—A writer in the Gent. Mag. (1791, vol. lxi. p. 327) says a May-gosling, on the 1st of May, is made with as much eagerness in the north of England as an April noddy (noodle) or fool on the 1st of April.
“U. P. K. spells May-goslings” is an expression used by boys at play as an insult to the losing party. U. P. K. is up-pick, that is, up with your pin or peg, the mark of the goal. An additional punishment was thus: the winner made a hole in the ground with his heel, into which a peg about three inches long was driven, its top being below the surface; the loser, with his hands tied behind him, was to pull it up with his teeth, the boys buffeting with their hats, and calling out, “Up-pick! you May gosling!” or “U. P. K., gosling in May.”[45]
Berkshire.
At Abingdon the children and young people formerly went about in groups on May morning, singing the following carol:—
“We’ve been a-rambling all the night,
And sometime of this day;
And now returning back again,
We bring a garland gay.
Why don’t you do as we have done
On this first day of May?
And from our parents we have come,
And would no longer stay.
A garland gay we bring you here,
And at your door we stand;
It is a sprout well budded out,
The work of our Lord’s hand.
Why don’t you do, &c.
So dear, so dear as Christ loved us,
And for our sins was slain;
Christ bids us turn from wickedness
Back to the Lord again.
Why don’t you do,” &c.—
N. & Q. 4th S. vol. iii. p. 401.