woman from Harpswell, or Hemswell, used to carry round a "crib" at Christmas-time. This crib contained dolls representing the Infant Saviour, the Blessed Virgin, and St. Joseph. In the north-east of the county the practice is still sometimes observed, but there the small chest, or basket, in which the doll or dolls lie, is mis-named the vessel-cup; no doubt, because a wassail-bowl filled with spiced ale was also borne from door to door, fifty years since, or even later.
An old woman from the extreme north of Lincolnshire, who died a few years since at more than eighty years of age, once gave the following description of May-Day, as it was kept when she was a girl, at Winteringham.
"We always dressed the lugs (ears or handles) of our milk-kits with leaves on May-morning, and in the evening we danced and played kiss-in-the-ring, and such-like games, round a May-garland set up in the cattle-pasture. The garland was first dressed with a piece of mistletoe, royal oak, and ribbons, and then fixed up on an old stump there was in the open field. It was fixed flat-way on, not standing on its rim."
I have often wondered how many times the "old stump" had been thus decorated. Perhaps every spring-tide for centuries. Where the mistletoe was procured is a mystery, for I know of none which is truly indigenous in the north of the shire. Sometimes "royal-oak" would be unprocurable. In a late season oak-leaves are not to be had on "old May-Day." It is just possible (though I think unlikely) that the day celebrated really fell at a later date, for a milking festival seems to have been connected with "Royal-Oak Day."
Is it known how the 29th of May and the 5th of November, or the days they now represent, were observed before they acquired their present historical associations?
Mrs. Townshend suggests a connection with the Easter eggs and first-fruit customs. May I suggest that in all likelihood the doll represents our goddess Freya, the beflowered basket her wain, and the string of eggs her necklace, "Brosinga mene"? It would be interesting to know if the cat is in any way connected with the procession, if procession there be.
