CHAPTER III.

May-Day Festivities -- Formerly celebrated with more Gaiety than any others -- Came down from Pagan Antiquity in all their Arcadian Beauty -- It was the Festival of the Poets -- None now more entirely obsolete -- Washington Irving’s Delight at seeing Plough-bullocks and May-poles in the Neighbourhood of Newstead -- great Decline of these things during the last Thirty Years even there -- a few May-poles still to be found in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire -- May-dances quite gone by -- May day celebrated with enthusiasm by the Poets -- European Observance of May derived from the Roman Festival of Flora -- Saxon Customs of this period of the year -- Druid Customs -- Blowing of Horns at Oxford and other places -- Custom mentioned by Erasmus, of placing a Deer’s Horns on St. Paul’s Altar -- Custom of the Hindus -- Beltane in Ireland and Scotland -- May-feast of Northumberland -- Fishing for the Wedding-ring -- Roman Feast of Flora imitated in France and England -- Various Additions here of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, etc. -- Spenser and Herrick’s description of May-day Festivities -- Henry VIII., Elizabeth, and James I.’s going a-Maying -- Sheriffs and Aldermen of London going a-Maying -- Congratulated by Lydgate the Poet -- In 1644, all May-poles pulled down -- In 1654 Maying again, in presence of the Lord Protector -- Great May-pole in the Strand raised again at the Restoration -- Aubrey’s Account of the May-booms in Holland -- Complaints of Aubrey and Evelyn of Injury done to the Woods by Mayers -- May Customs that yet remain 421