from Celtic Folk Customs book by Brian Day....
Whitsuntide, Whit Week or just Whit, starts seven weeks after Easter
Sunday, and is the week running from Whit Sunday until the day before
Trinity Sunday. The Jewish feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter,
commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments by God to Moses on Mount
Sinai and lies on the same day as Whit Sunday. Whit was a joyous
occasion for Christians, originally celebrating the inspiration of
Christ's apostles by the Holy Ghost. 'Whit' may be derived from
'white', the customary colour of baptismal robes, or alternatively
perhaps from the giving of 'wit' to the disciples. The traditional
religious parades, pageants, and monetary donations gave way in time to
Church Ales and May games, the degree of solemnity being much reduced
everywhere except in devout Catholic areas.
CELTIC. In areas of English settlement (mainly Cornwall and the south
and east of Wales) the Church used to organise an outdoor feast for
parishioners, to take advantage of the generally fine weather at this
time of year, which came to be called the Whitsun Ale after the
specially brewed ale that was provided. A Lord and Lady of the Ale
would often be elected to preside over the festivities, which included
music, dancing, sports and games, miracle plays and much more. Fairs
grew up around them and organisations held parades.
As Whit Monday and Tuesday became public holidays this occasion tended
to be the start of a whole week of activities, culminating in the Whit
Walks on the Friday. Originating probably in Rogationtide Beating the
Bounds ceremonies they were adopted by Benefit Clubs and Friendly
Societies as healthy alternatives to the excesses of the Whitsun Ales.
These Societies, which also had Sick Clubs, for which member paid an
early form of health insurance, were teetotal, and outlived the general
Protestant opposition to Whitsun Ales in the 17th century.
WALES. A custom once held at Lleyn had an apparent sexual motive, where
couples desiring happiness tried to pass through a divided tree called Y
Pren Dedwydd ('The Blessed (or Happy) Tree'). Also in this town women
used to hold their hands behind their backs and try to hold a lamb
between their teeth. This successful woman was known as the Lamb Queen,
and was toasted with beer, which was called Cwrw Oen or Lamb Beer
As on Easter Monday, stocsio wad done in Bangor, Caernavon and Conway at
Whitsuntide. Whitsun Church Ales were held, and in Tenby there was the
procession and annual dinner of the Benefit Club.
Morris dancing was seen at Whitsun, especially in Glamorgan. The
dancers had bells on their knees and blackened faces, and were
accompanied by a Fool and Megen (or Marian), a man dressed as a woman,
to entertain and collect money. The type of dancing seems to resemble
that in Cheshire and Derbyshire more than in other English regions.
--
Pat Connors, Sacramento CA
http://www.connorsgenealogy.com
Professional Genealogy Research
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