Old-time New Year English Customs CELEBRATION OF THE "CLAVIE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 20 (Supplement)

Old-time New Year English Customs CELEBRATION OF THE "CLAVIE"

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■Rich pastures ♦ . . and a cosy farmstead

IN years gone by, and even now, in some parts of the country; curious year-end customs are still observed. Here are a few that make interesting and amusing reading.

The "Ashton faggot" was turned, in Devonshire on Christmas Eve many years ago. This was a 'bundle of sticks and. branches, composed entirely of ash timber, and securely tied together with ash bands. It was made as large as could conveniently be burned in the fireplace.

A company of friends assembled and spent the f-'ening in games and amusements, the fun being heightened when the faggot blazed on the hearth. 'A quart of cider was served upon the bursting of each band round the faggot. The timber being green and elastic, the bands would burst with a sharp report.

In Herefordshire they used to make a cake, poke a stick through it, fasten it upon the horn c* an ox, and say certain words, begging a good crop of corn for the master. The men and boys attending the oxen ranged themselves around. If the nx threw the cake behind it belonged to i the men: if before, to the boys. They took' with them a wooden bottle "of cider and drank the con- ■ tents, saying the following lines:— • ' Apples and pears with right good corn, Come in plenty to every one. Eat and drink good cake and hot ale. Give earth to drink.and she'll not fail. In Nottinghamshire, on Christmas Eve, it was customary to toast apples on a string until they dropped into a bowl of hot spiced ale, which was placed to receive them.' ' This, from the - softness of the beverage, was called '.'Lambs' Wool." At Dewsbur> a church bell was tolled as at.a funeral. This was .called "The Devil's Knell." . The idea that prevailed was that the devil died whci' Christ was born. The custom was given up for many years, but revived by the presiding vicar in the year 1828.

December 28 is the anniversary • of the day whe •. hundreds of innocent children were slaugh* tered by the- brutal order o King Herod.

In bygone years no one who could possibly avoid it would begin any new work or enter into any undertaking on this day. It was considered unlucky even to put on new clothes or trim the nails until after the 28th. ,

The Coronation of King Edward IV was altered from a Sunday to the next day, Monday, on ac-

count of the former being Holy Innocents* Day. . In Cornwall and other southern parts, the housewives scrupulously refrain from scrubbing on this \ ■ day. " . In Moray shire they used to. celebrate what, was / called "the Clavie." Cor Hogmanay the village lads' would proceed round the shops demanding empty barrels, and, on receiving these, would pro- * cur<- a quantity of tar. Choosing a spot on the

By———— Emitieline Vyner

seashore, or some other exposed part away from houses, they would set to work. J> hole four inches wide was made in the'hot* ; to • of the strongest barrel they had collected, and into this they drove the end of a stone pole five feet long. This was fixed on the underside of the ' barrel end, '. To make it' firmer several supports were nailed around the barrel, brought down, and fixed round the pole. Tfcr was then put inside and set alight, and other barrels were'iproken up and the pieces thYoynv in until the barrel was full of ,a blazing mass. This was "the Clavie." Burning fiercely, it was shouldered by a strong man arid borne quickly along. As he became tired, another will* , ing bearer took his place, for it was considered an honour to carry the clavie. Sometimes acci- ' dents happened to the bearers but they.elicited no sympathy, not even from near relatives. , They would go all round the Village and then visit the fishing boats, if not too far away—unless ■ " these had been "honoured" first. Finally, they took their blazing burden to a hillock or a cliff, and hastily gathered* a heap of stone:. Into the centre of this the. pole was stuck, with its, barrel at the top, .still: burning. For some minutes it was allowed to blaze, while the flames diminished, and the people gathered ' round. At a given moment the clavie and "the -durie** (heap of stones) were roughly kicked, away and the red embers fiew among the crowd, These were eagerly secured by the assembled folk, and taken home to be preserved as charms against witchcraft and the evil eye during the coming year. . ' "■' ■ . Nowadays the clavie is but a bit of sport in* dulged in by the bairns, who content themselves with a burning brand to represent the old ceremony and get fun and amusement out of it. .