October 11.

Sts. Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus, A. D. 304. St. Gummar, or Gomar, A. D. 774. St. Ethelburge, or Edilburge, A. D. 664. St. Canieus, or Kenny, Abbot in Ireland, A. D. 599.

St. Ethelburge.

In ancient times, on the festival of this saint, furmity was "an usual dish."‡[1]

Old Michaelmas Day.

On this day it was a custom in Hartfordshire for young men to assemble in the fields and choose a leader, whom they were obliged to follow through ponds and ditches, "over brake and briar." Every person they met was taken up by the arms and bumped, or swung against another. Each publican furnished a gallon of ale and plum-cake, which was consumed in the open air. This was a septennial custom and called ganging-day.*[2]

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FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Holly. Hex aquifolium.
Dedicated to St. Ethelburge.

Notes [all notes are Hone's unless otherwise indicated]:

1. Fosbroke's Ency. of Antiq. [return]

2. Brand. [return]. Hone also mentions this practice in his account of Michaelmas day on September 29.[KG]