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few years many of the small holdings passed into other hands, and 

 eventually, two or three, or even more of them were thrown together, 

 and let as one farm. This change reduced two-thirds of the population 

 to the condition of labourers, or farm servants, and the farmers and their 

 families reckoning themselves a degree above these, left them out of their 

 Christmas parties, and then it was that the Christmas merry-nights sprung 

 up. These were held at the public-houses and served two purposes. 

 They were places of amusement for all who chose to go, and also annual 

 benefits to the inn-keepers who made them. Some of them were simply 

 gatherings at public-houses, where no stated charge was made,' but every 

 one was at liberty to spend and drink what he chose. At others, each 

 guest paid a shilling, or eighteenpence, for which they were supplied, 

 in some cases with supper, and in others with a basin of "Powsowdy," 

 which was simply the old ale posset mixed with rum. As might be 

 expected from the rough uncultivated manners of the people, the proceed- 

 ings at these assemblies were often of the wildest description. There 

 were dancing and singing, card playing, drinking and fighting. There 

 was no etiquette, or ceremony there ; every one made meny in the way 

 he liked best, and did it in the most energetic manner. Anderson in 

 describing the Bleckell merry night, tells us, that, "The dogger o' 

 Dalston" danced "Till the sweat it ran off at his varra chin end." 



The mummers of Yorkshire, and the Christmas carol singers of 

 other parts of England, had their counterpart in this district in the 

 country fiddlers who on Christmas and New Year's eves, went about to 

 every house, and after playing the "Hunt's up," wished the inmates a 

 merry Christmas and a happy New year. In ancient times, it was the 

 custom to herald in the New year with much pomp and ceremony, but 

 in these northern counties the Christmas festivities extending a week 

 into the new year, there was no room for any special New year rejoic- 

 ings. It was, however, the custom at some churches, for the bell-ringers 

 to ring the old year out and the new one in; and it was also very 

 common for young people to sit up on that night until the clock struck 

 twelve, and then open the door to let the New year in. There was also 

 a custom, very common on New year's day, in many villages of Cumber- 



