Chapter XXV
Christ-tide Literature—Christmas Cards—Their Origin—Lamplighter’s Verses—Watchman’s Verses—Christmas Pieces 194
Chapter XXVI
Carol for St. Stephen’s Day—Boxing Day—Origin of Custom—Early examples—The Box—Bleeding Horses—Festivity on this Day—Charity at Bampton—Hunting the Wren in Ireland—Song of the Wren Boys 201
Chapter XXVII
St. John’s Day—Legend of the Saint—Carols for the Day—Holy Innocents—Whipping Children—Boy Bishops—Ceremonies connected therewith—The King of Cockney’s Unlucky Day—Anecdote thereon—Carol for the Day 207
Chapter XXVIII
New Year’s Eve—Wassail—New Year’s Eve Customs—Hogmany—The Clāvie—Other Customs—Weather Prophecy 214
Chapter XXIX
New Year’s Day—Carol—New Year’s Gifts—“Dipping”—Riding the “Stang”—Curious Tenures—God Cakes—The “Quaaltagh”—“First foot” in Scotland—Highland Customs—In Ireland—Weather Prophecies—Handsel Monday 220
Chapter XXX
Eve of Twelfth Day—Thirteen Fires—Tossing the Cake—Wassailing Apple-Trees—The Eve in Ireland—Twelfth Day, or Epiphany—Carol for the Day—Royal Offerings 232
Chapter XXXI
“The King of the Bean”—Customs on Twelfth Day—Twelfth Cakes—Twelfth Night Characters—Modern Twelfth Night—The Pastry Cook’s Shops—Dethier’s Lottery—The Song of the Wren—“Holly Night” at Brough—“Cutting off the Fiddler’s Head” 238