Essex
At Saffron-Walden, and in the village of Debden, an old May-day song (almost identical with that given under Berkshire, which see) is sung by the little girls, who go about in parties, carrying garlands from door to door.
The garlands which the girls carry are sometimes large and handsome, and a doll is usually placed in the middle, dressed in white, according to certain traditional regulations.—Illustrated London News, June 6th, 1857, p. 553.