At Great Gransden on the evening or night preceding May-day, the young men (farmers’ servants) go and cut the May or hawthorn boughs, which they bring home in bundles, and leave some at almost every house, according to the numbers of young persons in it, singing what they call _The Night Song_. On the evening of May-day, and the following evenings, they go round to every house where they left a bough, and sing the _May Song_. One is dressed with a shirt over his other clothes, and decorated with ribbons, and is called the _May Lord_, another in girls’ clothes, is called the _May Lady_, or _Mary_. One has a handkerchief on a pole or stick as a flag, whose business is to keep off the crowd. The rest have ribbons in their hats. The money collected is spent in a feast of plum cake, bread and cheese, and tea. LANCASHIRE. The evening before May-day is termed “Mischief Night” by the young people of Burnley and the surrounding district, when all kinds of mischief are perpetrated. Formerly shop-keepers’ sign-boards were exchanged: “John Smith, Grocer,” finding his name and vocation changed, by the sign over his door, to “Thomas Jones, Tailor,” and _vice versâ_; but the police have put an end to these practical jokes. Young men and women, however, still continue to play each other tricks by placing branches of trees, shrubs, or flowers under each others’ windows, or before their doors. All these have a symbolical meaning, as significant, if not always as complimentary, as “the Language of Flowers.” Thus “a thorn” implies “scorn;” “wicken” (the mountain ash), “my dear chicken;” “a bramble,” for one who likes to ramble, &c. Much ill-feeling is at times engendered by this custom.--Harland and Wilkinson, _Lancashire Folk Lore_, 1867, p. 239; see _N. & Q. 1st S._ vol. v. p. 580; _4th S._ vol. vii. p. 525.