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An annual well-dressing festival with roots believed to date back as far as the 14th Century has returned to an English village - this time, with a Ukrainian theme.
From BBC ● May 27, 2022
The origin of well-dressing is unknown, but it is certainly of remote antiquity, probably dating back to pagan times.
From From John O'Groats to Land's End by Naylor, Robert
Here she came with the other children, at the festival of the well-dressing, to spread their garlands around it, and sing, and eat their supper on the green.
From The Broken Soldier and the Maid of France by Van Dyke, Henry
In our own country may be mentioned the well-dressing of Tissington, near Dovedale, in Derbyshire, the wells in the village having for years past been most artistically decorated with the choicest flowers.
From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)
Pins, nails, and rags are still offered, and the custom of "well-dressing," shorn of its pagan associations and adapted to Christian usage, exists in all its glory at Tissington, Youlgrave, Derby, and several other places.
From Vanishing England by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)
Ms. Setterfield had a singularly theatrical presence onstage, and often offstage as well, dressing imaginatively in clothes she had assembled from thrift shops.
From New York Times ● Apr. 21, 2023
“The well dressing is produced by 14 volunteers using the ancient Derbyshire art of well dressing, which involves creating designs from flower petals and other natural materials.”
From The Guardian ● Sep. 12, 2017
She is not exactly such a one as her I have attempted to describe on her entrance into the street car; for this lady is well dressed, if fine clothes will make well dressing.
From North America — Volume 1 by Trollope, Anthony
The well dressing your Malt, ought to be one chief Care; for unless it be freed from the Tails and Dust, your Drink will not be fine and mellow as when it is clean dressed.
From The London and Country Brewer by Anonymous
In like manner, the excellence of the mental entertainment consists less in the subject than in the author's skill in well dressing it up.
From History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
