92 Correspondence.
Mid-Lent Bonfire in Venice, 1819.
I have much pleasure in sending you the following extract referring to a sort of Guy Fawkes celebration prevalent in Italy before 1820. I believe the book from which it is taken is some- what rare,
C. J. Tabor.
" This season of peace and penitence \i.e. Lent] is, however, interrupted by a very odd popular festival which takes place (according to our university slang) on the day that term divides. The origin of it seems lost ; for though common in the greater part of Italy, with some variety of circumstance, I never met with a person, from the professor to the barber, who could suggest any probable explanation. There is, I believe, some sort of popular festival at this period in France, but I shall describe it as it is performed in Venice.
" A small stage, with a covering, is erected in the most spacious campo of the parishes which celebrate the festival. Upon this appears the effigy of an old woman, and seated before her are two men, one habited as a notary, the other as a sort of military Jack- Pudding with a drawn sabre. These two eat and drink, and dispute about her fate, one being apparently the advocate and the other the accuser of the dame. This insists on her being burnt ; and that declares she shall be saved. An appeal is at length made to the people, who unanimously condemn her to the flames. At length, after some necessary games, such as running in sacks, swarming up a greased pole for fowls, flasks of wine, &c., lashed to the top, the figure is set fire to amidst a volley of squibs and burnt, much as Guy Fawkes is with us." — Letters from the North of Italy addressed to Henry Hai/am, Esq., by W. P. Rose. 2 vols. London, 1819. Vol. ii., pp. 173-4.
Harvest Bonfires in the East Riding.
It was only last month that I came into contact with one who had seen and actually burnt " The Old Witch."
He told me that they twisted together the last few standing stalks of corn, making it into a little sheaf, and then setting fire
