Part 26

Candlemas

On Can'lemas, a February day, Throw can'le an' can'lestick away.

A Can'lemas crack Lays mony a sailor on his back.

If Can'lemas be lound(1) an' fair, Ya hauf o' t' winter's to coom an' mair. If Can'lemas day be murk an' foul, Ya hauf o' t' winter's gean at Yule.

1. Calm.

February Fill-Dike

February fill-dyke, Fill it wi' eyther black or white. March muck it oot, Wi' a besom an' a cloot.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, palm away; Next Sunday's Easter-day.

Good Friday

On Good Friday rist thy pleaf,(1) Start nowt, end nowt, that's eneaf.

Lang Friday's niver dean, Sea lig i' bed whal Setterday nean. 1. Rest thy plough.

Royal Oak Day

It's Royal Oak Day, T' twenty-naanth o' May. An' if ye dean't gie us holiday, We'll all run away.

Harvest Home and the Mell-Sheaf(1)

1. The " mell " is the last sheaf of corn left in the field when the harvest is gathered in.

We have her, we have her, A coo iv a tether. At oor toon-end. A yowe(1) an' a lamb, A pot an' a pan. May we git seafe in Wiv oor harvest-yam, Wiv a sup o' good yal, An' some ha'pence to spend.

3. Ewe.

Here we coom at oor toon-end, A pint o' yal an' a croon to spend. Here we coom as tite as nip(1) An' niver flang ower(2) but yance iv a grip.(3)

1. Very quickly. 2. Tumbled. 3. Ditch.

Weel bun' an' better shorn Is Mr. Readheead's corn. We have her, we have her, As fast as a feather. Hip, hip, hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

John Metcalfe has gitten all shorn an' mawn, All but a few standards an' a bit o' lowse corn. We have her, we have her, Fast i' a tether Coom help us to hod her. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Blest be t' day that Christ was born, For we've getten t' mell o' t' farmer's corn. It's weel bun', but better shorn. Mell! Shout, lads, Mell!

Guy Fawkes Day

A Stick and a stake, For King James's sake. Please give us a coil,(1) a coil. 1. Coal.

Awd Grimey sits upon yon hill, As black as onny awd craw. He's gitten on his lang grey coat Wi' buttons doon afoor. He's gitten on his lang grey coat Wi' buttons doon afoor.

Christmas

I wish you a merry Kessenmas an' a happy New Year, A pokeful o' money an' a cellar-full o' beer. A good fat pig an' a new-cauven coo; Good maisther an' misthress, hoo do you do?