Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/131

 AND *^ FEASTEN " CUSTOMS. 123

say '* falls between the old and new year" ; others describe it as one that comes '' neither before nor after Christmas."

Parties are general in Cornwall on New Year's-eve to watch in the New Year and wish friends health and happiness ; but I know of no peculiar customs, except that before retiring to rest the old women opened their Bibles at hap-hazard to find out their luck for the coming year. The text on which the fore-finger of the right hand rested was supposed to foretell the future. And money, generally a piece of silver, was placed on the threshold, to be brought in the first thing on the following day, that there might be no lack of it for the year. Nothing was ever lent on New Year's-day, as little as possible taken out, but all that could be brought into the house. " I have even known the dust of the floor swept inwards." — (T. G. Couch, W, Antiquary ^ September, 1883.)

Steps of doors on New Year's-day were formerly sanded for good luck, because I suppose people coming into the house were sure to bring some of it in with them sticking to their feet.

Many elderly people at the beginning of the present century still kept to the *' old style," and held their Christmas-day on Epiphany. On the eve of that day they said *' the cattle in the fields and stalls never lay down, but at midnight turned their faces to the east and fell on their knees."

Twelfth-day (old Christmas-day) was a time of general feasting and merriment. Into the Twelfth-day cake were put a wedding-ring, a sixpence, and a thimble. It was cut into as many portions as there were guests ; the person who found the wedding-ring in his (or her) portion would be married before the year was out; the holder of the thimble would never be married, and the one who got the sixpence would die rich. After candlelight many games were played around the open fires. I will describe one : — " Robin's alight." A piece of stick was set on fire, and whirled rapidly in the hands of the first player, who repeated the words —

" Robin's alight, and if he go out I'll saddle your back."

It was then passed on, and the person who let the spark die had to pay a forfeit. —(West Cornwall.)