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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Tuesday 8 September

Thursday 10 September

Friday 18 September

Thursday 24 September

Not tied to a day

Printed under this month, but not tied to a day: anecdotes, charms and beliefs the books set down here.

Folklore from the old calendars

A Kiss at Every Meeting No longer kept EnglandUnder the Tudors it was the English custom to greet with a kiss, and women took offence if they were not saluted so.
Bearing the Bell No longer kept EnglandHone noted that horse racing, with its rules for training, weights and prizes, was already settled in the reign of James I.
Breaking a Piece of Money No longer kept EnglandA couple promising to marry would break a piece of gold or silver between them, the woman keeping one half and the man the other.
Giving the Fico No longer kept EnglandIn old England the deepest sign of contempt was to bite your thumb at someone, setting the nail against the teeth and then flinging the hand towards him.
High Jinks No longer kept MidlothianHigh jinks was a Scottish drinking game with dice, played by the Saturday night club at Daunie Douglas's tavern in Anchor Close, Edinburgh, and described in Guy Mannering.
Queen Mary’s Escape from Sawston Lore and belief CambridgeshireIn 1553 Sir John Huddleston sheltered the Princess Mary at Sawston Hall and helped her escape to Framlingham, and a mob loyal to Lady Jane Grey plundered his house.
The Candle over the Clutch Lore and belief NorfolkWhen a Norfolk housewife set a clutch of eggs to hatch, usually thirteen and especially under a goose or duck, she swung a lighted candle over them.
The Creeling at Galston No longer kept AyrshireIn Galston a young man courted not at the girl's father's house but at the alehouse, where the landlady sent for her and the match was made over ale and whisky.
The Mirror Chimney-piece at Charlton Lore and belief KentCharlton House, built by Sir Adam Newton opposite the church, had a marble chimney-piece said to be so highly polished that it worked like a mirror.
The Parson’s Wig and the Black Pudding Lore and belief SomersetIn Somerset, when a black or blood pudding was on the boil, an old wig that had belonged to the parson was much sought after.
The Portland Betrothal No longer kept DorsetThe people of the Isle of Portland seldom married anyone from the mainland.
The Queen Anne’s Farthing Lore and belief EnglandIt was a common belief that a Queen Anne's farthing was worth a fortune.
The Wedding Spoons No longer kept ScotlandIn the eighteenth century a Scottish country bridegroom went to the goldsmiths of the Parliament Close in Edinburgh a few weeks before his wedding to buy the silver teaspoons that always came before a marriage.
True-Love Knots and Bride Favours No longer kept EnglandLovers in the north of England and Scotland gave each other a true-love knot as a token of plighted faith, and Hone derived the name from a Danish word meaning to plight one's troth.