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Show Hay Sirewn in Church an Old Village Custom A curious custom has been observed from time Immemorial at Old Weston, Huntingdonshire, In England. The church there ls dedicated to St. Swith-In, Swith-In, and on the Sunday most nearly approaching ap-proaching St. Swilhin's day the edifice edi-fice Is strewn with new-mown hay. The tradition ls that an old lady bequeathed a field for charitable purposes pur-poses on condition that the tenant provided pro-vided the hay to lessen the annoyance caused bv tlte squeaking of the new shoes worn by 'the villagers on Feast Sundnv. There are other explanations one that it Is an offering of the first fruits of the harvest and another that ' it is a survival of the custom of strew-: strew-: lng tin; church (when the floor was only beaten earth) with rushes. Washington Star. |