Months and Daps. 35 the end of the lesson, when he retires. This Shropshire, the labourers used to leave is supposed to have some reference to the their work and claim a holiday the rest of ancient custom of the of the Ass. the day. Mister Day; Old customs vary con­ 23. St. George?8 Day: The patron saint of siderably in different parts of England. Eggs England. He was held in great honour in are distributed among the peasantry in Lan­ England from a very early period, and is cashire. In some counties the custom of said to have appeared to Coeur de Lion be­ "lifting" is practised. On Easter Monday fore Acre as the precursor of victory. Sici­ the men lift the women, two men joining ly, Arragon, Valencia, Genoa, Malta, and their hands across the wrists and lifting her Barcelona also looked up to him as their aloft two or three times. On Easter Tues­ guardian saint, and several other nations day, the women return the compliment by besides the English have Orders of Knight­ lifting the men in the same manner. In hood in his honour. Duiham, on Easter Monday, the men take 25. St. Mark's Eve: In the North of En­ off the women's shoes, and on Tuesday the gland it is believed that if a person, on the women retaliate. Tansy cakes and tansy eve of St. Mark's, watch in the Church puddings are favorite dishes in many parts porch from eleven till one, he will see the at Easter.. In Devon, the clerk carries round ghosts of all who are to die in the ensuing to every house a few white cakes as an Eas­ year. St. Mark's Eve also enjoyed a large ter offering. In the Tyrol, bands of musi­ share of the privileges later accorded to cians traverse every valley, singing beautiful . At Alnwick, on St. Mark's Easter hymns to their guitars, calling the Day, persons who are to receive the privi­ people to the doors to join them in their cho­ lege of freemen of the common ride on horse­ ruses. Baskets of Easter eggs are ready pre­ back with great ceremony, dressed in pared by the good wives, to which the better white, to a large dirty pool on the border of farmers add wine, and the singers are regaled the common, and deliberately walk through in return for their carols. it, coming out dripping and begrimed with The three last days of March are called in mud; then hastily changing their clothes, Scotland " Borrowed Days." There is a pop­ they make a round of the common, and re­ ular notion that they were borrowed from turn into the town, where they are received April by March, with a view to the destruction by fantastically dressed women, and end by of a parcel of young sheep. Among the calling and drinking at each other's houses. Highlanders the borrowed days are reckoned The custom is said to date from a visit King uetween the 11th and 16th of February, and John paid to Alnwick. if these days prove fair, it is said there will be no more good weather that spring; if on the contrary they are stormy, it is accounted . a favorable sign for the ensuing year. The name was given in honour of the " Maiores," the Senute in the original Con­ stitution of Borne. Among the Saxons it APRIL. was called Tri-Milchi, from the cows being The name by some is supposed to be de­ now milked three times a day. Among the rived from the verb Aperio I open; by others old Romans, and the notion is still prevalent from the Greek Aphrilis, from Aphrodite- in Europe, it was thought unlucky to be Venus . The month was dedicated to Venus. married in May. In old England, May Day The Anglo-Saxons called it " Oster-Monath" used to be universally a day of festivity and —the month in whioh east winds prevailed, merry making, but few of the old customs and the term "Easter" probably comes from still survive. The chimney sweepers cele­ the same origin. bration is the only relic of them now left in 1. April Fool's Day; The practice of play­ London; but within the present century ing off practical jokes on this day is of very the milkmaids also had their celebration. ancient origin and of very general obser­ A milch cow, garlanded with flowers, was vance. Among the Hindoos the 31st of the principal object in their procession. In March, which terminates their Huli, is spent Scotland, the only relic of the old May Day exactly in the same way as our first of April. observances left is that of young women Hock Tide: A fortnight after Easter a pop­ going oat at aa early hour, to wash their ular anniversary used to be celebrated called faces in May dew. The custom of enthron­ Hock or Hoke tide, and occupied two days- ing the May Queen still survives in France, Monday and Tuesday, though Tuesday was and between Munich and Salzburg may be the principal day. The women went out in­ seen many villages each rejoicing in ite to all the streets and stopped and bound all May-pole. In some in .England the men they met, holding them till they little girls go about from house to house on purchased their release by a small contribu­ May morning, carrying garlands and sing­ tion of money. The money was given to the ing songs or carols. Church, and was usually applied to the re­ Rogation Days: called by the Saxons pairs of church buildings. Oange days, from gangen, to go. It was 14. Black Monday: On this day, 1380, King formerly the custom that on these days tli e Edward III, with his army, lay before Paris, people of a , headed by tne clergyman, and the day was dark with mist and hail, should walk about the parish, making its and so cold, that men died on their horses entire circuit, and then returning to the backs with cold; from which the day has Church to common prayer. The 103d Psalm got the name of Black Monday. was to be said, and the people to be admon­ 20. Cuckoo Day: There is a belief in Wor­ ished to give thanks to God. Refreshments cestershire, England, that the Cuckoo is ne­ were provided at different parts of the parish. ver heard before the 20th of April nor after The custom has been revived of late years in the 26th of June. In Norfolk, there is a many parishes. In Dorsetshire, on Rogation saying that whatever you are doing when Monday, a festival was held called the Be­ you first hear the Cuckoo, you will do most zant. It was an offering from the town of frequently of any thing during the year. Shaston to the Lord of the Manor, for the Another, that an unmarried person will re­ privilege of using his wells at Emmore main single as many years as the Cuckoo, Green. The Bezant was a sort of trophy when first heard, utters its call. There is a tour feet high, adorned with flowers and fea­ similar superstition among the Danes. In thers, on "which was hung jewels, coins, &c.

YEAR BOCK AND ALMANAC OF OANADA FOR 1872.