A CURIOUS CUSTOM.
The district known as the Ed:n Valley, in .Westmorland, still observes a most peculiar custom. Sometimes rows of hen's eggs are placed in windows,..' and strangers" wonicr why. Two ordinary eggs in the window denotes a married couple are in residence, whilst a bantam's egg represents each child. If a parent dies, his or her egg is painted black, and, after a year, is removed altogether. Should any of the family leave or die a small egg is taken away. Should a wilow or widower marry again, she or he is represented by a couple,/ which means there would be three largo eggs. Bachelor or spiustcr occupants for some reason or o'hor a'c exemptCn one occasicn th?rc was a window bed'scked in, nno village with sixteen eggs, registering tho parries as each twice married, anl t.vcl/e<hildren",. including three sets of twins.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19140829.2.45
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 699, 29 August 1914, Page 7
Word count
Tapeke kupu
144A CURIOUS CUSTOM. King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 699, 29 August 1914, Page 7
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Waitomo Investments is the copyright owner for the King Country Chronicle. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Waitomo Investments. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in