Ceremonies For Candlemas Eve
by
Down with the rosemary and bays,
Down with the mistletoe;
Instead of holly, now upraise
The greener box for show.
The holly hitherto did sway;
Let box now domineer
Until the dancing Easter day
Or Easter’s eve appear.
Then youthful box, which now hath grace
Your houses to renew,
Grown old, surrender must his place
Unto the crisped yew.
When yew is out, then birch comes in,
And many flowers beside,
Both of a fresh and fragrant kin,
To honor Whitsuntide.
Green rushes then, and sweetest bents,
With cooler oaken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments,
To readorn the house.
Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold;
New things succeed as former things grow old.