Horns on Old May Day at Cambridge

12 May · Cambridge

No longer kept

Dr E. D. Clarke, the traveller, noted that in Cambridge, the very centre of the university, old customs survived that most people passed without noticing. One was the blowing of horns on the first of May, Old Style. Clarke, who had seen processions at Rhodes, believed it came down from a festival of Diana.

The custom of blowing horns upon the first of May (old style) is derived from a festival in honour of Diana.

From Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. 2, p. 22. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

Beltane at Callander No longer kept PerthshireA correspondent sent Hone Jamieson's account of Beltane, kept in Scotland on Old May Day.
Over May hill Lore and belief EnglandMay was called a trying month for people who had been long ill.
Turning out the cattle on Old May Day No longer kept EnglandJohn Aikin, whose Natural History of the Year Hone quoted, said Old May Day was the usual time for turning cattle out into the pastures, though the grass was often still very bare.
The cowherds’ Beltan at Logierait No longer kept PerthshireThe minister of Logierait told the Statistical Account of Scotland that a festival called Beltan was held every year in the parish on the first of May, Old Style.
Cattle onto Burgh Marsh at Old May Day No longer kept CumberlandThe cattle and horses of Burgh by Sands went onto the great marsh by the Solway at Old May Day.
A month before Clamme the cuckoo sings Lore and belief MontgomeryshireIn Montgomeryshire it was said that if the cuckoo sang a month before Clamme, the Welsh Calan Mai or May Day, the hay would be so heavy that the farmer would sing for joy a month before August.

Horns on Old May Day at Cambridge

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