Part 3

If the grass grow in Janiveer 'Twill be the worse for 't all the year.

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A fair day in winter is the mother of a storm.

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Under water famine, under snow bread.

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March in Janiveer, Janiveer in March I fear.

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A year of snow a year of plenty.

Spain.

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Winter time for shoeing; Peascod time for wooing.

Devon.

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1565

On Twelve-eve in Christmas, they used to set up as high as they can a sieve of oats, and in it a dozen candles set round, and in the centre one larger, all lighted. This in memory of our Saviour and His Apostles, lights of the world.

Westmeath custom.

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In the South-hams of Devonshire, on the Eve of the Epiphany, the farmer attended by his workmen, with a large pitcher of cyder, goes to the orchard, and there, encircling one of the best bearing trees, they drink the following toast three several times:

"Here's to thee, old apple-tree, Whence thou mayst bud, and whence thou mayst blow! And whence thou mayst bear apples enow! Hats-full, caps-full! Bushel-bushel-sacks-full! And my pockets full too! Huzza!"

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OLD CUSTOM OF BLESSING APPLE TREES ON TWELFTH DAY.

Apple-tree, apple-tree, Bear apples for me: Hats full, laps full, Sacks full, caps full: Apple-tree, apple-tree, Bear apples for me.

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"Twelfth-Day--came in a tiffany suit, white and gold, like a queen on a frost-cake, all royal, glittering, and Epiphanous."

Elia.

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January the fourteenth will be either the coldest or wettest day of the year.