Some time ago, when trying to find information pertaining to West Felton, I came across an interesting tract that detailed some interesting practices and belifes of the Salop of yora. The most interesting of which I have reproduced below:
One of the most interesting customs that survives in Shropshire is that of "souling," which still occurs in some of the villages near Oswestry, on All Hallows Eve (there called Whistle-Wassail night), or on the more correct date, All Soul's Day,-All Souls' Day, 2nd November, was one of the four great Celtic Festivals, and was given up to Ancestor Worship. This survives in the Fete des Morts in Catholic countries; in Provence whole families attend the cemeteries taking flowers to the graves. It is a real Festival, for they go in their gayest clothes and the whole atmosphere is that of festival, and not of mourning. In Shropshire, and no doubt elsewhere in England, parties used to go from house to house, chanting a quaint ditty, and receiving gifts of fruit and soul cakes-a kind of spiced bun-which were specially made to give the soulers. The children in several villages near Oswestry, West Felton, Llynclws, still go round. The soul cakes are, I believe, no longer made, but nuts, sweets and apples are put ready for them. I have records of this taking place last November (1937). Here is the West Felton version:
Soul, Soul, for a souling cake,
I praym good missus, a souling cake,
Apple or pear, plum or cherry,
Anything good to make us merry,
Up with your offer and down with your pon
Give us an answer and we'l be gone.
Shropshire Folklore of Yestrday and To-day - L. H. Hayward (1938)
The entire text can be read at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?w5d8qaluy9sus8d
Was wondering if any older folks remember any such practices that have now been replaced by dissolute behaviour?
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Sounds like the ancestors got up to some dissolute behaviour from this!