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The custom of Pace Egging, at Easter, common among children 

 all over England and some parts of the continent, is slill pretty generally 

 observed in this district ; while the more local ones of drinking mulled 

 ale, on Easter Sunday, and providing the children with new clothes for 

 that day, are well nigh obsolete. The latter custom was once so general 

 that if any poor child was compelled to go out on that day, without 

 wearing anything new, the other children thought that something terrible 

 would happen to it. The practice of sending persons on foolish errands 

 on the first of April, is so ancient, that its origin seems to be lost in 

 obscurity. A great deal has been written by way of attempting to explain 

 the meaning of this singular custom, but the accounts are so various, 

 and all seem so purely conjectural, that no reliance can be placed upon 

 them. In Cumberland, the same thing was practised on both the first 

 of April and the first of May, the only difference being, that the dupes 

 at the one time were called " April Noddies," and at the other " May 

 Geslins." Noddy, in the dialect, means one easily imposed on, and 

 geslins are young geese, which are often hatched about the first of May. 

 There is strong evidence, both in some place names in the district, and 

 particular phrases still used in the dialect, that the Mayday rejoicings 

 once so popular in other parts of England, were common in the north. 

 This very ancient festival was pagan in origin. It was a custom among 

 the Britons, before they were converted to Christianity, to erect Maypoles 

 adorned with flowers, and dance around them, in honour of their heathen 

 deities. In the time of our Saxon ancestors, the festival was somewhat 

 modified, but still retained its chief characteristics. The beginning of 

 May was the time which the Saxons had chosen for the assembling ofJ 

 their "Folkmotes," or conventions of the people; and when the baronsj 

 were absent at these ancient Parliaments, the inhabitants of each village 

 gave themselves up to mirth and rejoicings. The feast was dedicated tc 

 Hertha, the goddess of peace and fertility, and all quarrels were to be 

 laid aside during its continuance. On Mayday, the young people met 

 upon the green around the richly decorated May poles, where they chose 

 a village king, as he was called, who afterwards selected his queen.! 

 He wore an oaken, and she a hawthorn wreath, and together they gave] 



