Every Easter Tuesday, in pursuance of an ancient custom, the boys of Christ’s Hospital, London, pay a visit to the Mansion House, and receive from the Lord Mayor the customary Easter gifts. On reaching the Mansion House, they march into the Egyptian Hall, and on passing the Lord Mayor, receive a gratuity in coins fresh from the mint. To the fifteen Grecians a guinea each is given; nine probationers, half-a-guinea; forty-eight monitors, half-a-crown; and the ordinary scholars, one shilling each. Each boy also before leaving receives a glass of wine and two buns. The boys wear linen badges on their coats, on which the words “He is risen” are inscribed. After this ceremony, the Lord Mayor and the rest of the civic authorities go in the customary state to Christ Church, Newgate Street, where the second Spital sermon is preached. At this service the whole of the Christ’s Hospital boys attend.--See _Daily News_, April 12th, 1871, and April 3rd, 1872. NORTHUMBERLAND. Holly-bussing, says a writer in the _Newcastle Express_ (April 16th, 1857), is a vernacular expression for a very ancient custom celebrated at Netherwitton, the origin of which is unknown. On Easter Tuesday the lads and lasses of the village and vicinity meet, and, accompanied by the parish clerk, who plays an excellent fiddle, the inspiring strains of which put mirth and mettle in their heels, proceed to the wood to get holly; with which some decorate a stone cross that stands in the village while others are “bobbing around” to “Speed the Plough” or “Birnie Bouzle.” MARCH 25.] LADY DAY. The _Festival of the Annunciation_ commemorates in the Christian world the message of the Angel to the Virgin Mary: hence it was anciently called St. Mary’s Day in Lent, to distinguish it from other festivals in her honour: “Seinte Marie Daye in Leynte, among All other dayes gode, Is ryt for to holde heghe He so [whoso] bein vnderstode.” Harl. MS. Codex 2277, fol. i. All the festivals of the Virgin are properly Lady Days, but this falling in Lent, and being the first quarter day for rents and other payments, readily became Lady Day _par excellence_. Otherwise considered, it is simply an abridgment of “Our Lady Day the Annunciation,” as we find it written in the reign of Henry the Sixth. Some old customs on paying quarterly rents are noticed in Gascoigne’s _Flowers of Poesie_, 4to, 1575: And when the tenantes come to paie their quarter’s rent, They bring some fowle at Midsummer, a dish of fish in Lent, At Christmasse a capon, at Michaelmasse a goose, And somewhat else at New Yeare’s tide for feare their lease flie loose.” --_Med. Ævi Kalend._ vol. i. p. 206; Forster, _Perenn. Calend._ 1841, p. 515. HERTFORDSHIRE.