Andrew's Dole is an English custom dating from 1605. In that year, the Mayor of
Bideford (in the county of
Devon), John Andrew, established a trust to provide for loaves of bread to be distributed to poor, elderly, persons who applied at the Mayor's Parlour. The custom continues to this day and takes place on
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is a festival observed in most of the world on 1 January, the first day of the year in the modern Gregorian calendar. 1 January is also New Year's Day on the Julian calendar, but this is not the same day as the Gregorian one. Wh ...
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He also left some land to trustees and the income is distributed to 10 deserving people, for each trustee. Again this is distributed on New Year's Day.
References
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British folklore
Bideford
Culture in Devon