Henry Burstow's Reminiscences

Henry Burstow's Reminiscences were first published in 1911. A full transcription can be seen at http://www.folk-network.com/miscellany/burstow/burstow.html

This Reminiscence on 19th Century Sussex May Day Customs was reprinted in the 1976 Summer edition of English Dance and Song

May Day, or Garland Day was a very jolly time for us youngsters, not only because it was a holiday, but also because we used to pick up what seemed to us quite a bit of money. Early in the morning we would get up our best nosegays and garlands, some mounted on poles and visit the private residents and tradespeople. We represented a well recognised institution, and invariably got well received and patronised.People all seemed pleased to see us, and we were all pleased to see one another, especially if the day was fine, as it now seems to me that it always was.

At Manor House special arrangements were made for our reception, and quite a delightful old time ceremony took place. Boys and girls gaily decked out for the occasion, a few at a time used to approach the front door, where a temporary railed platform was erected, and there old Mrs Tredcroft, a nice looking, good hearted old lady used to stand and deal out to each and every one of us kind words and a few pence, everyone curtseying upon approach and upon leaving.

Old Mrs Smallwood who lived in a quaint old cottage in the Bishopric, always used to go round on May Day with an immense garland drawn on a trolley by two or three boys. On the top of her garland she used to mount her little model cow, indicative of her trade - milk selling. Gaily dressed up herself in bows and ribbons, she used to take her garland around the town, call upon all the principal residents and tradespeople, to whom she was well known, and get well patronised. This old lady lived nearly 100 years, and until she was nearly 96 regularly carried milk round to her customers in buckets suspended from a yoke on her shoulders.

On this day, too, we had Jacks-in the Green. The chimney sweeps used to dress up in fancy costumes and in evergreens and flowers, and accompanied by a fiddler or two, parade and dance all round the town and neighbourhood. There were two sets of Jacks-in-the-Green when I was a boy, the Potter and the Whiting parties, and a considerable rivalry existed between them.