Folklore of West Country

2 February

Folklore from the old calendars

Going a-shroving near Salisbury No longer kept WiltshireIn the days before Shrovetide the boys round Salisbury went from door to door singing for apples, dumplings, cheese or pancake.
Lent Crocking No longer kept Dorset, WiltshireIn Dorset and Wiltshire boys went shroving in small bands, armed with the year's broken crockery.
Stoning the doors in Scilly No longer kept Isles of ScillyHeath's account of the Isles of Scilly says that every Shrove Tuesday, once the throwing at cocks was over, the island boys spent the evening throwing stones at the doors of the houses.
The victor of the Shrovetide cock-fight No longer kept West CountryOn Shrove Tuesday the schoolboy whose cock had beaten all the rest went through the streets in triumph, decked with ribbons.
Threshing the Hen No longer kept Cornwall, WalesA hen that had not laid before Shrove Tuesday was counted useless.