Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

I shall trouble you with a few remarks on Lanmb’s wool, in addition to those of your correspondents in the last number of your excellent Magazine. I have often met with it in Ireland, where it is a constant ingredient at a merry-making on Holy Eve, or the evening before All Saints’ Day ; and […]

It is a matter of some difficulty to account for the expression, ” An April fool,” and the strange custom so universally prevalent through-out this kingdom, of people’s making fools of one another on the 1st April, by trying to impose on each other, and sending one another, upon that day, upon frivolous, ridiculous, and […]

Scrutator last vol., p. 928, wants an explanation of lifting It was originally designed to represent our Saviour’s resurrection. The men lift the women on Easter Monday, and the women the men on Tuesday. One or more take hold of each leg, and one or more of each arm, near the body, and lift the […]

HOT CROSS BUNS Yesterday being Good Friday, the ancient dames of this place were especially careful to lay up a sufficient stock of Cross Buns (which will keep without growing mouldy !), as a panacea for all disorders during the succeeding twelve-month. This superstition is evidently the relic of a Roman Catholic practice, founded on […]

Being Maunday Thursday, Dr. Gilbert sub-almoner, wash’d the feet, and distributed alms to 49 (the king’s years) poor people of both sexes. See the Ceremony, Gent. Mag., vol. i., p. 172. In addition to what has been mentioned by your correspondents concerning Maunday Thursday, you will please to inform them that it is a general […]

Windy Saturday is one of the popular epochs which is frequently mentioned by natives of Scotland, and yet it is remarkable how very few of them have the least idea when that notable day occurred, or of any of the circumstances attending it. I made inquiry of at least fifty persons, before I got the […]

In your Magazine for last October your correspondent H. D. takes notice of a new appellation for the Sunday fortnight before Easter, viz., Careing Sunday. In Northumberland, that day is called Carling Sunday. The yeomanry in general steep peas, and afterwards parch them, and eat them on the afternoon of that day, calling them Carlings. […]

As a correspondent of yours, vol. liii., p. 578, is desirous amongst other customs of knowing the original of regaling on furmety on what he calls ” Mothering Sunday,” I have here sent you what has occurred to me towards tracing it out. As to ” Mothering Sunday,” of which another correspondent, p. 928, confesses […]

This term is used in Bury, Lancashire, to denote the ‘fourth Sunday in Lent ” Mid-Lent called in other parts of the country and West Riding of Yorkshire, ” Mothering Fig-Pie,” ” Mulled Ale,” and “Braggart Sunday.” From time beyond memory, thousands of per-sons come from all parts to that town to eat “Simnels.” Formerly, […]

I HAVE been much entertained with the customs and manners of certain towns and villages in England, etc., mentioned in some of your former Magazines, and should be glad if some of your correspondents would inform us why most places in England have eggs and collops (slices of bacon) on Shrove Monday, pancakes on Tuesday, […]