British Popular Customs Present And Past - online book

A calendar of the traditional customs, practices & rituals of the British Isles.

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300                           THE SHREWSBURY SHOW.                  [May 25.
particularly if they personally attended from the* country.—
Drake's Eboracum, 1736; Hargrove, History of York, 1818,
vol. ii. p. 494.
IRELAND.
Corpus Christi Day was formerly celebrated at Dublin with high veneration. In the Chain-book of the City of Dublin are several entries to that purpose. We are told that there was a grand procession, in which the glovers were to represent Adam and Eve, with an angel bearing a sword before them.
The corrisees (perhaps curriers) were to represent Cain and Abel, with an altar and their offering.
Mariners and vintners, Noah and the persons in his Ark, apparelled in the habit of carpenters and salmon-takers.
The wreavers personated Abraham and Isaac, with their offering and altar.
The smiths represented Pharaoh, with his host.
The skinners, the camell with the children of Israel, &c. —See Harris, History of Dublin, 1766, p. 147.
may 22.] COVENTEY SHOW FAIR.
This celebrated fair, says Brand (Pop. Antiq. 1849, vol. i. p. 286), commences upon Friday in Trinity week, and lasts for eight days. The charter for it was granted by Henry III. in 1218, at the instigation of Handle, Earl of Chester. For many years it was one of the chief marts in the kingdom, and was celebrated for the show designated the Procession of Lady Godiva, of which Brand has given a long account.
May. 25.] THE SHREWSBURY SHOW.
In the Book of Days (vol. i. pp. 704-708) will be found an interesting and amusing account of the Shrewsbury Show, which appears, from the records of the reign of Henry VI., to have been held time out of mind on the second Monday after Trinity Sunday.
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