The Cheshire souling song

1 November · Cheshire

Still kept

Cheshire

On the eve of All Souls’ Day parties of boys in Cheshire went souling from door to door, singing for apples, pears, plums, beer or money. Ellis printed their song as it was taken down from one of the merry pack, with its count of one for Peter, two for Paul and three for Him who made us all. It ends with the promise that they will never come souling again till this time next year. Soul-caking is still kept up in a few Cheshire villages.

Soul Day, Soul Day, Saul! One for Peter, two for Paul, Three for Him who made us all.

From Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. 1, pp. 413-414. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

Ringing for all Christian souls No longer kept EnglandBefore the Reformation the church bells were rung all night at Allhallowtide for all Christian souls.
The first three days of winter Lore and belief BanffshireThe minister of Kirkmichael in Banffshire reported a Gaelic weather saying about the first three days of winter, which began at Hallowtide.
Souling in Staffordshire No longer kept StaffordshireTollett noted that on All Saints' Day the poor of Staffordshire went from parish to parish souling, begging and singing for soul cakes or anything else to make them merry.
Seed cake at Allhallows No longer kept WarwickshireBrand's servant, a Warwickshire man, told him that in that county a seed cake was had at Allhallows, marking the end of wheat sowing.
Dole bread in Monmouthshire No longer kept MonmouthshireBritton wrote in his Cathedral Antiquities that in Monmouthshire the poorer people, Catholic and Protestant alike, went begging bread for the souls of the dead on All Saints' Day.
The All Saints’ triplets Lore and belief WalesA correspondent signing himself Gwilym Sais sent Hone seven triplets for the first of November, the Welsh Calan Gaeaf, from William Owen Pughe's translations of the elegies of Llywarch Hen.
All-Hallowtide revels at the Middle Temple No longer kept LondonThe young lawyers of the Middle Temple counted All-Hallowtide as the start of Christmas, and in the reign of Charles I they chose a Master of the Revels for the season.

The Cheshire souling song

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