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, <fec. (edition 1818), this second flowering on "And Martinmas beef doth bear good Christmas Day is described. tack, 26. St. Stephen's Day: A strange supersti­ When country folk do dainties lack." tion was that horses this day should be well 22. St. Cecilia's Day: Patroness of Music, galloped and then bled, to insure them especially Church Music. against disease for the following year. 30. St. Andrew's Day: Patron Saint of "Christmas Boxes" are collected on this Scotland. Kept by Scotchmen all over the day by postmen, dustmen, <fcc., &c, and the world. new Pantomime is produced in the evening. 27. St. John the Evangelist. A custom used DECEMBER. to prevail on this day of obtaining supplies , Tenth month in the old Roman Calendar, of hallowed wine, which was used in the u Winter-Monat'' or Winter Month among manufacture of manchets, or little loaves, the Saxons. Afterwards changed to "Holy an antidote against poison for the ensuing Month?' on account of Christmas coming in year. it. 28. Innocents'Day: Childermas Day. I 6. St. Nicholas Day: Patron of the Rus­ used to be reckoned especially unlucky to sian nation, guardian of virgins, children, marry on this day, and no one would begin snilor3 and pari-.h cle/ks. any piece of work on it. In Cornwall, even : 14. Death of the Prince Consort, 1861. now housewives will not scour or scrub on 21. St. Thomas Day: The shortest day in the day. It was an old custom to whip all they<a;\ the children of a house on this morning, in "St. Thomas gray, St. Thomas gray, order that the memory of the day might be The longest night and the shortest day." the better fixed in their mind. < In some parts of England? poor'persons on 31. New Year's Eve: Hogmany. In Scot­ this day "goagooding," tnat is, make the land this day is observed in much the same round of the parish, getting good things for way as Christmas Eve in England. The the approaching least of Olirisimas. " Guisers " take the place of the " Mum­ 21. Christmas Eve. The hanging of the mers," the children sing songs instead of Mistletoe on this evening is a relic of Druid- carols, and receive gifts from the farmers. ism. The Yule Log is transmi tted from our The Old Year is let out and the New let in, Scandinavian ancestors. A Yule Candle of and peals of bells burst forth from every monstrous size accompanied it, and was steeple, "Ringing out the Old Year," and burned for the twelve nights of the Christ­ warning us another has commenced. mas festival. The cocks are said to crow all YEAR BOOK AND AUAANAQ QF CANARY ££>&J972* .