Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 3

by
John Small, Bell-man, Stamford, 1850, is the following:--
If Saint Paul's day be fair and clear,
It doth betide a happy year;
If
blustering winds do blow aloft,
Then wars will trouble our realm full
oft,
And if by chance to snow or rain,
Then will be dear all sorts of
grain.
FEBRUARY.

February fill dyke.
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.
Children used to go round the villages and city on this day and sing:
Good Morrow, Valentine;
Please to give me a valentine;
I'll be
yourn, if you'll be mine;
Good Morrow, Valentine.
Good 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