In the Scottish Highlands, in the eighteenth century, the boys had a curious custom.  They would go to the moors outside of the town, make a round table in the sod, by cutting a trench around it, deep enough for them to sit down to their grassy table.  On this table they would kindle a fire and cook a custard of eggs and milk, and knead a cake of oat-meal, which was toasted by the fire.  After eating the custard, the cake was cut into as many parts as there were boys; one piece was made black with coal, and then all put into a cap.  Each boy was in turn blindfolded, and made to take a piece, and the one who selected the black one was to be sacrificed to Baal, whose favor they wished to ask for their harvest.  The victim in that day had only to leap through the fire; but there is little doubt that the whole thing was a survival from the days when human beings were really sacrificed.

In the island of Lewis, in the west of Scotland, there prevails a custom of sending a man very early on May-day to cross a certain river, believing that if a woman crossed it first the salmon would not come into the stream for a year.

May-day festivals were not confined to the British islands.  They were found, with variations suited to the different races, all over Europe.  In France, the day was consecrated to the Virgin, and young girls celebrated it by dressing the prettiest one in white, crowning, and decorating her with flowers, and throning her under a canopy of flowers and greens, built beside the road.  There she sat in state, while her attendants begged of passers-by, for the “Lady of the May,” money, which was used in a feast later in the day.

In Toulouse, there was an ancient custom of giving a prize of a golden violet for the best poem.  This custom held its place for more than four centuries.  May-poles also flourished in France, and had gilt pendants.

The Dutch May-pole was still different, being surrounded by trees stuck into flower-pots, and ornamented with gay-colored flags, and hoops with garlands and gilt balls hanging.  Another sort had wooden dolls made to represent the figures of peasants, nailed against the pole by their hands and knees, as though climbing it.  There were also figures of birds and people.  In some parts of Germany it was the firm belief of the common people that certain ill-disposed beings met on a high mountain on May-day to dance and feast, with no good intentions to their human neighbors.  Accordingly on the day before, every family was careful to have a thorn of a certain kind, which was stuck into the door as a protection.

[Illustration:  AN OLD-TIME MAY-DAY IN “MERRIE ENGLAND.”]

The Scandinavians, whose first of May is not very balmy, had of old a curious fight between Summer and Winter.  Winter—­or the man representing him—­was dressed in skins, armed with fire-forks, and threw snow-balls and pieces of ice.  Summer was dressed in green leaves and summer dress.  They had a mock fight which was called “Driving away Winter and welcoming Summer,” and in the Isle of Man, where Norwegians had rule for many years, this custom lingered until very lately.