Candlemas Eve

Candlemas Eve.

Down with the rosemary and bays,
Down with the mistletoe ;
Instead of holly, now up-raise
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 honour Whitsuntide.
Green rushes then, and sweetest bents,
With cooler oaken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments,
To re-adorn the house.
Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.

~ Robert Herrick, English Poet, 17th century(pre-civil war England)
The English poets: selections with critical introductions, 1905

A small duet found in Enjoy Your Recorder by the Trapp Family Singers (Sharon, CN: Magnamusic Distributors, Inc., 1954, p. 43) titled "It Was Candlemas Day."(opens to midi )