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TO THE

READERS OF THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.

OUR ancestors were persons of leisure. They appropriated each day in the year to the memory of remarkable persons or events. THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will relate the origin of these three hundred and sixty-five celebrations, with interesting accounts of the individuals and circumstances commemorated.

It will especially describe the National and Domestic Festivities at the Remarkable Seasons, and on the great Holidays that are still kept; particularly those on New Year's day-Twelfth day-St. Agnes' eve-Candlemas day-St. Valentine's day Shrovetide-Ash Wednesday - St. David's day-St. Patrick's day - Palm Sunday - Lady day-All Fools' day — Maundy Thursday-Good Friday - Eastertide-Hock day-St. George's day-May day-Royal Oak day-WhitsuntideSt. Barnabas' day - St. John's eve St. Swithin's day-Lammas-tide- Corpus Christi day - Midsummer-tide-Michaelmas-tide -Allhallow e'en - Gunpowder Plot day-St. Andrew's day-Christmas-tide-Childermas day-New Year's eve, &c.

While recording such observances, it will entertain the reader with descriptions of numerous Popular Merriments and Usages, a few of which may be mentioned as instances: namely, Fairs-Wakes-Morris Dancings-Harvest Homes-Shearinga-Mayings — Aleings Wassailings - Mummings - Soulings -Waits - Eton Montem-Hogmany-Yule, &c.

Besides a multitude of subjects of this description, the amusing character of the EVERY-DAY BOOK will be increased by curious details respecting Flinging the stocking-The Wandering Jew-Hand of Glory-Glastonbury thorn-WrestlingKissing-Man in the Moon-Robin Hood - The Merry Thought— Tea - The Drama - Highgate oath-Dunmow flitch-Winifred's well-Music - Horn Fait -Old Nick-Joint ring-Robin Goodfellow-Robin Badfellow-Passing bellWedding ring-Death watch-The Grace cup-Archery-Cockfighting - Breaking up-Jack a' Lanthorn-Second sight- Barber's pole - Strewing rushesBleeding of the Murdered-Under the Rose-Sitting cross legged-LongevityCoronation stone-Sneezing-Bear baiting-Lady in the straw-Seventh son of a seventh son-True lover's knot-Blindman's buff-Curfew bell-Divining rodHunt the slipper-Roodloft — Nightmare — Pricking in the belt-Dress-Cursing by bell, book and candle-Golf-Black's the white o' my eye-Garnish-Barring out at school-Groaning cake-Chiromancy-Cunning men- Undertakers-Marriages Penny weddings. Vanes Love charms Toys - Storms Moles

Eclipses

Cramp rings Horseshoes - Fools-Jesters - Apparitions-Babies in the eyesFairy rings-Autographs-Witch finders-Witches-Wizards-Shop signs-Cries - Amulets — Duels - Charms - Healths - Exorcisms - Evil eyes Shooting stars-Gypsies-Sin eaters-Corpse candles-Misers-Quacks-Incantations Crickets-Bonfires-Old saws-Philtres-Frosts- Fairies-Somnambulists Christenings - Pawnbrokers' balls - Burials — Cuckolds - Processions Spectres-Lucky and unlucky numbers-Newspapers-Christmas-boxes-BoglesBrownies-Spunkies - Kelpies - Wraiths - Dwarfs-Giants - Fascinations-Tobacco-Snuff-Sorcerers - Songs-Hair and Wigs-Vigils-Spirits - Omens

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Familiars-Holy Wells-Gossips - Cards - Wrecks - Divinations - Betrothings— Shrouds Inventions Phenomena, &c. &c. &c. By the introduction of various topics and facts of a still more interesting and important nature, with suitable Historical, Biographical, Astronomical, and Seasonable Anecdotes-information that is useful to all, will be combined with amusement that is agreeable to most.

THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will be a History of the Year. Whether it be consulted respecting to-day or to-morrow, or any other day, it will present acceptable particulars respecting the day sought. It becomes, therefore, a Perpetual Guide to the Year-not to any one year in particular, but to every year-and forms a Complete Dictionary of the Almanac, for the daily use and instruction of every person who possesses an Almanac, and desires a Key to it.

In this view it will be the EVERY-DAY BOOK of pleasure and business—of parents and children, teachers and pupils, masters and servants: and, as Cowper says, that, "a volume of verse is a fiddle that sets the universe in motion," it is believed that his remark may be somewhat verified by the pleasant images and kind feelings, which the interspersion of much excellent poetry throughout the work is designed to create in all classes of its readers.

Many essential particulars relating to the days of the week, the twelve months, the four seasons, and the year generally, will be arranged by way of Appendix, and there will be a copious Index to the whole.

A number, or sheet of thirty-two columns, price threepence, will be published every Saturday till the undertaking is completed, which will be in about a yeara few weeks more or less. The Engravings in each will vary as to number: in some there may be only one or two; in others, three, or four, or five-according to the subject.

It will form a large and handsome volume, containing a greater body of curious and interesting anecdotes and facts than exists in any other in the English language; and be illustrated by nearly two hundred Engravings from the original designs of superior artists, or from rare and remarkable prints and drawings.

This mode of publication is adopted with a view to two objects: 1st, the general diffusion of useful facts in connection with various information; and 2dly, the attainment of additional particulars during its progress.

To a large mass of materials already collected, communications respecting local usages or customs in any part of the United Kingdom, and Festival Ceremonials abroad, will be especially acceptable. Such communications, or any useful hints or suggestions, or permission to extract from books or manuscripts, it will give me great pleasure to receive, and to acknowledge as circumstances may require.

45, Ludgate-hill,

31st December, 1824.

W. HONE.

NOTE.-This Leaf and the Title are to be cut off, and thrown aside, when the Volume is bound. A new title, &c., will be given gratis.

THE HISTORY OF PARODY, with ENLARGED REPORTS OF MY THREE TRIALS, a royal octavo volume of 600 pages, handsomely printed and illustrated by numerous Engravings on copper and wood, plain and coloured, is in considerable forwardness. The price will be 27. 28. in extra boards. The favour of additional names to the list of Subscribers is respectfully solicited, in order to regulate the number of copies to be printed-but NO MONEY WILL BE RECEIVED until the book is delivered.

ΤΟ

CHARLES LAMB, ESQ.

DEAR L―,

YOUR letter to me, within the first two months from the commencement of the present work, approving my notice of St. Chad's Well, and your afterwards daring to publish me your "friend." with your "proper name" annexed, I shall never forget. Nor can I forget your and Miss Lamb's sympathy and kindness, when glooms outmastered me; and that your pen spontaneously sparkled in the book, when my mind was in clouds and darkness These "trifles," as each of you would call them, are benefits scored upon my heart; and

May 5, 1825.

I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME,

TO YOU AND MISS LAMB,

WITH AFFECTIONATE RESPECT,

W. HONE.

PREFACE.

THIS volume is a specimen of a work undertaken for the purpose of forming a collection of the manners and customs of ancient and modern times, with descriptive accounts of the several seasons of popular pastime.

Each of the three hundred and sixty-five days in the year is distinguished by occurrences or other particulars relating to the day, and by the methods of celebrating every holiday; the work is therefore what its titlo purports, THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.

It is an EVERLASTING CALENDAR-because its collection of facts concerning the origin and usages of every remarkable day, including movable feasts and fasts, constitute a calendar for every year.

It is a HISTORY OF THE YEAR-because it traces the commencement and progress of the year from the first day to the last.

It is a HISTORY OF THE MONTHS-because it describes the appearances that distinguish each month from the other months.

It is a HISTORY OF THE SEASONS-because it describes the influences and character of the four quarters into which the year is divided, and the most remarkable objects in natural history peculiar to each season.

It is a PERPETUAL KEY TO THE ALMANACK-because it explains the signification of every name and term in the almanack.

Its antiquarian and historical notices are calculated to engage the attention of almost every class of readers, and to gratify several who would scarcely expect such particulars in such a miscellany. The perplexities attending the discovery of certain facts, and the labour of reducing all into order, will be appreciated by the few who have engaged in similar pursuits. Some curious matters are now, for the first time, submitted to the public; and others are so rare as to seem altogether new.

As regards the engravings, to such as are from old masters, notices of their prints are always annexed. The designs for the allegorical and other illustrations have originated with myself; and the drawings been accommodated, and the engravings executed, according to my own sense of subject and style. In numerous instances they have been as satisfactory to me as to my readers; many of whom, however, are less difficult to please than 1 am, and have favourably received some things which I have been obliged to tolerate, because the exigency of publication left me no time to supply their place. I know what art can accomplish, and am therefore dissatisfied when artists fail to accomplish.

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