iJPoraP C^cremoaleA. 33 



garlands of flowers, boughs, &c. Flowers were cast into the wells, 

 and from their manner of falling, lads and lasses divined as to 

 the progress of their love affairs. 



" Hring flowers ! bring flowers ! to the crystal well, 

 That springs 'neath the Willows in yonder dell. 



And we'll scatter them over the charmed well, 

 And learn our fate from its mystic spell." 



*' And she whose flower most tranquilly 

 Glides down the stream our <^)ueen shall be. 

 In a crown we'll wreath 

 Wild flowers that breathe ; 

 And the maiden by whom this wreath shall be worn 

 Shall wear it again on her bridal morn." — Merritt. 



Before the Reformation the Celtic population of Scotland, the 

 Hebrides, Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall were in the habit of 

 naming wells and springs after different saints and martyrs. 

 Though forbidden by the canons of St, Anselm, many pilgrimages 

 continued to be made to them, and the custom was long retained 

 of throwing nosegays into springs and fountains, and chaplets into 

 wells. Sir Walter Scott tells us that " in Perthshire there are 

 several wells dedicated to St. Fillan, which are still places of 

 pilgrimage and offerings, even among Protestants." 



"Thence to .St. Fillan's blessed well 

 Whose spring can frenzied dreams dispel, 

 And the crazed brain restore." 



Into some of these Highland wells flowers are cast, and occasionally 

 pins, while the surrounding bushes are hung with rags and shreds, 

 in imitation of the old heathen practice. The ceremony of sprinkling 

 rivers with flowers was probably of similar origin. Milton and 

 Dryden both allude to this custom being in vogue as regards 

 the Severn, and this floral rite is described in ' The Fleece ' as 

 follows : — 



" With light fantastic toe the nymphs 



Thither assembled, thither every swain ; 



And o'er the dimpled stream a thousand flowers, 



Pale Lilies, Roses, Violets, and Finks, 



Mix'd with the greens of Burnet. Mint, and Thyme, 



And Trefoil, sprinkled with their sportive arms. 



Such custom holds along th' irriguous vales, 



From Wreken's brow to rocky Dolvoryn, 



Sabrina's early haunt," 



S^ric|aP SPoraP Cseremonle;^. 



In all countries flowers have from time immemorial been 

 chosen as the happy accompaniment of bridal ceremonies. Among 

 the ancients it was customary to crown newly-married persons 

 with a chaplet of red and white Roses, On arriving at the hou^e 

 of her husband, the Roman bride found woollen fillets round the 



