Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/112

 So Catalogue of Brand Material.

(d) Amusements.

Mummers perform (obs.).

Youths knock on doors with cabbage-stalks, or cabbages

tied to sticks ; sing a Nev/ Year carol ; i expect gifts —

herrings, potatoes, etc. Ducking for apples. Burning nuts.

{e) Divinatory Rites.

Augury of future husband's name from name overheard

at next door but one, listening with mouth full of

water and hands of salt. Augury of fate from molten lead dropt in water. Augury of fate from touching dishes blindfolded. Dreams of future husband procured by eating a stolen

salt herring and going to bed backwards. Dreams of future husband procured by making and

eating " Dumb Cake " (all young women in household

must join in making).

Auguries of Life or Death from :

Ivy-leaves named for each inmate, left overnight and

examined in morning. Thimblefuls of salt turned out on board, named for

each inmate ; if one falls during night, it portends

death. Ashes smoothed on hearth, footprints found next

morning pointing outwards portend a death ;

pointing inwards, a marriage (or a birth?).

IV. Local Observances.

HoUantide Fair, November 12th.

V. Business Transactions (Laa Houney).^ Tenancies and Situations entered upon.

^Refrain: " Hog-annaa, trolla-laa," or " Hop-dy-na\v," " hop-tu-naa," "hob-ju- iiaa." This is the " Hogmanay " of Scotland, here demanded at Hallowmas.

-Sir John Rhys points out (Celtic Folklore, p. 320) that in Manxland, HoUandtide is still the beginning of the year for farmers and labourers, and that the songs and mummings associated with it obviously point to a New Year Festival, observed on November ist instead of January ist. He had even known Manxlanders discuss the question, to which date the name New Year's Day ought properly to be applied.