ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 457 



kindle it. On the same evening everything was made ready for the fire of 

 the morning of the New Year. 



183. Kirkmaiden. — Particular care was used to have everything pre- 

 pared for the fire of the morning of the New Year. 



184. No ashes were cast out on the morning of New Year's Day. 



185. My informant's mother would not allow any water of whatever 

 kind to be taken out of the house on New Year's Day. Others followed 

 the custom. 



186. Laurieston. — Nothing was put out of the house on the morning 

 of New Year's Day. 



187. Kirkmaiden. — My informant's husband, a farmer, would on no- 

 account give anything away on New Year's Day. 



188. Balmagliie. — Nothing would be given in loan by some on New 

 Year's Day. 



189. Portlogan. — Some would not sell even a halfpenny-worth of milk 

 on New Year's Day. 



190. Kirkmaiden. — Something is brought into the house on the morn- 

 ing of New Year's Day before anything is taken out. 



191. It was the custom till within twenty or twenty-five years ago for 

 some member of the household to lay a sheaf or a small quantity of un- 

 threshed grain on the bed of the father and mother on the morning of 

 New Year's Day. 



192. Portlogan. — It was the custom to throw a sheaf of grain on the- 

 farmer's bed on the morning of New Year's Day. 



193. Kirkmaiden. — Some member of the family took a sheaf of grain 

 and put a ' pickle ' of it on each bed any time after 1 2 o'clock on the- 

 morning of New Year's Day. 



194. My informant's father had the custom of throwing a 'pickle 

 corn,' i.e., a small quantity of unthreshed grain, on each bed on the morn- 

 ing of the New Year. 



195. My informant's father was in the habit of bringing whisky with 

 bread and cheese into each sleeping apartment and of giving each one a 

 ' dram,' i.e., a little of the whisky, along with some of the bread and 

 cheese. He then went and gave a small quantity of unthreshed grain to- 

 each of the horses and cattle on the farm. After doing this he came back 

 to the dwelling-house with a sheaf of unthreshed grain, and laid a ' pickle '" 

 of it over each bed. 



196. Portlogan. — My informant was in the habit of giving a small 

 quantity of unthreshed grain to each of the horses and cattle of the farn^ 

 on the morning of New Year's Day, and wishing each a happy New Year, 

 and saying to each as the fodder was given : 'That's your hansel.' 



197. Kirkmaiden. — For the entertainment of the 'first fit' on the- 

 morning of New Year's Day and of other friends that may call during 

 the day, is prepared 'chittert,' i.e., pressed, and cooled so as to be fit to be- 

 cut in slices. This, along with bread and cheese, is placed on a table all 

 ready for use. 



198. Fish in some form or other used to be served up as part of the- 

 breakfast on the morning of New Year's Day. 



199. On the morning of New Year's Day the boys used to go in com- 

 panies to catch wrens. When one was caught its legs and neck were 

 decked with ribbons. It was then set at liberty. This ceremony was 

 called ' the deckan o' the wran.' My informant has assisted at the 

 ceremony. 



