The stag at Durham on Holy-rood Day

14 September · Durham Cathedral, County Durham

No longer kept

A stag was once offered at the high altar of Durham Abbey on Holy Rood Day while horns were wound in the church. Brockett knew the custom from a lament printed by Ritson on the death of Sir Robert de Nevill, Lord of Raby, in 1282, which laments that the lord who always blew the horns on Holy Rood Day now lies dead.

alluding to an ancient custom, of offering a stag at the high altar of Durham Abbey on Holy-rood-day, accompanied with the winding of horns.

From Brockett's Glossary of North Country Words, p. 29. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

The passion flower for Holy Rood Lore and belief EnglandThe passion flower, blooming about Holy Rood Day, was taken to show the signs of the Cross whose feast fell on 14 September.
Fools Fair at Lincoln No longer kept LincolnshireA cattle fair held in the Broad Gate at Lincoln on 14 September was known as Fools Fair.
The Holy Rood Buck in Richmond Park No longer kept SurreyOn Holy Rood Day the king's huntsmen hunted their free buck in Richmond New Park with bloodhounds.
The Rood of Grace No longer kept KentThe crucifix at Boxley Abbey, the Rood of Grace, drew pilgrims because its figure of Christ moved its eyes, lips and head.
The Eton Nutting Holiday No longer kept BuckinghamshireAn old manuscript about Eton recorded that on a certain day in September, most likely Holy Rood Day, the scholars had a holiday to go out and gather nuts.
Nutting on Holy Rood Day No longer kept EnglandHoly Rood Day, the feast of the Holy Cross, was the day for going out to gather nuts in the hazel woods.

The stag at Durham on Holy-rood Day

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