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1 to 9 of 9 entries

19 November, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Lifting the shepherd’s bride No longer kept SussexIn a set of notes printed under 19 November, a correspondent signing himself Jehoiada recorded a wedding custom of the South Downs shepherds called lifting.

1 January

Folklore from the old calendars

Lady Shelley’s New Year rewards at Maresfield No longer kept SussexEvery New Year's Day at Maresfield Park the industrious poor who had kept off parish relief were given prizes of up to two guineas.

7 March

Folklore from the old calendars

Paring corns in the wane of the moon Lore and belief SussexPeople in Sussex and elsewhere checked the almanac for the waning moon before cutting their corns, believing corns cut then would dwindle and in time wear away, while corns cut in the moon's increase grew back faster.

9 March, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Cunning men of Sussex No longer kept SussexChambers wrote that a hundred years before, the trade of conjurer or cunning man was common and not thought disgraceful.

Good Friday

Folklore from the old calendars

Long Rope Day at Brighton No longer kept SussexOn Good Friday the children of Brighton's back streets brought ropes up from the beach and skipped across the width of the street.

14 April

Folklore from the old calendars

First Cuckoo Day in Sussex Lore and belief SussexA naturalist who sent Hone the average arrival days of the spring birds from a twenty years' journal noted that 14 April was called First Cuckoo Day in Sussex.

22 May, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Sops and Ale No longer kept SussexAt Eastbourne the senior bachelor was elected steward of Sops and Ale and kept a set of wooden bowls, trenchers, knives and cups for it.

24 August

Folklore from the old calendars

Beggar’s Bush Fair at Rye No longer kept SussexRye held a small pedlars' fair at Beggar's Bush on St Bartholomew's Day, and chose its mayor on the same day.

29 September

Folklore from the old calendars

The Hastings curfew from Michaelmas No longer kept SussexAt Hastings the curfew bell was still tolled at eight o'clock every evening through the winter half of the year, from Michaelmas to Lady Day.

From the shop: Folklore

FolkloreOwen Davies, Ceri Houlbrook
The Lore of ScotlandJennifer Westwood, Sophia Kingshill
The Folklore of DiscworldTerry Pratchett, Jacqueline Simpson

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809 sessions listed
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