cJPocner/ o^ tKs (^RurcR'/ '^e.itW'oa?/. eg 



It being also the festival of SS. Philip and James, the feast partook 

 somewhat of a rehgious character. The people not only turned 

 the streets into leafy avenues, and their door-ways into green 

 arbours, and set up a May-pole decked with ribands and garlands, ' 

 and an arbour besides for Maid Marian to sit in, to witness the 

 sports, but the floral decorations extended likewise into the Church. 

 We learn from Aubrey that the young maids of every parish 

 carried about garlands of flowers, which they afterwards hung up 

 in their Churches ; and Spenser sings how, at sunrise — 



" Youth's folke now flocken in everywhere 

 To gather May-buskets and smelling Brere ; 

 And home they hasten the postes to dight 

 And all the Kirke pillours ere day light 

 With Hawthorn buds and sweete Eglantine, 

 And girlonds of Roses, and Soppes-in-wine." 



The beautiful milk-white Hawthorn blossom is essentially the 

 flower of the season, but in some parts of England the Lily of the 

 Valley is considered as " The Lily of the May." In Cornwall 

 and Devon Lilac is esteemed the May-flower, and special virtues 

 are attached to sprays of Ivy plucked at day-break with the dew 

 on ,them. In Germany the Kingcup, Lily of the Valley, and 

 Hepatica are severally called Maibliime. 



Whitsuntide flowers in England are Lilies of the Valley and 

 Guelder Roses, but according to Chaucer (' Romaunt of the Rose ') 

 Love bids his pupil — 



" Have hatte of floures fresh as May, 

 Chapelett of Roses of Whit- Sunday, 

 For sich array ne costeth but lite." 



The Germans call Broom Pentecost-bloom, and the Peony the 

 Pentecost Rose. The Italians call Whitsunday Pasqua Rosata, 

 Roses being then in flower. 



To Trinity Sunday belong the Herb-Trinity or Pansy and 

 the Trefoil. On St. Barnabas Day, as on St. Paul's Day, the 

 churches were decked with Box, Woodruff", Lavender, and Roses, 

 and the officiating Priests wore garlands of Roses on their heads. 



On Royal Oak Day (May 29th), in celebration of the restora- 

 tion of King Charles II., and to commemorate his concealment in an 

 aged Oak at Boscobel, gilded Oak-leaves and Apples are worn, and 

 Oak-branches are hung over doorways and windows. From this 

 mcident in the life of Charles II., the Oak derives its title of Royal. 



" Blest Charles then to an Oak his safety owes ; 

 The Royal Oak, which now in song shall live, 

 Until it reach to Heaven with its boughs; 

 Boughs that for loyalty shall garlands give." 



On Corpus Christi Day it was formerly the custom in 

 unreformed England to strew the streets through which the pro- 

 cession passed with flowers, and to decorate the church with Rose 

 and other garlands. In North Wales a relic of these ceremonies 



