Historical Notes 



^9 



they either leave behind after service, or give to 

 the Choristers or female members of the congre- 

 gation. 



It may be that the custom of carrying flowers to 

 Church was anciently considered a mark of temporary 

 distinction, and practised only when service was 

 officially attended. 



The peasantry living on the Elbe who possess a 

 bit of land never enter the Church without a nosegay 

 in their hands. They thus show that they claim the 

 consideration due to persons who possess some pro- 

 perty in the neighbourhood. Among the country 

 people near Hamburg, there is no garden so small 

 as not to possess a place for the flowers intended 

 for this use; and the plat is distinguished by the 

 name of " the Church nosegay \" 



In many country places in England, the habit of 

 taking small bunches of flowers in the hand to 

 Church is still observed, both by the peasantry and 

 gentle people. 



1 Mag. Universel, Paris, 1835. 



