becket's whole life.

Posts pagination

From the shop: Folklore

The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and IrelandSteve Roud
The Lore of ScotlandJennifer Westwood, Sophia Kingshill
A Dictionary of English FolkloreJacqueline Simpson, Steve Roud

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