Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/405

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edge of a woman's skirt has become turned up so as to form a kind of pocket, some good fortune, such as a present of a new dress, will come to the owner.

T. E. LoNES.

Bubbling Wkli.s in Somkrskt.

On the first three Sundays in May people visited, and perhaps do still, three wells at Taunton. When the water bubbled patients stood in the wells and were cured of "any humours."' On these days after twelve o'clock young men used to play " birn ball " in the streets.

J. B. Partridge.

Epiphany and Easter Observances in Westmoreland.

On the Eve of the Epiphany, at Brough-under-Stainmore, there is an annual procession called " The Carrying of the Rolling " or Holy tree (see Parliatfte/itarv Gazette, 1S43, vol. i., p. 297). In this and the neighbouring counties young folk or mummers used to perform a sort of play, and begged for pace eggs. At Kendal children still gather in the Castle Fields for " Jerring of Pace Eggs " on Easter Tuesday. The eggs which were unbroken were hailed as "conquerors." The game of "Grandy Needles" consisted of a line of young men on one side and young women on the other, forming an arch, under which they all passed in succession. This game, which took place on Easter Tuesday, ceased about i860. (Mr. G. Rushforth, parish clerk, Kendal, in 1906.)

J. B. Partridge.

Folklore irom Essex.

Watching the Wardstaffe. — At Ongar and Harlow, lands were hel 1 by the service of watching the Wardstaffe, which was cut