MARCH 5.] ST. PIRAN’S DAY. CORNWALL. The tinners observe this day, says Hitchins in his _History of Cornwall_ (1844, vol. i. p. 725), as a holiday, which they call St. Piran’s Day. This, by a custom established from time immemorial, sanctions a suspension from all labour, because St. Piran is supposed to have communicated some important information relative to the tin manufacture. MARCH 8.] CARE SUNDAY. This day, the ancient _Passion Sunday_, is the fifth Sunday after Shrove Tuesday. The word _Care_, which is also applied to Christmas Cakes, has been a stumbling-block to etymologists. The following remarks respecting its derivation are taken from Hampson’s _Med. Ævi Kalend._ (1841, vol. i. p. 178):--T. Mareschall observes that the day on which Christ suffered, is called in German both _Gute Freytag_ and _Karr Freytag_, and that _Karr_ signified a satisfaction for a fine or penalty. Adelung speaking of _Charfreytag_ (_Care_ or _Carr_ Friday) and _Charwoche_ (_Care_ or _Carr-week_), observes that the first syllable is supposed to be the old _Cara_, preparation (_Zubereitung_), and that this week, conformably to the usage of the Jews, was called _Preparation Week_ (_Zubereitungswoche_) because the sixth day was _Preparation day_ (_Zubereitungstag_), when the Jews prepared themselves for Easter. Hence the Greeks called Carfriday, _Dies Parasceves_, of which the Gothic _Gartag_, or _Garfreytag_ is a translation. Tatian (Cap. 58) names the Friday before Easter “Garotag fora Ostrum,” and renders the phrase, “My heart is prepared,” “Karo ist mein herza.” Schiller’s opinion, however, that _Char_, _Kar_, signifies mourning, complaint, sorrow, has equal probability; for it appears from ancient manuscripts that _Car_ formerly bore the signification of _Care_ or grief, and in Sweden, where the fifth Sunday in Lent is denominated _Kaersunnutag_, the verb _Kæra_ is actually to lament, to complain. Dr. Jameson, adopting the opinion of Mareschall, observes, “This name may have been imposed in reference to the satisfaction made by our Saviour. Some, however, understand it, as referring to the accusations brought against him on this day, from the Sueo-Gothic _Kæra_, to complain.”--_Etymol. Dict._, Art. _Care Sunday_. On this day, in the northern counties, and in Scotland, a custom obtains of eating _Carlings_, which are grey peas, steeped all night in water, and fried the next day with butter: “There’ll be all the lads and lassies Set down in the midst of the ha’, With sybows, and ryfarts, and _carlings_ That are bath sodden and raw.” Ritson’s _Scottish Songs_, vol. i. p. 211.