6TH DECEMBER-ST. NICHOLAS'S DAY. St. Nicholas of Myra, Bishop and Confessor, d. A.D. 343. Patron of fishermen, sailors, and children. 1 The custom of conveying presents to children secretly on St. Nicholas's Eve, "although unknown with us, is still retained in some parts of the Continent and in America, to the present day," says a correspondent of Gent. Mag. in 1827 (pt. i. p. 407). It is evidently only since then that it has become common in England to ascribe Christmas presents discovered on awaking to "Santa Claus." 2A week before Christmas and Easter, Northwich. End November, Derbyshire. 12TH DECEMBER-ST. FINAN'S EVE (FEILL FIONNAIN). St. Finan, Confessor, Bishop of Clonard, Ireland, 6th century. DECEMBER 13TH-ST. MAGNUS' DAY. St. Magnus, Bishop of Orkney, 1104. The outstanding feature of St. Thomas's Day is the licensed begging for Christmas gifts by respectable cottagers who would not beg at any other time.1 It is known as: Hertfordshire (Braugh- (Newington-by Sittingbourne), Sussex. "Thomassing" Carried on by both sexes Warwickshire. N.W. Wilts., Worcestershire. Cheshire. Gloucestershire (Avening, Berkeley, Minchinhampton, Selsley). Herefordshire. Lincs. (Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, etc.). Norfolk, W. Somerset. Yorks. (Hornsea, E. Riding). Cambridgeshire (Great Gransden). Cheshire, Derbysh. Gloucestershire (Winchcombe). Leic., Lincs. Salop (Church Stretton, Much Wenlock, Pulverbatch, etc.). Staffs., Warwick shire. Yorks. (W. Riding). Cheshire. Glos. (Abson, Avening, Minchinhampton, St. Briavels). Staffs. (Cheadle). Sussex. Warw., Worc. Yorksh. (betw. Doncaster and Pontefract). |