Search
Search results
Displaying 361 - 370
Brewer's: Lord of Misrule
called in Scotland Abbo of Unreason, prohibited in 1555. Stow says, “At the feast of Christmas, in the king's court, there was always appointed, on All-Hallow's seve, a master of mirth and…Brewer's: Mumpers
Beggars, Leland calls it a gipsy word. In Norwich, Christmas waits used to be called “Mumpers.” In Lincolnshire, “Boxing-day” is called Mumping-day (q.v.). To mump is to beg. Beggars are…Brewer's: Mumping Day
St. Thomas's Day, December 21. A day on which the poor used to go about begging, or, as it was called, “going a-gooding,” that is, getting gifts to procure good things for Christmas (mump…Brewer's: Narrowdale Noon
(Till). To defer a matter till Narrowdale noon is to defer it indefinitely. “Christmas is coming.” Ans., “So is Narrowdale Noon.” Your ... was deferred or delayed, like Narrowdale Noon.…Brewer's: Moses' Rod
So the divining-rod was usually called. The divining-rod was employed to discover water or mineral treasure. In Blackwood's Magazine (May, 1850) we are told that nobody sinks a well in…Brewer's: Nativity
(The) means Christmas Day, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. The Cave of the Nativity is under the chancel of the “church of the Nativity.” In the recess, a few feet above the ground…Brewer's: Fig Sunday
Palm Sunday is so called from the custom of eating figs on that day. The practice arose from the Bible story of Zaccheus, who climbed up into a fig-tree to see Jesus. Many other festivals…Brewer's: Mince Pies
at Christmas time are emblematical of the manger in which our Saviour was laid. The paste over the “offering” was made in form of a cratch or hay-rack. (See Plum Pudding.) Mince pies.…Brewer's: Perth
is Celtic for a bush. The county of Perth is the county of bushes. Fair Maid of Perth. Catherine Glover, daughter of Simon Glover, glover, of Perth. Her lover is Henry Gow, alias Henry…Brewer's: Plough Monday
The first Monday after Twelfth Day is so called because it is the end of the Christmas holidays, and the day when men return to their plough or daily work. It was customary on this day for…