Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/204

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Catalogue of Brand Material.

ST. KATHARINE'S DAY.

November 25TH.

St. Katharine of Alexandria, V.M., a.d. 307. Regarded as a per- sonification of the Church. Patroness of women, especially of unmarried women, and of spinning.

Represented as patroness of the Barbers' locality.

Company in Corpas Christi Pageant, 1685-1860 ; of the Flax-dressers, 1861-1878. Ibid. {Shr. F.L. p. J56) - Shrewsbury.

ENCxLAND.

I. Name.

Catten's Day

- Bucks. (Wendover).

II. Local Observances. (a) Holidays.

Mayor and Corporation attended church, drank together and with players. Special plays performed, 1479 - . - -

Lacemakers' holiday. Girls dressed in men's clothes, called at houses, refreshed with " wiggs " (carraway buns) and " hot-pot " (egg- flip). Catherine wheels let off. Women jumped over candlestick for luck (19th cent.). - - -

" Keeping Kattern " -

{b) Processions.

Children's procession with lights and image, round St. Paul's

Workhouse girls (spinners), headed by a " Queen," paraded city, singing. Con- tributions asked. Disused 1834 - - - -

Bristol.

Bucks. (Wendover, etc. Herts. (Wigginton),

London (1553, 1556).

Peterborough.