Hone's Year Book

William Hone, The Year Book of Daily Recreation and Information (1832).

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One volume, 1832. Later editions bind it with the Every-Day Book and the Table Book.

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1 to 25 of 175 entries

29 February, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

A Piece of Coffin for the Cramp Lore and belief EnglandAmong the country cures of 1831 were several charms.
Friday, the Unlucky Day Lore and belief EnglandA correspondent who collected the superstitions still current in 1831 found respectable tradesmen and merchants who would not do business, be bled or take physic on a Friday, because it was an unlucky day.
The Bible and Key Lore and belief EnglandThe writer of the 1831 list was asked to lend his Bible to a neighbour whose lodger had lost her husband's shirt, since for the charm to work neither Bible nor key could belong to anyone in the house.
The Devil’s Seat at Yarmouth Lore and belief Berkshire, NorfolkA correspondent collected the superstitions still current in 1831 for the Year Book, which prints them under 29 February.
The Man on the Piebald Horse Lore and belief EnglandThe same list of superstitions of 1831 gives country cures for whooping cough.
Turning the Chair Lore and belief EnglandThe same list of 1831 gives the small omens of daily life.

Folklore from the old calendars

Barring Out the Master No longer kept CumberlandAt Fasten's Even the scholars of the free school at Bromfield claimed an old right to shut their master out for three days.
Cocks for the Poor Rate at Pinner No longer kept MiddlesexIn the hamlet of Pinner, by Harrow on the Hill, throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday was a parish occasion, and the money it raised went towards the poor rate: the accounts record twelve shillings received for cocks at Shrovetide in 1622.
Ringing the Pancake Bell in York Minster No longer kept YorkshireAt York it was an old custom that on Shrove Tuesday the apprentices, journeymen and servants of the city were free to go into the minster and ring the pancake bell.
The Whipping Toms of the Newarke No longer kept LeicestershireOn Shrove Tuesday afternoon, men called Whipping Toms armed with waggon whips flogged anyone they could catch in the Newarke at Leicester, but only while a bell-man beside each of them kept ringing his bell.