41
Catalogue of Brand Material.
(/) Uncanny Sights and Sounds. " Spriggans " (underground
elves) heard singing - Subterranean bells heard
King Arthur and his knights
drink at spring Lady in white with rose in
mouth appears at dawn - Ghost in form of fish appears
to people fetching water - Coach with headless horses
drives through town just
before Christmas Ghosts become more powerful
as nights lengthen - " Many object to be left alone
on Christmas Eve " - Unlucky to walk near cross- roads on Christmas morning Ghosts do not appear at
Christmas (Shakespeare) - A death at Christmas portends
many during year - Midnight on Christmas Eve
is a suitable time for using
divination - - .
LOCALITY.
Cornwall.
Lanes. (Preston), Grim- ston, Raleigh (?).
Somerset (Cadbury).
Cornwall (Pendeen).
Derbysh. (Bradwell).
Cornwall (Penr}^!).
Ibid.
South Yorksh.
Locahty ?
Didsbury.
? Locality.
See below.
IIL Observances.
(o) Divinaiory Rites (used at mid- night on Christmas Eve to see future husband). Onion laid on altar (details
not given) Walking backwards round a
pear-tree - - - - Plucking sage-leaves - Sowing hempseed Baking dumb-cake Eating salted egg Roasting pigeon's heart Holly leaves and pails of water
{ante, see p. 71)
Burton's Anatomy.
South Yorksh. Northants. Northants., Oxon. Northants, Oxon., Chesh.
Northants. Northants.
Borders.
Washing shift, hanging to dry Suffolk.
