West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-04-25
MAY.DAY CUSTOMS.

Though May-pole and Morris dancing
curious customs in different parts of Great
Britain. In one place, the Mayors went
out very early to the woods, gathering
green bougEs, decorated every door with
one. A house containing sweetheart had
a branch of birch, the door of scold was
dsgraced with alder, and a slathernly per-
son had the modification to find branch
of nut-tree at hers, while the young peo-
pie who oversight found their doors closed
by nail over the latch.
In the Scottish Highlands, in the eigh-
teenth century, the boys had a curious
custom. They would 60 to the moors out
side Of the town, make round table In the
sod by cutting trench around it, deep
enough for them to sit down to their grassy
table. On this table they would kindle a fire
and cook custard of eggs and milk, and
knead cake of oatmeal which was toasted
by the fire. After eating the custard, the
cake was cut into as many parts as there
were boys, one piece was made black with
coal, and then all put into cap. Each boy
was in turn blindfolded, and made to take a
peice, and the one who selected the black
or they wished to ask for their harvest. The
victim in that day had only to leap through
the fire; but there is little doubt that the
whole thing was survival from the days
when human beings were really sacrificed
! In the island of Lewis, in the west of
| Scotland, there prevails custom of send
| ing a man very early on May day to cross a
certain river, believing that if woman
crossed it first the salmon would not come
into the stream for year.
The Dutch May pole was still different
being surrounded by trees stuck in flower
pots, and ornamented with gay-colored
flags and hoops with garlands and gilt balls
hanging Another sort had wooden dolls
made to represent the figures of peasants,
nailed against the pole by their hands and
knees, as though climbing it. There were
also figures of birds and people. In
parts of fGermany it was firm belief of COM
met on a high mountain ON May-day to
dance and feast, with no good intentions to
their human neighbors. Accordingly on
| the day before, every family was careful to
have thorn of certain kind, which was
| stuck into the door as protection.
The Scandinavian, whose first of May is
not very balmy, had Of old curious fight
between Summer and Winter. Winter-or
the man representing him-was dressed in
SKINS armed with fire forks, and threw
snow balls and peices of ice. Summer was
dressed in green leaves and summer dress.
They had a mock fight which was called
| "Driving away Winter and welcomeing
Summer" and in the Isle of Man, where
| Norwegians had rule for many years, this
custom fingered until very lately.
But, as the years went on, these merry
games died out, and few years ago May
day was in Londen simply the festival of
chimney-sweeps and m milk-maids, certainly
a falling off from the times of King Henry
| VIII. The only traces of The old custom
of going "a Maying were the garlands of the
milk maids and the Jack in the green of the
sweeps. The garland $50 called)was made
of silver plate, borrowed for the day, and
fastened upon sort of pyramid. Accom-
panying this droll garland were the maids
themselves in gay dress, with ribbons and
flowers. and attended by musicians who
played for them to dance in the street.
Sometimes COW was dressed in festive
array, with bouquets and ribbons on hel
horns neck and tail, and over her back net
stuck full of flowers. Thus highly orna-
mented, the meek creature was led through
the streets.
The sweeps brought out the Jack in the
green, which was tall cone made of greer
boughs, decorated with flowers, gay stream
ers and flag. and carried by man inside
Each of these structures was followed by a
band of sweeps who assumed certain char
acters, the fashion of which had been han
ded down from the palmy times of May
day.
There were always lord and lady wh'
wore ridiculous limitations of fashionabl
, dress, and made ludicrous auuempta tn imi
tate elegant manners. Mad Mol and he
husband were another pair who tlourishe
in tawdy gay-colored rags, and tatters, b
brandishing a sweeps broom and she
ladle. Jim Grow and afancifully bedizene
ballet-dancer in white muslin, often swelle
the ranks, and the rest of the party rigge'
out in profuson of gilt paper, flowers, tir
sci and gewgaws, their faces and legs colore
with brick-dust, made up acomical crowd
But even these mild remains of the grea
, festival are almost entirely banished to th
$ rural districts, and are almost extine
} there.