Months and Days. *7 by the Saxons «Wyn Monath," or Wine night long, bees to sing in their hives, and bread baked on this eye never to grow moul * 4. St! Francis of Assist, founder of the Friar dy. The Christmas Tree has extended from Minors, one of the most celebrated of all the Germany into all Christian lands. "Snap saints of the Roman Church. dragon" has been handed down from time 9. St. Denis or DUmysius, first Bishop of immemorial as a Christmas sport. "The Paris and Patron Saint of France, Mummers" still go their rounds in remote "St. George he was for England, parishes in England. The "Waits" play for St. Denis was for France, two or three weeks, terminating their la- Singing Honi soft qui mal yperue." bourson Christmas Eve. 25. tit. Crispin's Day: Patron Saint of Shoe 25. Christmas Day: The greatest festival makers, who still in many places celebrate of the year. The only one in which Friday che day with great festivities. may be kept as a feast instead of a fast. 31.' Hallowe'en, or All Hallows Eve: Among the Goths and Saxons called Jul or Thought to be the time above all others Yule, most probably from giul or hiul, the when supernatural influences are most wheel or turning point of the year. It was abroad. Celebrated all over the United considered particularly lucky when Christ Kingdom with games and trying of charms, mas fell on a Sunday, and the reverse when eating of nuts and apples, &c. it fell on Saturday. In Devonshire it is be lieved that if the sun shines bright at noon NOVEMBER. on Christmas Day, a plentiful crop of,apples may be expected. The Christmas Carols Ninth month in the Latin year, styled by sung on Christmas Eve, and the early the Saxons Wint-Monat or " Wind Month?' morning of Christmas Day are among the and also Blat Monath or bloody month, from most beautiful features of its celebration in it being customary in this month to slaugh England, Christmas charities are largely ter cattle for winter use. dispensed, and in olden times it was cus I. All Saints' Day. Great Earthquake at tomary to extend these to the animals. The Lisbon in 1755. "Boar's Head" was formerly the foremost • 2. All Souls' Day: Celebrated in the Ro dish on the board at Christmas. It was mish Church by offering Prayers and Masses brought in with a great flourish of trumpets, in behalf of souls in Purgatory. &c. Next in importance came the Peacock, 5. Gunpowder Plot* Landing of William Geese, Capons and Pheasants helped to fur of Orange at Torbay. nish, ' and furmeties were indispensable 9. Lord Mayor's Day: The new Mayor of Mince Pies were popular as early as the six London goes in procession through London teenth century, and plum pottage was the to Westminster, to be sworn in. precursor of the Christmas pudding. At II. Martinmas Day: St. Martin, Bishop Glastonbury a famous Thorn treo was said of Tours, sometimes styled the Apostle to always to blossom the second time on Christ the Gauls. Patron Saint of Tavern keepers, mas Day. In Withering's " British Plants" Vintners,
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