Mondard Procession

A straw man called 'The Great Mondard' is carried in or near the village of Orleans in solemn procession up and down the village on the 24th to 25th of April. It is, at last, placed upon the oldest apple tree.  There he remains until the apples are gathered. He is then taken down and thrown into water or burned, his ashes being scattered over the orchard.  He represents the tree spirit dying and reviving in Spring.

From Eleanor Hull's 'Folklore of The British Isles', 1928