In the village of Tissington in the county of Derby, a place remarkable for fine springs of water, it has been a custom, time immemorial, on every Holy Thursday, to decorate the wells with boughs of trees, garlands of tulips, and other flowers, placed in various fancied devices ; and, after prayers for the day […]

Bred up an Englishman, and under the protection of the English Laws, I have ever been taught to consider them superior to the laws of other nations, as being founded alike in wisdom and lenity, for either of which causes I have considered them entitled to respect and veneration. To persons acquainted with the laws […]

I send you some further notes regarding the superstitions of this county, in continuation of those which you published in your magazine for July. In parts of this county, and of Shropshire, the following occurrences are considered unlucky : To meet a squinting woman, unless you talk to her, which breaks the charm. To go […]

Almost every county in England has some amusement or local custom nearly peculiar to itself; and your deeming many of such not unworthy of being brought out to the public eye, has induced me to transmit to you an account of one or two, which I never saw any where except in Westmorland and Cumberland. […]

There are two old women of my acquaintance they are still living, though for obvious reasons I must not give their names who reside in the same house, the one occupying the front, the other the back room. One of these had retired to rest in the back room, ” In peace,” as she assured […]

It may not be altogether uninstructive to place upon permanent record, in your venerable Miscellany, a few remarks on the popular superstitions which still exist in divers parts of this extensive county. I presume not to think that I have collected all the vulgar errors which prevail among the rustic population here; but my researches […]

From the amorous disposition of these people’s tempers, which breaks out upon all occasions, in an excess of aukward complaisance to their females (who are generally handsotne, if not a little too masculine and indelicate in their limbs) may probably proceed the universal passion that prevails among them for poetry, music, and dancing, after their […]

Papal Superstitions IN my last communication, I presented you with some specimens of the delusions of the Church of Rome with regard to Demoniacism. [See note 26.] I will now instance two other old superstitions, I. of the Devil creating storms of Thunder and Lightning, and the power of Saints, and Reliques of Saints, to […]

The learned editor of the “Antiquitates Vulgares’ (Newcastle, 8vo, 1777) having omitted to say anything upon Relick Sunday, permit an occasional correspondent to lay a few observations upon the subject,together with some additions to his account of Easter, etc., before your numerous readers. Amongst the Harl. MSS., 2447, is a curious collection of antient Postills, […]

Looking over your Magazine for December 1810, I find you have inserted “a newly invented Game of Cards for a Winter’s Amusement.” The Christmas entertainments of the present day differ widely from those of old. Chatterton has given ” the Antiquity of Christmas Games,” which may amuse those of your Readers who are unacquainted with […]