Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, &c./Part 2/Rushbearings

RUSH-BEARINGS.

The ancient custom of strewing church-floors with rushes, which were renewed every year on the day of the dedication of the church, seems to have been practised in times before the floors were flagged, to cover the soil or mud of the floors, and to give warmth in winter, and a sort of cleanliness in summer. In the parish register of Kirkham are entries to this effect:—"1604. Rushes to strew the church cost this year 9s. 6d." "1631. Paid for carrying the rushes out of the church in the sickness time, 5s." In Thomas Newton's "Herbal to the Bible," 1587, it is stated that "with sedge and rushes many in the country do use in summer-time to strew their parlours and churches, as well for coolness as for pleasant smell." Brand adds—"As our ancestors rarely washed their floors, disguises of uncleanliness became very necessary." It may be noted that disbursements for rushes never appear in the Kirkham register after 1634, when the church was flagged for the first time. The custom was, however, observed till of late years in Penwortham Church. The festival of rush-bearing does not always, however, coincide with the feast of the dedication. At Altcar the church is dedicated to St Michael (Sept. 29), yet the rush-bearing is celebrated in July. Mr Roby speaks of it as an unmeaning pageant still practised in the northern and eastern parts of Lancashire, for the purpose of levying contributions. The rush-cart, preceded by a large silk banner, and decorated with flowers, ribbons, &c., is drawn round to the dwellings of the principal inhabitants by morrice-dancers, who perform an uncouth dance, one of the mummers being a man in motley attire, a sort of compound of the ancient fool and of Maid Marion; who jingles a horse-collar hung with bells, and makes jokes with the bystanders. The rush-bearing is still kept up with much ceremony at Ambleside.

---