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EVERY-DAY BOOK;

OR, THE

Guide to the Year:

RELATING THE

POPULAR AMUSEMENTS,

SPORTS, CEREMONIES, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND EVENTS,

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PRINTED FOR WILLIAM HONE, 45, LUDGATE HILL,
(To be published every Saturday, price Threepence,)

AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS IN TOWN AND COUNTRY.

1825

D
3DL 251

LIBRARY

PRINTED BY A, APPLEGATH, STAMFORD-STREET.

TO THE

READERS OF THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.

OUR ancestors were persons of leisure. They appropriated each day in the year to the memory of remarkable persons or events. THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will relate the origin of these three hundred and sixty-five celebrations, with interesting accounts of the individuals and circumstances commemorated.

It will especially describe the National and Domestic Festivities at the Remarkable Seasons, and on the great Holidays that are still kept; particularly those on New Year's day-Twelfth day—St. Agnes' eve—Candlemas day-St. Valentine's day-Shrovetide-Ash Wednesday-St. David's day-St. Patrick's day.-Palm Sunday-Lady day-All Fools' day-Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-Eastertide-Hock day-St. George's day-May day-Royal Oak day-WhitsuntideSt. Barnabas' day-St. John's eve-St. Swithin's day-Lammas-tide-Corpus Christi day-Midsummer-tide-Michaelmas-tide-Allhallow e'en-Gunpowder Plot day-St. Andrew's day-Christmas-tide-Childermas day-New Year's eve, &c.

While recording such observances, it will entertain the reader with descriptions of numerous Popular Merriments and Usages, a few of which may be mentioned as instances : namely, Fairs-Wakes-Morris Dancings-Harvest Homes-Shear

ings-Mayings-Aleings-Wassailings-Mummings-Soulings-Waits-Eton

Montem-Hogmany-Yule, &c.

Besides a multitude of subjects of this description, the amusing character of the EVERY-DAY BOOK will be increased by curious details respecting Flinging the stocking-The Wandering Jew-Hand of Glory-Glastonbury thorn-Wrestling -Kissing-Man in the Moon-Robin Hood-The Merry Thought-Tea-The Drama-Highgate oath-Dunmow flitch-Winifred's well-Music-Horn Fair -Old Nick-Joint ring-Robin Goodfellow-Robin Badfellow-Passing bellWedding ring-Death watch-the Grace cup-Archery-Cockfighting-Breaking up-Jack a' Lanthorn-Second sight-Barber's pole-Strewing rushes Bleeding of the Murdered-Under the Rose-Sitting cross legged-Longevity— Coronation stone-Sneezing-Bear baiting-Lady in the straw-Seventh son of a seventh son-True lover's knot-Blindman's buff-Curfew bell-Divining rodHunt the slipper-Roodloft-Nightmare-Pricking in the belt-Dress-Cursing by bell, book and candle-Golf-Black's the white o' my eye-Garnish-Barring out at school-Groaning cake—Chiromancy-Cunning men-Undertakers—Marriages - Penny weddings- Vanes - Love Charms - Toys - Storms MolesCramp rings-Horseshoes-Fools-Jesters-Apparitions-Babies in the eyes— Fairy rings-Autographs-Witch finders-Witches-Wizards-Shop signs-Cries - Amulets-Duels-Charms - Healths - Exorcisms - Evil eyes - Eclipses Shooting stars-Gypsies-Sin eaters-Corpse candles-Misers-Quacks-Incantations-Crickets-Bonfires-Old saws-Philtres-Frosts-Fairies-Somnambulists-Christenings - Pawnbrokers' balls - Burials-Cuckolds- ProcessionsSpectres-Lucky and unlucky numbers-Newspapers-Christmas boxes-Bogles, Brownies-Spunkies-Kelpies-Wraiths-Dwarfs -Giants-Fascinations-Tobacco-Snuff-Sorcerers-Songs-Hair and Wigs-Vigils-Spirits-Omens

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Familiars-Holy Wells-Gossips-Cards-Wrecks-Divinations-BetrothingsShrouds Inventions-Phenomena, &c. &c. &c. By the introduction of various topics and facts of a still more interesting and important nature, with suitable Historical, Biographical, Astronomical, and Seasonable Anecdotes-information that is useful to all, will be combined with amusement that is agreeable to most. THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will be a History of the Year. Whether it be consulted respecting to-day or to-morrow, or any other day, it will present acceptable particulars respecting the day sought. It becomes, therefore, a Perpetual Guide to the Year-not to any one year in particular, but to every year-and forms a Complete Dictionary of the Almanac, for the daily use and instruction of every person who possesses an Almanac, and desires a Key to it.

In this view it will be the EVERY-DAY BOOK of pleasure and business-of parents and children, teachers and pupils, masters and servants: and, as Cowper says, that, "a volume of verse is a fiddle that sets the universe in motion," it is believed that his remark may be somewhat verified by the pleasant images and kind feelings, which the interspersion of much excellent poetry throughout the work is designed to create in all classes of its readers.

Many essential particulars relating to the days of the week, the twelve months, the four seasons, and the year generally, will be arranged by way of Appendix, and there will be a copious Index to the whole.

A number, or sheet of thirty-two columns, price threepence, will be published every Saturday till the undertaking is completed, which will be in about a year— a few weeks more or less. The Engravings in each will vary as to number: in some there may be only one or two; in others, three, or four, or five-according to the subject.

It will form a large and handsome volume, containing a greater body of curious and interesting anecdotes and facts than exists in any other in the English language; and be illustrated by nearly two hundred Engravings from the original designs of superior artists, or from rare and remarkable prints and drawings.

This mode of publication is adopted with a view to two objects: 1st, the general diffusion of useful facts in connection with curious information; and 2dly, the attainment of additional particulars during its progress.

To a large mass of materials already collected, communications respecting local usages or customs in any part of the United Kingdom, and Festival Ceremonials abroad, will be especially acceptable. Such communications, or any useful hints or suggestions, or permission to extract from books or manuscripts, it will give me great pleasuree to receive, and to acknowledge as circumstances may require.

45, Ludgate-hill,

31st December, 1824.

W. HONE.

NOTE.-This Leaf and the Title are to be cut off, and thrown aside, when the Volume is bound. A new title, e, will be given gratis.

THE HISTORY OF PARODY, with ENLARGED REPORTS OF MY THREE TRIALS, a royal octavo Volume of 600 pages, handsomely printed and illustrated by numerous Engravings on copper and wood, plain and coloured, is in considerable forwardness. The price will be 27. 2s. in extra boards. The favour of additional names to the list of Subscribers is respectfully solicited, in order to regulate the number of copies to be printed-but NO MONEY WILL BE RECEIVED until the book is delivered.

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THIS
is the first and the coldest month
of the year. Its zodiacal sign is Aquarius
or the Waterbearer. It derives its name
from Janus, a deity represented by the
Romans with two faces, because he was
Acquainted with past and future events.
Cotton introduces him into a poem on the
new year-

Hark, the cock crows, and yon bright star
Tells us, the day himself's not far;
And see where, breaking from the night,
He gilds the western hills with light.
With him old Janus doth appear,
Peeping into the future year,
With such a look as seems to say,
The prospect is not good that way.
Thus do we rise ill sights to see,
And 'gainst ourselves to prophesy;
When the prophetic fear of things
A more tormenting mischief brings,
More full of soul-tormenting gall
Than direst mischiefs can befall.
But stay! but stay! Methinks my sight,
Better inform'd by clearer light,

Discerns sereneness in that brow,
That all contracted seem'd but now.
His revers'd face may show distaste,
And frown upon the ills are past;
But that which this way looks is clear,
And smiles upon the new-born year.

According to the ancient mythology, Janus was the god of gates and avenues, and in that character held a key in his right hand, and a rod in his left, to symbolize his opening and ruling the year: sometimes he bore the number 300 in one hand, and 65 in the other, the number of its days. At other times he was reprosented with four heads, and placed in a temple of four equal sides, with a door and three windows in each side, as emblems of the four seasons and the twelve months over which he presided.

According to Veistegan (Restitution of Decayed Intelligence, 4to. 1628, p. 59) the Saxons called this month "Wolfmonat," or Wolf-month, because the

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