Flowers and Festivals 



theme with poets of all ages, who, in describing the 

 customs of their time, have made frequent allusions 

 to the decking the Church, so prevalent at this period. 

 As far as the present purpose is concerned, we can 

 only regret that the descriptions they have be- 

 queathed to us are not so full as we should have 

 wished ; for in many instances they have only made a 

 passing allusion to a custom which was probably so 

 common as not to call for special comment. Edmund 

 Spenser, in his "Shepherd's Calendar," tells us how 

 that :— 



' ' Youths folke now flock en in every where, 

 To gather May biiskets^, and smeling breere ; 

 And home they hasten, the posts to dight, 

 And all the Kirke pillars, ere day light, 

 With hawthorne buds, and sweet eglantine. 

 And girlonds of roses." 



The practice of strewing May flowers about the 

 doors and in the houses is still followed in many parts 

 of the kingdom ; and the May-pole still celebrates in 

 many villages the return of this merry month : — 



3 Boughs. 



