[941] Usener, ii. 84 ‘Qui preparant mensam dominae Perthae’ (fifteenth century). Schmeller, Bairisch. Wörterb. i. 270, gives other references for Perchte in this connexion.
[942] Usener, ii. 58.
[943] Dives and Pauper (Pynson, 1493) ‘Alle that ... use nyce observances in the ... new yere, as setting of mete or drynke, by nighte on the benche, to fede Atholde or Gobelyn.’ In English folk-custom, food is left for the house-spirit or ‘brownie’ on ordinary as well as festal days; cf. my ‘Warwick’ edition of Midsummer Night’s Dream, 145.
[944] Jahn, 283; Brand, i. 18; Bertrand, 405; Cortet, 33, 45.
[945] Appendix N, No. xxiii. If the words ‘in foco’ are not part of the text, ‘youling’ (cf. pp. 142, 260) may be intended.
[946] Bertrand, 111, 404.
[947] Jahn, 120, 244, 269: the Gertruden-minnes on St. Gertrude’s day (March 17) perhaps preserve another fragment of the spring Todtenfest, St. Gertrude here replacing the mother-goddess; cf. Grimm, iii. xxxviii.
[948] Grimm, i. 268, 273, 281; Mogk, in Paul, iii. 279. The especial day of Frau Perchte is Epiphany.
[949] Mogk, in Paul, iii. 260; Tille, D. W. 173.
[950] Grimm, iv. 1798.