Ti Bessy, Sally, Sue, an’ Peg,
Ti Martha, Mary, Maud, an’ Meg;
An’ here’s ti ivvery shap’ly leg
Roond which a brahdal band diz go.
Originally the ceremony of removing the bridal garter was, as has been said, carried out in a perfectly decorous manner; in time, however, it degenerated into actually stealing the garter by force. This unseemly proceeding possibly arose from the strong opposition and resentment which was felt, and for long demonstrated, whenever the ribbon supplanted the garter.
Why, as recently as 1820, Lady —— [18], a great stickler after old customs, on stepping from her bridal coach, inquired who had won the race. ‘Ah did, my lady,’ answered one of the stable lads. Ascending the steps, her ladyship stepped half over the threshold, calling out to the lad, ‘Come, Tom, and claim your prize,’ adding, as she raised her silken gown, ‘I intend to be properly married and have the luck I am entitled to.’ Then turning to the young fellow, smiling, she added, ‘Take it off, Tom, and give it to your sweetheart, and may it bring luck to both of you.’
In Great Ayton the ribbon seems to have supplanted the garter in the early part of this century. In fact it is only the old folks who remember, and can tell you anything concerning the gay and festive doings of those days. But the older custom held its own for long afterwards, and that, too, within a very few miles. But intercommunication between villages has never been a strong feature. Even to-day there is a species of rivalry existing between Stokesley and Great Ayton people, but this is common to all adjacent villages.
It only adds one more proof in support of what has already been said, that the customs, superstitions, and dialect of any given locality, or even that of a whole dale, cannot, and must not, be taken as being that of the whole of the North Riding, much less of Yorkshire.
A case in point may here be mentioned. In days past it was usual in Great Ayton to discharge firearms over the bridal party as they processed both to and from the church. This, however, was by no means the custom throughout Cleveland[19]. Neither was the firing of the stithy, which I am told was never omitted; i.e. a charge of powder poured into a hole in the anvil, upon which a heavy weight was laid; this, when fired, went off with the report of a cannon. In many places the latter was only resorted to when either objectionable people were united or in the case of a forced marriage. In Great Ayton it was done in honour of the occasion.
Much variation exists as to the exact time when the ribbon is to be run for. In some places it is the custom for the racers to stand at the church door, and start off on a signal being given that the ring has been slipped on the bride’s finger. In other localities the race takes place the moment the bride and bridegroom leave the church porch, the one arriving first at the bride’s door being the winner.