St Marks Eve

'

According to my trusty almanac the 24th of this month is 

the night to visit the church porch.

At the appointed hour ghosts of the doomed can be seen passing 

into the church. You may need to make three visits before the spectres 

will appear before you but beware if you see your double or fall asleep 

while the ghostly procession passes you will surely die within the year.

'The ghosts of all whom death shall doom

Within the coming year;

In pale procession walk the gloom,

Amid the silences drear.'

It is also a good time for young girls to use divination to discover 

the identity of their future husbands. Hang your smock by the fireplace 

and await for the arrival of an apparition of your true love to come in 

and turn your garment for you.

'On St Mark's Eve, at twelve o'clock,

The fair maid will watch her smock,

To find her husband in the dark,

By praying unto good St Mark.'

In Lincolnshire young women would visit the Malden Well on St Mark's Eve

 and walk backwards around it three times, at the same time making a wish 

to see her destined sweetheart. 

After the third circle she must kneel and gaze into the water, hopefully to see 

the image of her future husband.