The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
Mr. Reddock’s paper on this subject, at page 13. has elicited the
following letter from a literary gentleman, concerning a dramatic
representation in England similar to that which Mr. Reddock instances at
Falkirk, and other parts of North Britain. Such communications are
particularly acceptable; because they show to what extent usages
prevail, and wherein they differ in different parts of the country. It
will be gratifying to every one who peruses this work, and highly so to
the editor, if he is obliged by letters from readers acquainted with
customs in their own vicinity, similar to those that they are informed
of in other counties, and particularly if they will take the trouble to
describe them in every particular. By this means, the _Every-Day Book_
will become what it is designed to be made,--_a storehouse of past and
present manners and customs_. Any customs of any place or season that
have not already appeared in the work, are earnestly solicited from
those who have the means of furnishing the information. The only
condition stipulated for, as absolutely indispensable to the insertion
of a letter respecting _facts_ of this nature, is, that the name and
address of the writer be communicated to the editor, who will subjoin
such signature as the writer may choose his letter should bear to the
eye of the public. The various valuable articles of this kind which
have hitherto appeared in the work, however signed by initials or
otherwise, have been so authenticated to the editor’s private
satisfaction, and he is thus enabled to vouch for the genuineness of
such contributions.
_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._
Sir,
In your last number appeared a very amusing article touching some usages
and customs in Scotland, and communicated from Falkirk. In the
description of the boys’ play, ingeniously suggested as typical of the
Roman invasion under Agricola, we, however, read but a varied edition of
what is enacted in other parts besides Scotland, and more particularly
in the western counties, by those troops of old Father Christmas boys,
which are indeed brief chronicles of the times. I mean, those
paper-decorated, brick-dust-daubed urchins, ’yclept Mummers.
To be sure they do not begin,
“Here comes in the king of Macedon;”
but we have instead,
“Here comes old Father Christmas,
Christmas or Christmas not,
I hope old Father Christmas never will be forgot.”
And then for the Scottish leader Galgacus, we find,
“_Here comes in_ St. George, St. George
That man of mighty name,
With _sword and buckler by my side
I hope to win the game_.”
These “western kernes” have it, you see, Mr. Editor, “down along,” to
use their own dialect, with those of the thistle. Then, too, we have a
fight. Oh! how beautiful to my boyish eyes were their wooden swords and
their bullying gait!--then we have a fight, for lo
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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