given.

ST. THOMAS'S DAY, 21ST DECEMBER.

The practice of women going Gooding is fast passing away. Very few bands
of women are seen now in the towns, but at Farcet last year (1910) the
widows received about two shillings each for their share.

CHRISTMAS.

For a few weeks before Christmas Day the Waits and Singers still come
round during the night time and on Boxing Days they call for their
Christmas Boxes. The singers have now degenerated into two or three
children who huddle together on the doorsteps of houses and sing through
the keyhole and letter box as fast and as loud as they can utter the
various hymns of which, "When shepherds watched their flocks by night."
As soon as they receive a halfpenny away they trot to the next house to
repeat the performance.

A Green Christmas makes a fat Churchyard.

If a Christmas Day on a Thursday be,
A windy winter we shall see.

If the sun shines on Christmas day for however short a time, the
following year will be good for fruit.

INNOCENTS DAY, DECEMBER 28TH.

Called "Dyzemass Day," it is considered very unlucky to begin anything
on this day and about sixty or seventy years ago many old people kept
this day more sacred than an ordinary Sunday.

COUNTRY DANCES.

In the old County families the Christmas or New Year's dances in which
tenants and servants all united together are still kept up in this
district and anticipated and enjoyed as heartily as ever. The up-to-date
dances are divided by the old Country dances which go with a vim and are
enjoyed by all. In these dances the Master, Mistress, family and friends
dance with the servants to the mutual good will and good feeling of all
concerned. The dance is generally opened by a Country dance in which the
Lady has the Butler for a partner and the Master the Housekeeper, and it
is generally a handsacross and down the middle so that everyone meets
during the dance. "The triumph" is a great favourite and opens with the
lady being taken down the centre by the gentleman next to her partner
who follows them to the bottom of the room and the two bring her back,
each holding her by one hand and their other hands clasped and held over
the ladys head with a very pretty effect.

"La Tempete" for noise and merriment takes a lot of beating and would
suit the modern dancing as it partakes more of a romp than a dance.

The "Ribbon Dance" when each couple holds the end of a ribbon (red,
white