Historical Notes 



9 



of Churches on feast days, is still very common in 

 many parts of England, more especially among the 

 rural population. 



In Devonshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Derbyshire, 

 and Yorkshire, more especially does the custom still 

 exist. Upon the day of the village feast, or wake, 

 the Church is generally profusely decorated with 

 flowers, independently of the great festivals of the 

 Church — Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. 



The first day of May, the feast of SS. Philip and 

 James, is a great day in many villages, for garlands 

 and flowers and homely rejoicing, derived no doubt 

 from very ancient times. 



It is not intended now to show in how varied a 

 manner the day is observed in different places, not 

 only in the country, but also in the large towns, even 

 in the metropolis itself; but to describe how that, 

 among other observances of the day, it has been and 

 still is the custom to deck the House of God with 

 flowers and wreaths. 



The Maying" season has ever been a favourite 



