“For many years past the last day in January has been observed in Newark as a raffling day for oranges in the market-place. On Monday last application was made to Mr. Superintendent Riddell, at the Post Office, as to whether the practice would be allowed this year as usual. He advised them to apply to the sitting magistrates, and upon doing so Mr. Wallis (deputy clerk) read to them the Act of Parliament, which stated that they would be liable to three months’ hard labour if they raffled. The applicants said they believed there was some old charter which gave them the privilege in Newark for raffling on that day, but they were told the Act of Parliament made no exceptions, and the magistrates said they could not give them permission to break the law. On Monday, therefore, no raffling took place, and we may regard the practice as finally put an end to, which will be a matter of great satisfaction to many.--See, _Every Day Book_, vol. ii. p. 161. OXFORDSHIRE. By the common people, the Saturday preceding Shrove Tuesday is called Egg Saturday. This name is employed as a date by Anthony à Wood: “One hundred and ninety-two bachelors to determine this Lent, but twenty-three or thereabouts were not presented on Egg Saturday.”--_Med. Ævi Kalend._ vol. i. p. 158. _Lives of Leland, Hearne, and Wood_, 1772, vol. ii. p. 297. FEB. 1.] CANDLEMAS EVE. On Candlemas Eve was kindled the _yule-brand_, which was allowed to burn till sunset, when it was quenched and carefully laid by to _teend_ (i.e. light) the Christmas clog or log at the next return of the season. Thus Herrick, _Hesperides_, p. 337, says: “Kindle the _Christmas Brand_, and then Till sunne-set let it burne; Which quencht, then lay it up agen Till Christmas next returne. Part must be kept wherewith to teend The _Christmas Log_ next yeare; And where ’tis safely kept, the fiend Can do no mischiefe there.” The rosemary, the bay, the ivy, the holly, and the mistletoe, the Christmas decorations of hall and cottage, were now pulled down, when, according to the popular superstition, not a branch, nor even a leaf, should be allowed to remain. “Down with the _Rosemary_ and so Down with the _Baies_ and the _Misleto_: Down with the _Holly, Ivie, all Wherewith ye dress the Christmas Hall_: That so the superstitious find _No one least branch there left behind_: For look, _how many leaves_ there be Neglected there (maids trust to me), _So many goblins you shall see_.” Herrick (_Hesperides_, p. 361).