Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 3

Morrow, Valentine?First its yourn and then tis mine?So please give me a valentine.?Holly and ivy tickle my toe?Give me red apple and let me go.
Good Morrow, Valentine,?Parsley grows by savoury?Savoury grows by thyme?A new pair of gloves on Easter Day?Good Morrow, Valentine.
This was called going Valentining and some money or apples were given to the children.
In Peterborough and district sweet plum buns used to be made and were called Valentine Buns. They were given by Godparents to their Godchildren the Sunday before and the next Sunday after Valentine's Day.
MARCH.
March, many weathers.
John Clare says:
March month of "many weathers" wildly comes,?In hail and snow and rain, and threatening hums and floods.
March wind.
A wet March makes a sad harvest.
A March without water dowers the hind's daughter.
If March comes in smiling and gay
Saddle your horses and go and buy hay.
March, Hic, Hac, Ham'?Comes in like a lion?And goes out like a lamb.
If March comes in stormy and black, she carries the winter away on her back.
MOTHERING SUNDAY.
This is Midlent Sunday when it was the regular custom, and even now very general, for the children, especially those in service, to visit their parents on that day.
Children away from home write to their parents on Mothering Sunday if unable to get home.
A special kind of cake was made for this day.
PALM SUNDAY.
It is known as Fig Sunday as figs are eaten and a fig pudding is a regular dish on this day. There used to be a great display of figs in the Grocers' windows the week preceding Palm Sunday, but there is not such a show now.
GOOD FRIDAY.
On Good Friday, in 1904, I was reminded of an old custom by an old friend who was staying with me. When some hot cross buns were offered, he took one and told me to hold it with him and, whilst we were holding it together to repeat with him this couplet:--
Half for you half for me?Between us two good luck shall be.
When this was being said we broke the bun in two. This is said to cement friendship between the two who break the bun.
APRIL.
ST. MARK'S EVE.
Take three tufts of grass plucked from a Churchyard, place them under your pillow and repeat aloud:--
Let me know my fate, whether weal or woe?Whether my rank's to be high or low,?Whether to live single or be a bride,?And the destiny my star doth provide.
If this is done one dreams of the future.
When April blows his horn?'Tis good for hay and corn.
April showers make May flowers.
26th April was called Break Day. The Fen Commons were broke or opened by turning in stock.
MAY.
The May Day Garlands are of various forms. Those in Peterborough are formed of two hoops fastened together to form a globe and a stick or stave through the centre. The hoops are decorated with flowers and ribbons, and when the children possess one, the best doll is fixed on the stick inside the garland. Two girls carry the garland which is carefully covered with a white cloth. This is lifted at the houses and the wondrous garland is exposed whilst the children sing the following song, which is the favourite May Day song in the City. A friend has kindly given me the music and words which she wrote on the 1st May, 1904: from the children's performance:
[Illustration: Music]
I.
Good morrow, Lords and Ladies?It is the first of May,?We hope you'll view our garlands,?They are so bright and gay.
Chorus--To the green woods we will go,
To the green woods we will go,
To the green woods we will go,
To the green woods we will go.

II.
This bunch of May it looks so gay,?Before your door it stands;?It is but a sprout, but it's well spread out?By the work of our Lord's hands.
Chorus--To the green woods, etc.
III.
The Cuckoo sings in April,?The Cuckoo sings in May,?The Cuckoo sings in June;?In July she flies away.
Chorus--To the green woods, etc.
IV.
I'm very glad the Spring has come,?The sun shines out so bright;?The little birds upon the trees?Are singing for delight.
Chorus--To the green woods, etc.
V.
The roads are very dusty,?Our shoes are very thin;?We have a little money box?To put our money in.
Chorus--To the green woods, etc.
The Garlands are carried round on 1st May and on Old May Day.
The Huntingdonshire Garlands are usually of a pryamidical form of flowers and streamers, surmounted by a doll.
The frontispiece of May garland at Glatton is a copy of a water colour drawing by the Rev. E. Bradley (Cuthbert Bede) when living there in 1856.
In the earlier part of the last century it was