Brand's Popular Antiquities

John Brand, Observations on Popular Antiquities (1777), arranged, revised and enlarged by Sir Henry Ellis (3 vols, 1848-1849).

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First published in 1777 and enlarged by Henry Ellis; the three-volume Bohn edition of 1848 to 1849 is the one most often reprinted.

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51 to 75 of 233 entries

3 April

Good Friday

Easter Saturday

Easter Sunday

Folklore from the old calendars

Buckles and spurs at Ripon No longer kept YorkshireA Yorkshire clergyman told Brand that on Easter Sunday the young men of the villages took the girls' shoe buckles, and on Easter Monday the young women took the men's shoes and buckles in return.
Clearing the winter hearth on God’s Sunday No longer kept EnglandMedieval sermon books say Easter Day was called in some places God's Sunday, and describe a household custom that went with it.
Dancing for the cake in Westmeath No longer kept LeinsterSir Henry Piers wrote in 1682 that in most parishes of Westmeath, on the patron day and at Easter and Whitsuntide, the country people met in the afternoon on a convenient spot near the alehouse to dance for the cake, with a piper always in attendance.
Eggs and green sauce at Gray’s Inn No longer kept LondonDugdale records that the gentlemen of Gray's Inn who came to breakfast on Easter Day, after the service and communion, were given eggs and green sauce.
Little Devil Doubt and the pace-eggers Still kept Northern EnglandIn the north of England groups of lads went pace-egging at Easter, singing at doors for eggs and strong beer and promising not to come again until the next year.
New clothes for Easter Still kept Dorset, EnglandEveryone was supposed to wear at least one new thing on Easter Day, or have no luck all year.
Sunshine at Easter and Whitsun Lore and belief EnglandAn old country saying held that the weather of Easter Day foretold that of Whit Sunday seven weeks later, so that if the sun shone at Easter it would shine at Whitsun too.
Tansies at Easter No longer kept EnglandA tansy was a pudding or cake of eggs, cream and sugar flavoured with the young leaves of the herb tansy, and it was the dish of Easter.
The Easter sacrament ring Lore and belief BerkshireIn Berkshire it was a popular belief that a ring made from a silver coin given at the communion would cure convulsions and fits of every kind.
Whitened gravestones at Neath No longer kept GlamorganIn Neath churchyard two stones marked the head and foot of each grave, and they were whitened with lime every Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide.

Brand's Popular Antiquities

3 April

Good Friday

Easter Saturday

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

2 days after Easter

Hock Tuesday (second Tuesday after Easter)

15 days after Easter

23 April

24 April, not tied to the day

30 April

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