the cuckoo, being anxious to see it, are often very assiduous to obtain their gratification. But, as this bird changes its place so secretly and suddenly when they think they are just within reach of it, they hear it cry at a considerable distance. Thus they run from place to place, still finding themselves as far removed from their object as ever. Hence the phrase, "hunt the gowk," may have come to be used for any fruitless attempt, and particularly for those vain errors on which persons are sent on the 1st of April."* The custom of making April fools, seems to be a relic of a high and general pagan festival, at which the most unbounded hilarity prevailed; and, like many other of these periodical observances, seems to have an oriental parentage. Colonel Pearce has proved that it is an immemorial custom among the Hindoos, at a celebrated festival held in March, called the Huli, when mirth and festivity reign amongst every class, to send people on errands and expeditions that are to end in disappointment, and raise a laugh at the expense of the person sent. The last day of the Huli, is the general holiday. This festival is held in honour of the new year; and, as the year formerly began in Britain, about the same time, Maurice, in his Indian Antiquities, thinks that the diversions of the 1st day of April, both in Britain and India, had a common origin in the ancient celebration of the return of the vernal equinox, with festal rites.+

On St. George's Day (April 23d), there seems to have been an ancient custom in Britain, to decorate the statue of the patron saint, but this is no longer continued; and, in Reed's old plays (vol. xii.), there is an allusion to another habit, amongst people of fashion, of wearing blue coats on this day, "probably because blue was the national colour of Britain, over which St. George presides, and not in imitation of the clothing of the fields in blue, by the flowering of the blue bells, as some have supposed."-(Forster, p. 185.)

St. Mark's Eve (April 25th), is likewise fruitful in superstitions. In the northern parts of England, it is usual for the common people to sit and watch in the church porch, from eleven o'clock at night, till one in the morning. On the third year, for this must be done thrice, it is supposed they will see the ghosts of all those who are to die the next year pass by into the church. When any one sickens, who is thought to have been seen in this manner, it is presently whispered about that he will not recover, for that such a one, who has watched St. Mark's eve, says so. This superstition is in such force, that, if the patients themselves hear of it, they almost despair of recovery. Many

are said to have actually died by their imaginary fears on this occasion.

Another superstition, also of the north of England, is that of Ass-ridlin—the ashes being riddled or sifted on the hearth. Should any of the family die within the year, the mark of the shoe, it is supposed, will be impressed on the ashes; and many a mischievous wight has made some of the superstitious family miserable, by slily coming down stairs, after the rest of the family have retired to rest, and marking the ashes with the shoe of one of the party.

Pennant has also observed, that, in North Wales, no farmer dare hold his team on St. Mark's day, because, as they believe," one man's team was marked with the loss of an ox, which worked on this day."

A very ridiculous ceremony is likewise performed at Alnwick, in Northumberland→→→ it consists in leaping the well, or going through a deep and noisome pool, on Alnwick Moor, called the Freemen's well-a sine qua non to the freedom of the borough. On St. Mark's day, the aspirants proceed in great state, from the town to the moor, where they draw up in a body, at some distance from the water, and, on a signal being given, scramble through the mud with great labour and difficulty. Tradition says, that this strange and ridiculous custom, rendered more ludicrous by being performed in white clothing, was imposed by King John, who was bogged in this very pond.

The first of May, is a gala day with some of the classes of society in many countries, although, like most of the other festivals of the calendar, it has suffered from the hand of time. Formerly, it was the custom for all ranks of people to go out early a Maying. Bourne tells us, that, in his time, in the villages in the north of England, the juvenile part of both sexes were wont to rise a little after midnight, and walk to some neighbouring wood, accompanied with music, and the blowing of horns, where they broke down branches from the trees, and adorned them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. This done, they returned homewards, about the time of sunrise, and decked their doors and windows with the spoil. At an early period, this custom was observed by royal and noble personages, as well as by the vulgar. In Chaucer's Court of Love, we read, that early on Mayday, fourth goth at the court, both most and lest, to fetche the flouris fresh, and braunch and blome." It was of old also the Milk Maid's festival, and is still so, in some of the rural parts of Englandthe milk maids, on this day, going about with their garlands and music and dancing; but this is a very imperfect original sports, for Maype' the streets, with various r ris dancing, and other d and revelling and good

66

of the

in

The reason why the shamrock is worn by the Irish on St. Patrick's Day (March 17), is thus, though not satisfactorily, assigned by Brand: "When the saint preached the Gospel to the pagan Irish, he illustrated the doctrine of the Trinity by showing them a trefoil, or three-leaved grass, with one stalk : this operating to their conviction, the shamrock, which is a bundle of this grass, was ever afterwards worn upon this saint's anniversary, to commemorate the event."

The feast of the Annunciation (March 25th), celebrates, in the Christian world, the message of the angel to the Virgin Mary: hence it is called Lady Day, and tenures, in some countries, are chiefly held from this and Michaelmas Day.

The last three days of March, are, by the superstitious, still deemed unlucky; nor is it the only case with us of observing one day as bad, and another as good. Friday, for example, in the calendar of superstition, is a day of ill omen, on which no new work or enterprise must be commenced. From this cause, marriages seldom take place on it. It is singular that the same feeling prevails amongst the Birmans-" on this day no business must be commenced.'

"Friday's moon,

Come when it will it comes too soon." Prov

Saturday has been considered equally inauspicious. "Certane craftis men-will nocht begin thair warke on the Satterday, certane schipmen or marinars will nocht begin to sail on the Satterday, certaine trauelars will nocht begin thair iornay ou the Satterday, quhilk is plane superstition, because that God Almychty made the Satterday as well as he made all other dayis of the wouke."+

This superstition is antique and ethnical. It was common amongst the Greeks, and so many distinctions were made between particular days, that it was a matter of importance aux Tas nμepas-to observe the days. Hesiod refers to this custom—

Αλλοτε μητρυιη πέλει ημέρα άλλοτε μητηρ "Some days, like surly stepdames, adverse prove, Thwart our intentions, cross what e'er we love; Others more fortunate and lucky shine, And, as a tender mother, bless what we design."‡

The practice was also common in other nations, and particularly amongst the Romans, who had their dies atri, or unlucky days-was adopted by the early Christians from them, and continued, with modifications, until our own times. St Paul, in his Epistlé to the Galatians (iv. 10.), reproves the Galatians for observing days, and months, and

* Dr. Buchanan, in Asiatic Researches, vol. vi. 172.

Abp. Hamiltoun's Catechisine, 1551, fol. 22. 6. quoted by Jamieson.

Potter's Archaologia Græca, vol. i. c. 17.

The three last days of March, O. S., have been denominated Borrowing, or Borrowed Days. Being generally stormy, our ancestors attempted to account for the circumstance, by pretending, that March borrowed them from April, that he might extend his power so much the longer.

"March borrowit fra Averill

Three days and they were ill."

They who are very superstitious, will neither borrow nor lend on any of those days, and if any one should propose to borrow from them, they would esteem it an evidence that the person wished to employ the article borrowed for the purposes of witchcraft against the lender.

With the Scotch Highlanders, the same idea of the borrowing days is commonly received, with this difference, that the days are considerably antedated, and the loan is reversed. With them, the Faiolteach, or three first days of February, serve many poetical purposes. They are said to have been borrowed for some purpose by February from January, who was bribed by February with three young sheep. These three days, by Highland reckoning, occur between the 11th and 14th of February, and it is accounted a most favourable prognostic for the ensuing year, that they should be as stormy as possible. If they should be fair, then there is no more good weather to be expected through the spring.*

The custom of sending individuals on a Fool's errand, on the first of April, or All Fools Day, is general. The French have their Poisson d'ivril; and in the North of England and Scotland, they have their April Gowks, who are said to have been sent on a Gowk's errand. All these terms signify that an individual has been intentionally sent from place to place, on what is known to be a (Germ. Geck, Sw. gaek), signifies a fool; wild-goose chase. hence the words Gowk and Gawky. Jamieson, however, thinks that the expression, a Gowk's errand, although equivalent to a Fool'serrand, does not originate immediately from Gowk, a foolish person, but from the cuckoo, which, in Scotland, bears that name. Young people," he remarks, "attracted by the singular cry of

Gauch in the Teut.

* Grant's Superstitions of the Highlanders, vol. ii. p. 217.

the cuckoo, being anxious to see it, are often very assiduous to obtain their gratification. But, as this bird changes its place so secretly and suddenly-when they think they are just within reach of it, they hear it cry at a considerable distance. Thus they run from place to place, still finding themselves as far removed from their object as ever. Hence the phrase, "hunt the gowk," may have come to be used for any fruitless attempt, and particularly for those vain errors on which persons are sent on the 1st of April."* The custom of making April fools, seems to be a relic of a high and general pagan festival, at which the most unbounded hilarity prevailed; and, like many other of these periodical observances, seems to have an oriental parentage. Colonel Pearce has proved that it is an immemorial custom among the Hindoos, at a celebrated festival held in March, called the Huli, when mirth and festivity reign amongst every class, to send people on errands and expeditions that are to end in disappointment, and raise a laugh at the expense of the person sent. The last day of the Huli, is the general holiday. This festival is held in honour of the new year; and, as the year formerly began in Britain, about the same time, Maurice, in his Indian Antiquities, thinks that the diversions of the 1st day of April, both in Britain and India, had a common origin in the ancient celebration of the return of the vernal equinox, with festal rites.+

On St. George's Day (April 23d), there seems to have been an ancient custom in Britain, to decorate the statue of the patron saint, but this is no longer continued; and, in Reed's old plays (vol. xii.), there is an allusion to another habit, amongst people of fashion, of wearing blue coats on this day, "probably because blue was the national colour of Britain, over which St. George presides, and not in imitation of the clothing of the fields in blue, by the flowering of the blue bells, as some have supposed."-(Forster, p. 185.)

St. Mark's Eve (April 25th), is likewise fruitful in superstitions. In the northern parts of England, it is usual for the common people to sit and watch in the church porch, from eleven o'clock at night, till one in the morning. On the third year, for this must be done thrice, it is supposed they will see the ghosts of all those who are to die the next year pass by into the church. When any one sickens, who is thought to have been seen in this manner, it is presently whispered about that he will not recover, for that such a one, who has watched St. Mark's eve, says so. This superstition is in such force, that, if the patients themselves hear of it, they almost despair of recovery. Many

are said to have actually died by their imaginary fears on this occasion.

Another superstition, also of the north of England, is that of Ass-ridlin--the ashes being riddled or sifted on the hearth. Should any of the family die within the year, the mark of the shoe, it is supposed, will be impressed on the ashes; and many a mischievous wight has made some of the superstitious family miserable, by slily coming down stairs, after the rest of the family have retired to rest, and marking the ashes with the shoe of one of the party.

Pennant has also observed, that, in North Wales, no farmer dare hold his team on St. Mark's day, because, as they believe," one man's team was marked with the loss of an ox, which worked on this day."

A very ridiculous ceremony is likewise performed at Alnwick, in Northumberlandit consists in leaping the well, or going through a deep and noisome pool, on Alnwick Moor, called the Freemen's well-a sine qua non to the freedom of the borough. On St. Mark's day, the aspirants proceed in great state, from the town to the moor, where they draw up in a body, at some distance from the water, and, on a signal being given, scramble through the mud with great labour and difficulty. Tradition says, that this strange and ridiculous custom, rendered more ludicrous by being performed in white clothing, was imposed by King John, who was bogged in this very pond.

The first of May, is a gala day with some of the classes of society in many countries, although, like most of the other festivals of the calendar, it has suffered from the hand of time. Formerly, it was the custom for all ranks of people to go out early a Maying. Bourne tells us, that, in his time, in the villages in the north of England, the juvenile part of both sexes were wont to rise a little after midnight, and walk to some neighbouring wood, accompanied with music, and the blowing of horns, where they broke down branches from the trees, and adorned them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. This done, they returned homewards, about the time of sunrise, and decked their doors and windows with the spoil. At an early period, this custom was observed by royal and noble personages, as well as by the vulgar. In Chaucer's Court of Love, we read, that early on Mayday, "fourth goth al the court, both most and lest, to fetche the flouris fresh, and braunch and blome." It was of old also the Milk Maid's festival, and is still so, in some of the rural parts of Englandthe milk maids, on this day, going about with their garlands and music and dancing; but this is a very imperfect shadow of the original sports, for Maypoles were set up in the streets, with various martial shows, Morris dancing, and other devices-with which, and revelling and good cheer, the day was