Charles Dack - Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District
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Charles Dack >> Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District
It is also a saying that if the ice will bear a duck before Martlemas it
will not bear a goose all winter.
NOVEMBER.
When Winter comes in earnest to fulfil
His yearly task at bleak November's close.
Sybil of months, and worshipper of winds
I love thee, rude and boisterous as thou art. _Clare._
ST. CECILIA'S Day. NOV. 22.
The Lay Clerks of the Cathedral and friends used to be entertained by
the Dean and Chapter at a dinner at which a boiled leg of mutton was the
principal dish. After dinner songs and glees were sung.
ST. CATHERINE'S DAY, NOV. 25TH.
The female children belonging to the Workhouse were dressed in white,
trimmed with coloured ribbons, and went in a procession headed by the
Workhouse Master and the tallest girl who wore a crown of gilt paper and
carried a sceptre and distaff. They stopped at the houses of the
principal inhabitants and sang this song. Money was given them and they
had rump steak and onions for dinner, and a tea party, and games in the
evening:
Here comes Queen Katrin as fine as any Queen,
With a coach and six horses a coming to be seen,
And a spinning we will go, will go, will go,
And a spinning we will go.
Some say she is alive, and some say she is dead,
And now she does appear with a crown upon her head,
And a spinning we will go, etc.
Old Madam Marshall she takes up her pen
And then she sits and calls for all her royal men.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
All that want employment though spinning is but small,
Come list and don't stand still, but go and work for all.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
If we set a spinning we will either work or play,
But if we set a spinning we can earn a crown a day.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
And if there be some young men, as I suppose there's some,
We'll hardly let them stand alone upon the cold, cold, stone.
And a spinning we will go.
Spinning was the employment for the females in the old Work house, and
in the Dean and Chapter's accounts of payments there are entries of
payments on St. Catherine's Day for wheels and reels for the children of
the Workhouse.
DECEMBER.
ST. ANDREW'S DAY.
December 11th, commonly called "Tander," used to be kept by the
Lace-makers as a feast day. St. Andrew was their Patron Saint. On that
day men and women used to go about dressed in each other's clothes, and
calling at various houses and drinking hot elder wine. On this day the
Morris Dancers or Mummers began their visits. There were from four to
eight people who took part in the Mummery. The King, Beelzebub, Doctor,
Doctor's man and Jack, the fool. Sometimes one took the part of the
Doctor's horse and the Doctor made his entry riding on the horse, who
was on his hands and knees but he generally had a small stool in his
hands to make him a little higher, when moving about. This is described
in Old Customs.
On St. Andrew's Day it was a custom called "Tander" at Easton on the
Hill, about 12 miles from Peterborough, and other places, of the boys
locking the village Schoolmaster out of School and demanding the rest of
the day as a holiday, before the door was reopened. If the Schoolmaster
could obtain an entrance to the School before giving his consent, the
holiday was not given.
ST. THOMAS'S DAY, 21ST DECEMBER.
The practice of women going Gooding is fast passing away. Very few bands
of women are seen now in the towns, but at Farcet last year (1910) the
widows received about two shillings each for their share.
CHRISTMAS.
For a few weeks before Christmas Day the Waits and Singers still come
round during the night time and on Boxing Days they call for their
Christmas Boxes. The singers have now degenerated into two or three
children who huddle together on the doorsteps of houses and sing through
the keyhole and letter box as fast and as loud as they can utter the
various hymns of which, "When shepherds watched their flocks by night."
As soon as they receive a halfpenny away they trot to the next house to
repeat the performance.
A Green Christmas makes a fat Churchyard.
If a Christmas Day on a Thursday be,
A windy winter we shall see.
If the sun shines on Christmas day for however short a time, the
following year will be good for fruit.
INNOCENTS DAY, DECEMBER 28TH.
Called "Dyzemass Day," it is considered very unlucky to begin anything
on this day and about sixty or seventy years ago many old people kept
this day more sacred than an ordinary Sunday.
COUNTRY DANCES.
In the old County families the Christmas or New Year's dances in which
tenants and servants all united together are still kept up in this
district and anticipated and enjoyed as heartily as ever. The up-to-date
dances are divided by the old Country dances which go with a vim and are
enjoyed by all. In these dances the Master, Mistress, family and friends
dance with the servants to the mutual good will and good feeling of all
concerned. The dance is generally opened by a Country dance in which the
Lady has the Butler for a partner and the Master the Housekeeper, and it
is generally a handsacross and down the middle so that everyone meets
during the dance. "The triumph" is a great favourite and opens with the
lady being taken down the centre by the gentleman next to her partner
who follows them to the bottom of the room and the two bring her back,
each holding her by one hand and their other hands clasped and held over
the ladys head with a very pretty effect.
"La Tempete" for noise and merriment takes a lot of beating and would
suit the modern dancing as it partakes more of a romp than a dance.
The "Ribbon Dance" when each couple holds the end of a ribbon (red,
white, or blue). This is very pretty when the ribbons are held up in the
dance. There are many others which might be mentioned but space is
limited. Sir Roger de Coverley always closed the ball.
SEDAN CHAIRS.
A Sedan Chair used to be seen in the streets of Peterborough until the
early seventies. Certain old ladies would only go to Church or
entertainments in it because it was taken into the entrance of the house
or other place so that they could get in and out without being exposed
to the weather. The harness worn by one of the men is seen in
Peterborough Museum.
In 1905; for the first time within the recollection of the inhabitants
of Peterborough, St. John's Church Bells were not rung on Wyldbore's day
as the bell tower was not considered safe. The sermon was preached as
usual.
At the end of the sowing season a large "Siblet" or seed cake, was made
for the farm labourers who ate it, and drank success to the sowing in
home brewed ale or mead.
The Curfew Bell is still rung at the Minster from May 1st, to August
31st, at 8-50 p.m., and from September 1st, to April 30th, at 7-50 p.m.
It has only been discontinued for a short time and this was during the
Commonwealth, since it was first started.
FIT RINGS.
To cure fits:--If a female, she collects nine pieces of silver and nine
three half-pennies from bachelors. The silver money is made into a ring,
to be worn by the afflicted person and the half-pence is paid to the
maker of the ring for his work. If a male, he collects from females.
I knew an old silversmith who was in great request to make these rings.
He used to save broken silver spoons to make the rings but lately he
found out he could buy the rings ready made so he did not trouble to
make any afterwards.
WEDDING RINGS.
It is unlucky for a bride to reverse her wedding ring on her wedding
day.
If a bride can be persuaded to remove her ring and have some bride cake
passed through the ring, and the cake, so passed, put under the pillow,
the person will dream of her future spouse.
GAMES.
EARTH AIR AND WATER.
This was a favourite game at Christmas parties for forfeits. The players
sit all round the room, a small ball or a handkerchief tied up is then
thrown by the leader at one. After several feints so as to catch one not
watching and throw the ball at that one and shouting Earth Air, or
Water, and as soon as the word is said begins to count up to ten as fast
as possible. The person hit by the ball has to name a bird, beast, or
fish before ten has been counted or pays a forfeit. A name must not be
mentioned which has been used by another person as that also entails a
forfeit. It was not a game for a stammering person.
I LOVE MY LOVE.
This is another forfeit game. All sit round the room and one begins I
love my love with an A, because he is amiable, and everyone follows in
their turn by repeating the form and qualification, beginning with the
same letter as Active, Artful, &c. Anyone using the word which has been
used pays a forfeit. Then it goes round with the letter B and so on
through the alphabet.
The Quaker Wedding:--The leader goes round with his eyes looking on the
ground and sings "Hast thou ever been to a Quaker's Wedding."?
This is repeated until he or she stops before one of the party, who then
answers--Nay, friend, nay. The leader then says, "Do as I do, Twiddle
thy thumbs and follow me." The selected one follows the leader singing
the same words and both twiddling their thumbs. Then they are all got in
line facing one way and kneel together as close as possible. When all
are kneeling the leader gives a sly push to the one next to her and the
whole row fall over amidst great laughter. I have played this game at
Christmas time and it was sometimes fixed as a forfeit.
When playing a losing game at Cards, Dominoes, etc., the chair in which
the unlucky player is sitting should be turned (by the occupant) from
right to left, to change the luck. It has been thought that this turning
is a form of Sun Worship.
Crane.:--This game was generally played during the Harvest Home Feast.
"A man holds in his hand a long stick, with another tied to the top of
it, in the form of an L. reversed, which represents the long neck and
beak of the crane. This with himself, is entirely covered with a large
sheet. He mostly makes excellent sport as he puts the whole company to
the rout, pecking at the young girl's and old men's heads, nor stands he
upon the least ceremony in this character, but he takes the liberty to
break the master's pipe, and spill his beer, as freely as those of his
men." This mostly begins the night's diversions, as the prologue to the
rest, while the booted boys wind up the entertainment. _Clare._ Village
Minstrel.
HANDSELL.
It is still a custom if a child has anything new to wear, to handsell
it. That is to give a small coin to put in the pocket. The first money
received on the day is called taking Handsell, and some spit on it and
turn it to get good luck. When anything is used for the first time it is
handselled.
BOOT.
This was a kind of punishment for such boys as have carelessly neglected
their duty in the harvest, or treated their labour with negligence
instead of attention, as letting their cattle get pounded or
overthrowing their loads, etc. A long form is placed in the kitchen upon
which the boys who have worked well sit, as a terror and disgrace to the
rest in a bent posture, with their hands laid on each others backs
forming a hedge for the "boys," as the truant boys are called to pass
over; while a strong chap stands on each side with a boot-legging
strongly strapping them as they scuffle over the bridge, which is done
as fast as their ingenuity can carry them. _Clare's_ Village Minstrel.
Meeting eyebrows are lucky, and those having them are said to have
great luck with stock.
CUTTING NAILS.
Cut your nails on a Monday, cut for a gift.
Cut your nails on a Tuesday, cut them for thrift.
Cut your nails on a Wednesday, cut them for news.
Cut your nails on a Thursday, cut for a new pair of shoes.
Cut your nails on a Friday, cut them for sorrow,
Cut your nails on a Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow.
Cut them on Sunday, cut them for evil.
Cut them all the week round, and you'll go to the devil.
Better that child had ne'er been born,
Who cuts its nails on a Sunday morn.
Of a Friday's pare,
No good will come near.
If you cut your nails on Monday morning before breakfast, and without
thinking of a fox's tail, you will have a gift before the week is out.
When told this, I asked, Why not a fox's brush? "Oh, no!" was the reply,
"you may think of the brush but not the tail."
White specks on the nails are called gifts, and the rhyme says:--
A gift on the finger is sure to linger,
A gift on the thumb, is sure to come.
In this district many mothers will not allow their babie's nails to be
cut before they are a year old, but they bite the edges off. If the
nails are cut the children grow up thieves.
A new born babe, before being taken out of the house, should be carried
up some stairs, but if it is born in a room at the top of the house, the
nurse lifts it up and gets on a chair, and puts the child on the top of
something high, so that it may rise in the world.
If a pair of shoes are placed on the table a quarrel is sure to ensue.
This part of the county appears to possess more than the normal number
of senses. I have often heard people speak of their seven senses. Only a
short time ago a woman speaking of a neighbour who was a great sleeper,
and also of her child, said they would sleep away their seven senses.
And another woman who was startled said, "You're enough to frighten me
out of my seven senses." I should like to know what the two extra senses
are. Instinct may, perhaps, be one!
MARRIAGE.
Three times a bridesmaid, will die an old maid.
BRIDE'S DRESS.
Married in Grey, you will go far away.
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in Brown, you will live out of town.
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead.
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl.
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in Blue, he will always be true.
Married in Pink, your spirits will sink.
Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday the best day of all.
Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday no luck at all.
Marry on Sunday so that you cannot repent before the week is out.
ANIMALS.
If a dog howls in front of a house it is a sign of a death very soon. If
a woman in the house takes off her left shoe and turns it upside down
and puts her foot on it the dog ceases howling. I know of one instance
where a dog howled in front of a house, and the mistress seeing and
hearing the dog took off her left shoe and put her foot on it. The dog
was in the midst of a howl, and he finished it with a yell and turned
away and ran from the house as fast as possible, but he returned very
soon and howled again. It was very strange, but an invalid visitor was
staying in the house, and he died exactly a week after the howling.
To be followed by a strange dog is lucky.
If a cat licks her foot and passes it over her left ear it is a sign
that a stranger will soon come.
When a cat lies with her tail turned to the fire it is a sign of hard
weather.
If a cat licks her tail it betokens rain.
A strange black cat brings good luck into a house.
When a cat is taken to a new home its feet should be buttered, and it
will stop.
If a cat has a cold and sneezes, all the people in the house will catch
it.
When Noah's Ark is seen in the sky it is a sign of much rain.
It is described by Clare as "a long dark cloud stretching across the
heavens, broad in the centre and tapering at each end, resembling the
figure of the ark, and supposed to foretell great floods. But it depends
on the direction of the ark. If it is from south to north it is a sign
of good weather, but if from east to west bad weather."
Rain before seven, clear up before eleven.
Rain water collected as it falls on Holy Thursday is very good for
diseases of the eye.
If it rains on St. Swithin's day it portends a good crop of apples.
Rain in the east, three days at least.
You should always wish when on strange ground.
If you shiver someone is walking over your grave. This means someone is
talking of your death.
If you have a toothache you don't love true.
Wounds and corns aching are signs of rain or frost.
Left cheek burning someone is speaking well of you,
Right cheek burning someone is speaking ill of you.
But if you bite your finger when your cheek burns the person speaking
ill of you will bite his or her tongue.
Right cheek, left friend,
Left cheek, right friend.
It is unlucky for a man to meet a cross-eyed woman, but the ill-luck is
broken if he spits on the opposite side to that by which he passes her.
To lay an umbrella on a bed is to bring disappointment to the occupant.
If a shirt, or any other garment, is put on inside out, it must remain
so all day and so avoid bad luck.
A Caul or Kell is the thin membrane which sometimes covers the face of
an infant at its birth, and is supposed to betoken good fortune.
Sometimes they are sold, and the general price used to be about three
guineas. Seafaring men would buy them as preservatives from drowning,
and also for good luck. In 1862 a poor woman wanted to sell one to my
mother for my welfare, and all sorts of good luck and fortune were to
belong to the possessor, but my mother would not speculate, so I lost
the chance.
When pricked by a thorn, and to prevent the wound from festing, the
following verse should be repeated:
Our Saviour was of a Virgin born,
His head was crowned with a crown of thorn,
It never cankered or festered at all,
And I hope in Christ Jesus this never shall.
When a wise woman, or anyone, is called in to attend and charm anyone,
the person to be operated upon must have an earnest belief that a cure
will be effected, and the words "Please" and "Thank you" must not be
used or the charm fails. In some cases the charmer blesses or hallows
cords or leather thongs which the patient wore tied round the neck.
WHOOPING COUGH.
On the 22nd January, 1908, two women were talking together in Long
Causeway. One asked the other how her child was? (It was suffering from
whooping cough). The mother replied, "No better. The other day Mrs. ----
told me to steal a bit of raw meat from a butcher's and cut a hole in
it, and put a lock of my hair in the hole and give it to a dog to eat. I
did it, but it is no better." I had previously heard this, but with the
difference that it should be a lock of the child's hair.
WASHING.
They who wash on a Monday have all the week to dry,
They who wash on a Tuesday are not so much awry,
They who wash on a Wednesday not so much to blame,
They who wash on a Thursday wash for shame,
They who wash on a Friday wash in need,
But they who wash on Saturday are sluts indeed.
It is unlucky to wash on "Good Friday." The legend says:--"A woman who
was washing when Our Lord was passing on his way to be crucified threw
some dirty water over him."
Two persons washing together in the same basin or bowl, or drying
themselves with the same towel, will very soon quarrel, but this may be
prevented by each making the sign of a cross with their finger-tips on
the surface of the water.
If, when washing, the soap slips from your hands and falls on the ground
you will hear of a death before the week is out.
If a woman has a fine day for washing the first time after Michaelmas
Day, she will have fine washing days all the year.
SNEEZING.
Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger, sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger,
sneeze on Wednesday get a letter, sneeze on Thursday, something better,
sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow, Saturday, see your true love
to-morrow.
To sneeze three times in succession, is a sign of a gift.
PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.
On July 26th, 1681, the Rev. John Wray, M.A., F.R.S., writes in his
diary:--
"We (Mr. Wray and Mr. Willoughby) began our journey northwards from
Cambridge, and that day, passing through Huntingdon and Stilton, we
rode as far as Peterborough, 25 miles. There I first heard the
Cathedral Service. The Choristers made us pay money for coming into
the choir with our spurs on."
BELLS.
Helpston cracked pippins,
And Northborough cracked pans,
Glinton fine Organs,
And Peakirk tin pans.
The Churches of Tansor and Cotterstock are not very far from each other.
Cotterstock has four bells, and Tansor only two. The villagers say that
the Cotterstock bells ask:
"Who rings the best? Who rings the best?"
and Tansor proudly and rapidly replies,
"We do, We do, We do, We do."
Tansor now possesses three bells, so their answer now is "We three do."
The Pancake bell is still rung regularly in Peterborough on Shrove
Tuesday.
The Gleaning bell is rung in the district.
In some Parishes a bell was tolled during the time of a corpse being put
in its shroud, and was called the "Winding Bell."
The Church Bells of Helpston, Northborough, Glinton, and Peakirk are
described as:--
PERSONAL.
A mole spot on the body, is considered lucky.
One with the mole on the neck, will gather money by the peck.
A mole on the left shoulder, betokens a drunken husband.
Right eye itching, sign of joy,
Left eye itching, sign of sorrow.
Right eye joy, left eye cry.
If your nose itches, you will kiss or shake hands with a fool.
Nose itching, going to hear news.
Rub it on wood and it's sure to come good.
Palm of right hand itching, you will receive money.
Left palm itching, you will pay money away.
If your knee itches, you will kneel in a strange Church.
If your foot itches, you will walk on strange ground.
FOLK LORE (3)
The moon, meek guardian of the night. _John Clare_ (unpub.)
To see the new moon for the first time through glass is unlucky
especially the first one in the year.
You should always turn the money in your pockets when you see the first
new moon in the year, and if one of the other sex is near an interchange
of kisses increases the good luck.
To see the new moon the first time over your right shoulder is lucky,
but if over the left shoulder it is unlucky.
The first new moon in the year is stronger in its influence than the
others.
If the new moon does not appear until the fourth day, it foretells a
troubled time for the whole month.
When the moon appears on the fourth day very clear and sharp and rather
on the slant, it promises mostly fair weather for the month.
An erect moon is said to threaten wind.
Near full moon a misty sunrise,
Bodes fair weather and cloudless skies.
When the clouds of the moon to the West fly away,
You may safely rely on a settled fair day.
When mountains and cliffs in the clouds appear,
Some sudden or violent showers are near.
Sun rising red and fiery foretells wind and rain. If cloudy and the
clouds decrease it is a sign of fair weather.
If after rising the sun goes to bed again (that is going behind clouds)
it is a sure sign of rain.
The evening red, the morning grey,
Are surely signs of a very fine day.
Children are told they may go and play in the fields, or open, when the
sun shines on both sides of the hedge.
A black cat following anyone into a home brings good luck.
Mice coming into a house indicate a death.
A mouse running over anyone is an infallible sign of death.
The squeaking of mice behind the bed of an invalid, or the appearance of
a white mouse running across a room, are also signs of death.
Pigs should be killed when the moon is on the rise.
If killed when the moon is waning the fat of the pork will shrink.
It is unlucky to bring a squirrel into a house.
The first time you see any lambs turn your money.
If their heads are turned towards you it is lucky, but if their tails it
is the reverse.
Moles work harder than general before rain.
A mole's foot carried in the pocket is a sure prevention against
witches.
BIRDS.
Crows foretell rain when they caw and walk along on the banks of rivers
and pools.
A crow alighting in front of anyone walking is unlucky.
Two crows bring good luck, and if they fly away over the person's head
it is very great good luck.
Four crows foretell a death in the person's family.
I was recently told that two crows alighting on a house betokens a
death, and a very peculiar instance was given. My informant told me that
his coat of arms bears three Choughs and the night before his father
died two crows sat on the window sill of his father's bedroom, and it
was remarked that one of the three birds being absent foretold the death
which occurred next day.
A bird flying into a house foretells a death.
A white pigeon is a bird of ill omen, and if after hovering about it
alights on a house it is a token of the death of one of the inmates.
A hen crowing is a sign of death.
When swallows fly low it foretells rain.