Souling was a Christian practice carried out in many English towns on Halloween and Christmas. Souling is a Christian practice carried out drake birthday cake Allhallowtide and Christmastide, with origins in the medieval era. Souling involved a group of people visiting local farms and cottages.
The merrymakers would sing a “traditional request for apples, ale, and soul cakes. The songs were traditionally known as Souler’s songs and were sung in a lamenting tone during the 1800s. 1565 was still being distributed in 1826 on All Souls day. The announcement for collection was made by ringing church bells.
Similarly in Shropshire, during the late 19th century, “there was set upon the board at All Hallows Eve a high heap of Soul-cakes” for visitors to take. Soul cakes formed a key part of the Souling traditions. In Staffordshire, the cakes were also called Soul-mass or “somas” cakes. In East Yorkshire, “somas loaves” were traditionally distributed.