Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/408

 376 Collectanea.

Si. Mark's Eie. — On St. Mark's Eve it was the custom in Marrick, and other villages in Swaledale, to watch in the church porch before midnight for the spirits of those who are going to die during the year. As midnight strikes, the spirits are supposed to pass by you into the church. If you are going to die yourself you fall asleep in the porch, and cannot be wakened. About fifty years ago my informant's uncle and another young fellow went off on St. Mark's Eve to the church at Marrick to watch, but they were so afraid of falling asleep that they turned back.

Grinton Feast. — Grinton Feast is not kept on the date of the church dedication, which is St. Andrew, but on the Sunday after August r2th. It used to be observed for three days, with sports in the afternoon and dancing at night. On the Monday before the sports, two men dressed in women's clothes went round to every house begging for cheese cakes. Everyone gave them some. These were kept till the dance in the evening. It was unlucky not to taste one.

Bartle Fair. — Reeth formerly had a great Bartle Fair. (The mother church is St. Andrew, Grinton.)

Bonfires. — Bonfires are general on November 5th in Grinton and Reeth, but there are no Guys. At the small shops gingerbread was sold at this season, and also sticks of twisted toffee, known as "Tom Trot" — made at no other time. Gingerbread was also made in the cottages for November 5th.

Christmas Observances. — Furmety is still eaten on Christmas Eve in Swaledale. The corn with which it is made is a present from the grocer.

Sword dancers still go round on Christmas Eve, dancing and singing a song about "Poor old horse."

The Yule log is generally given. It is brought into the house after dusk on Christmas Eve, and is at once put on the hearth. It is unlucky to have to light it again after it has once been started, and it ought not to go out until it has burned away.

To sit round the Yule log and tell ghost stories is a great thing to do on this night, also card-playing.

Two large coloured candles are a Christmas present from the grocer. Just before supper on Christmas Eve (when furmety is eaten), while the Yule log is burning, all other lights are put out,