Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/222

 200 Collectanea.

6. Wellington {Salop). — On Shrove Tuesday, boys and girls played "Thread the Needle," here known as "Crevvduck." [Crew is a coop or pen, also used as a verb.] Afterwards they clipped the church. " When the circle was complete, the boys blew a discordant blast upon tin horns." It was continued till about 1854.'

7. Elksmere. — " Crewduck " was played before Church Clipping, on Shrove Tuesday, by young men and women as well as by children. "They went up to the 'Green Mount,' the site of the old castle, thence to the church . . . Then they proceeded to the market-hall, which they ' clipped ' in like manner." ^

8. Kendal. — Until about i860, young people used to assemble in the Vicar's fields on Easter Tuesday, and, after spending the afternoon there, returned in procession through the streets, "threading Grandy needles."^ Grandy needles consisted of a lane of young men on one side and young women on the other ; two formed an arch, and the rest went under. The words were : —

" Grandy needles, thread your needles — set ! set ! set ! Through the long lobby we go, we go, To see the King's horses, Gee O, Gee O I Open the gates as wide, as wide. To let King George come through with his bride."

At the words "set, set, set," those who held up their hands would bump the others on the shoulders.

On the same day the " Jerring of Pace Eggs " was, (and is still), a great event. Young folks went round a few days before, per- formed a mummers' play, and begged for eggs, which were boiled and dyed, and on Easter Tuesday w-ere rolled against each other in the Castle Fields, the unbroken eggs being called "Conquerors."

9. Leicester. — It was formerly the custom on Shrove Tuesday for lads and lasses to meet in the gallery of the Women's \\'ard in Trinity Hospital, to play "Thread the Needle " and other games. ^"^

The doings at Leicester on Shrove Tuesday formerly included a

''Burne, Shropshire Folk-Lore, p. 322. * Ibid., pp. 32 1 -2.

^ N. and Q. (3rd S.), vol. xii., p. 329 (1863). The rest of the information about Kendal I owe to Mr. G. Rushforth, Parish Clerk.

1° County Folk-Lore, vol. i., p. 114 (Leicestershire and Rutland). In IQ07, local enquiries could get no further information on this point.