FLORAL CUSTOMS, SUPERSTITIONS, AND HISTORIES. 219 



joicings have fallen almost entirely into disuse of late years ; although, 

 three or four centuries ago, they were universally kept. There are, 

 however, a few rural spots of the country, where modern innovations 

 have not entirely destroyed old customs ; and there a May-day queen 

 is chosen and crowned with flowers, and the day is the chief holiday 

 of the year. The primitive character of the May-day sports has been 

 longest retained in some parts of Cornwall; and, at the village of 

 Helston, the youths and maidens dress themselves in holiday attire 

 on May-day, and adorn themselves with wreaths of flowers, and 

 dance merrily through the houses, scattering flowers before them. 



The custom of decorating the houses with hawthorn boughs on 

 May-day still prevails in the classic city of Athens. The May- 

 day customs in England were much discountenanced by the re- 

 formers. They looked upon them as remnants of superstition ; and 

 so in truth they were, although they had grown into a new shape, 

 and had acquired new tendencies. Many preachers exerted them- 

 selves to suppress the boisterous and profligate revelries of May-day. 

 Bishop Latimer was once about to preach in a village on the first of 

 May, or Robin Hood's day, as it was called, but he could get no au- 

 dience, for all the youths and maidens " were gone a-maying." "I 

 found," said he, "the churches fast locked. I tarryed there half an 

 houre, or more, and at last the key was found ; one of the parish came 

 to me and says, * S)^:, this is a busy day with us, we cannot hear you ; 

 it is Robin Hood's day. The parish are gone abroad to gather for 

 Robin Hood. I pray you let them not.' So," says the good bishop, 

 " I was fain to give place to Robin Hood and his men." 



A sad lament was uttered for many years after the reformation of 

 the calendar, by elderly dames in villages, that science should have 

 interfered with the seasons, and thus have brought the May-day 

 before its time. A pathetic wailing went up and down the country 

 to the cry of "Give us back our eleven days!" The poor fools 

 thought that time was made of days and hours. They had no Festus 

 to tell them that — 



*' Life's more than breath and the quick round of blood ; 

 'Tis a great spirit, and a busy heart. 

 We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths ; 

 In feelings, not in fingers on a dial." 



A strange custom prevailed, in past years, of lighting bonfires on 



