The strewing of the floors with rushes is an old custom, and has died
hard. The farmhouses in Cheshire were strewn on the first of May with
green rushes, over which lavender and rosemary were scattered. Rushes
are no longer used, but a pattern is frequently worked on the flagged
floor by the juice of dock leaves.[61]
Formerly all churches were strewn with rushes, and these were generally
renewed on great festivals:
“1551 Rysshes at Wytsontyd vi^d
” ” ” Mydsomer viij^d
” ” against All Hallowtyde x^d
1584 To Edward Griffith for boughs, rishes,
and other things what time the
Earl of Leicester came hither xviij^s ij^d”[62]
“1630 Paid to Robert Raborne for getting
out the old rushes of the church viij^d”[63]
The custom of carrying rushes to church gradually developed into a
festival, and the rushes were then decorated and carried in procession.
In some parishes, where the time of year was suitable, this was done on
the “Wake” day of the village. Flowers and garlands were added, which
“were hung up in the church; we saw these garlands remaining in several
places.”[64] Finally, the graves were strewn with them. This custom is
still observed at Farndon with much ceremony on July 16th or the first
Sunday afterwards.
[61] Utkinton Hall, 1908.
[62] Chester Cathedral Treasurer’s Accounts.
[63] Frodsham Accounts.
[64] Lyson’s _Cheshire_.
Many rush-bearings, or “rush-buryings,” as they are sometimes called,
became riotous festivities, and the _Chester Courant_ for August 6,
1810, says:
“Christleton Rush-Bearing.--We were sorry to learn that the
festivities of this annual _fête_ should have been disgraced by that
almost universally reprobated amusement, a Bull-bait. After this
savage practice has fallen into disrepute and disgrace amongst the
most uncultivated parts of the island, it is mortifying for us to
record a transaction so disgraceful in the immediate vicinity of the
polished city of Chester.”
In Cheshire also rushes are used as a charm for warts. The charmer has
a long straight rush, ties three knots in it, makes it into a circle,
draws it over the wart downwards nine times, at the same time muttering
a spell which he refuses to disclose on the ground that if he did so
the charm would not work. In three months the wart will disappear.
The old rush-lights of Cheshire were sold at twenty for sixpence. “They
were as thick as the present ‘twelve’ candles (twelve to the pound),
but half as long again, and gave a steady but dim light. There were
some curious bits of folk-lore connected with them. For instance, if
a rush-light in ‘sweating’ curled over, it denoted death; if a bright
star appeared in the flame, it portended a letter.”[65]
[65] Burton, _Rush-Bearing_.