ST. MICHAEL'S CAKE OR BANNOCK.

MARTIN, in his Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, p. 213, speaking of the Protestant inhabitants of Skie, says, "They observe the festivals of Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, and that of St. Michael's. Upon the latter they have a cavalcade in each parish, and several families bake the cake called St. Michael's Bannock." In the same work, p. 100, speaking of Kilbar village, he observes: "They have likewise a general cavalcade on St. Michael's Day, in Kilbar village, and do then also take a turn round their church. Every family, as soon as the solemnity is ended, is accustomed to bake St. Michael's Cake, and all strangers, together with those of the family, must eat the bread that night."

In Macauley's History of St. Kilda, p. 82, we read: "It was, till of late, an universal custom among the islanders, on Michaelmas-day, to prepare in every family, a loaf of cake of bread, enormously large, and compounded of different ingredients. This cake belonged to the archangel, and had its name from him. Every one in each family, whether strangers or domestics, had his portion of this kind of shew-bread, and had, of course, some title to the friendship and protection of Michael." He adds, "In Ireland a sheep was killed in every family that could afford one, on the same anniversary; and it was ordained by law that a part of it should be given to the poor. This, as we gather from Keating's General History of Ireland, ii. 12, and a great deal more, was done in that kingdom to perpetuate the memory of a miracle wrought there by St. Patrick, through the assistance of the archangel. In commemoration of this, Michaelmas was instituted a festal day of joy, plenty, and universal benevolence."

The following very extraordinary septennial custom at Bishops Stortford, in Hertfordshire, and in the adjacent neighbourhood, on Old Michaelmas-day, I find in a London newspaper, Oct. 18, 1787: "On the morning of this day, called Ganging-day, a great number of young men assemble in the fields, when a very active fellow is nominated the leader. This person they are bound to follow, who, for the sake of diversion, generally chooses the route through ponds ditches, and places of difficult passage. Every person they

meet is bumped, male or female; which is performed by two other persons taking them up by their arms, and swinging them against each other. The women in general keep at home at this period, except those of less scrupulous character, who, for the sake of partaking of a gallon of ale and a plumcake, which every landlord or publican is obliged to furnish the revellers with, generally spend the best part of the night in the fields, if the weather is fair; it being strictly according to ancient usage not to partake of the cheer anywhere else."

ST. FAITH, VIRGIN AND MARTYR.

[On St. Faith's-day, Oct. 6th, a very curious love charm is employed in the north of England. A cake, of flour, springwater, salt, and sugar, must be made by three maidens or three widows, and each must have an equal share in the composition. It is then baked before the fire in a Dutch oven, and all the while it is doing, silence must be strictly observed, and the cake must be turned nine times, or three times to each person. When it is thoroughly done, it is divided into three parts, each one taking her share, and cutting into nine slips, must pass each slip three times through a wedding-ring, previously borrowed from a woman who has been married at least seven years. Then each one must eat her nine slips as she is undressing, and repeat the following verses:

"O good St. Faith, be kind to-night,
And bring to me my heart's delight;
Let me my future husband view,
And be my visions chaste and true."

Then all three must get into one bed, with the ring suspended by a string to the head of the couch; and they will be quite sure to dream of their future husbands.]

ST. ETHELBURGH'S DAY.

OCTOBER 11.

IN Fosbroke's British Monachism, ii. 127, mention occurs amidst the annual store of provision at Barking Nunnery, of I wheat and milk for frimité upon St. Alburg's Day."

66

ST. LUKE'S DAY.

OCTOBER 18.

DRAKE tells us in his Eboracum, p. 219, that "St. Luke's Day is known in York by the name of Whip-dog-day, from a strange custom that schoolboys use here of whipping all the dogs that are seen in the streets that day. Whence this uncommon persecution took its rise is uncertain: yet, though it is certainly very old, I am not of opinion, with some, that it is as ancient as the Romans. The tradition that I have heard of its origin seems very probable, that in times of Popery a priest, celebrating mass at this festival, in some church in York, unfortunately dropped the pax after consecration, which was snatched up suddenly and swallowed by a dog that lay under the altar-table. The profanation of this high mystery occasioned the death of the dog, and a persecution began, and has since continued, on this day, to be severely carried on against his whole tribe in our city."

[The following curious extract is taken from the second part of Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open: 'The next which entered the room was Margaret, the miller's maid, who, after making a low curtesy, and giving Mother Bunch the time of the day, desired to know for what reason she sent her a letter. 66 Why," quoth the old woman, "that I might reveal to you some secrets that are both relative and conducive to love, which I have never yet discovered to the world." But, mother," said Margaret, "I am a meer stranger to love, for I never knew what it meant." "That may be,' quoth she; "yet you know not how soon you may receive the arrows of Cupid, and then you'll be glad of my advice; for

I know the best of you desires to lie with a man, and I'll appeal to you if you would not be glad of a husband." "Mother," quoth Margaret, "you come too close to the matter, and if I may speak my mind, I'd willingly embrace such a one; for although housekeeping is chargeable, yet marriage is honourable." "Thou say'st well, daughter," quoth Mother Bunch," and if thou hast a mind to see the man, follow my directions, and you shall not fail. Let me see, this is St. Luke's Day, which I have found by long experience to be fitter for this purpose than St. Agnes's, and the ingredients more excellent. Take marigold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme, and a little wormwood; dry them before a fire, rub them to powder, then sift it thro' a fine piece of lawn; simmer these with a small quantity of virgin honey in white vinegar, over a slow fire; with this anoint your stomach, breast, and lips lying down, and repeat these words thrice:

"St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me;

In dreams let me my true love see!"

This said, hasten to sleep, and in the soft slumber of your night's repose, the very man whom you shall marry will appear before you, walking to and fro, near your bedside, very plain and visible to be seen. You shall perfectly behold his visage, stature, and deportment; and if he be one that will prove a loving husband, he will approach you with a smile; which, if he does, do not seem to be over fond or peevish, but receive the same with a mild and modest blush. But if it be one, who after marriage will forsake thy bed to wander after strange women, he will offer to be rude and uncivil with thee."]

ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE'S DAY.

OCTOBER 28.

Ir appears that St. Simon's and St. Jude's Day was accounted rainy as well as St. Swithin's, from the following passage in the old play of the Roaring Girls: "As well as Ĭ

know 'twill rain upon Simon and Jude's Day." And again : "Now a continual Simon and Jude's rain beat all your feathers as flat down as pancakes." And we learn from Holinshed that, in 1536, when a battle was appointed to have been fought upon this day, between the king's troops and the rebels, in Yorkshire, that so great a quantity of rain fell upon the eve thereof as to prevent the battle from taking place. In the Sententiæ Rythmics of J. Buchlerus, p. 390, I find the following observations upon St. Simon and St Jude's Day:

"Festa dies Judæ prohibet te incedere nude,

Sed vult ut corpus vestibus omne tegas.
Festa dies Judæ cum transiit atque Simonis
In foribus nobis esse putatur hiems.

Simonis, Judæ post festum væ tibi nude,

Tunc inflant genti mala gaudia veste carenti."I

[On this day take an apple, pare it whole, and take the paring in your right hand, and standing in the middle of the room, say the following verse:

"St. Simon and Jude, on you I intrude,
By this parting I hold to discover,
Without any delay, to tell me this day

The first letter of my own true lover."

Turn three times round, and cast the paring over your left shoulder, and it will form the first letter of your future husband's surname, but if the paring breaks into many pieces, so that no letter is discernible, you will never marry; take the pips of the same apple, put them into spring water and drink them. Why this latter injunction my informant sayeth not.]

1 In the Runic Calendar, St. Simon and St. Jude's Day was marked by a ship, on account of their having been fishermen. Wormii Festi Danici, lib. ii. c. 9. "A la Saint Simon et Saint Jude on envoi au temple les gens un peu simple, demander des nefles" (medlars), "afin de les attraper et faire noircir par des valets."-Sauval, Antiq. de Paris, tom. ii. p. 617.