St James’s oysters

25 July · London

Lore and belief

Oysters came in in London on St James’s Day, Old Style, and it was believed that whoever ate oysters on that day would never want for money all the year. Forster likened the belief to the one about eating goose at Michaelmas, and quoted Churchill’s line that St James gives oysters and St Swithin rain.

there is a popular superstition still in force, like that relating to Goose on Michaelmas day, that whoever eats Oysters on that day will never want money for the rest of the year.

From Forster's Perennial Calendar, p. 363. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

The Mutton Pie at Cliffe No longer kept KentSt James's Day was reckoned the day oysters came in, and Hone records the vulgar belief that whoever ate oysters on it would never want money.
Knill’s Games at St Ives Still kept CornwallJohn Knill of St Ives left the income of an estate to trustees to pay for prizes in racing, rowing and wrestling, to be held every fifth year for ever round the mausoleum he built in 1782 on a high rock near the town.
Hops before St James’s Day Lore and belief HerefordshireAmong the folk lore of St James's Day Chambers gives a Herefordshire saying about the county's hop crop.
Garlands on the Graves on St James’s Day No longer kept LondonThe Argus newspaper of August 1790 reported that on St James's Day, which had fallen on a Sunday, crowds went to St James's churchyard to honour the graves of their friends.
London against Westminster on St James’s Day No longer kept LondonThe citizens of London held a yearly public wrestling trial on St James's Day.
St James’s Fair forborn No longer kept LondonA fair was held every year at St James's in Westminster on or about 25 July, St James's Day.

St James’s oysters

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