Beeston Carollers
Imagine you’re sitting in a quiet pub having a drink. Suddenly there is trumpet blast and in walks a rather curiously dressed person. He starts to address the pub. In comes a man dressed as a woman. You’re perplexed. The devil enters. A fight ensues. Someone falls to the ground dead…In comes a doctor and they are revived. A song is sung and off they go…you may be none the wiser.
But what you have experienced is a mummer’s play, one of a rich matrix of curious customs and perhaps its most peculiar. At Bohunk Institute this last week, there has been a celebration of British customs and traditions with Monsters and Mischief culminating at the Contemporary on Halloween, with a chance of seeing such a cross-dressed team of mummers, it is worth exploring this rich heritage.
Halloween perhaps typifies many people’s views on customs and traditions: a love or hate relationship and usually a scoffing approach about it being foreign, it isn’t of course. It is not alone, customs and traditions often get a bad press – with Morris Dancers particularly being held up as the other Marmite of traditions. Indeed, although Nottinghamshire has a proud Morris tradition, it is only part of a rich cavalcade of colourful customs and tradition.
Recently, I have been slaving in the archives, pouring over dusty volumes and making copious notes in an attempt to compile the ultimate guide to Nottinghamshire’s calendar customs. It’s taken over two years so far… Why? Because every time I think I’ve finished, some other curious customs is uncovered, which is why I can only give the briefest glimpse here.
Every month something bizarre is going on. If your son is due to be born near Christmas and lives in North Nottinghamshire – Blidworth would like to know. Every year, on and off since the 1800s, they have rocked the boy born nearest to Christmas in an ancient flower decked cradle in a custom unique to that village. Sorry, no girls, though!
Plough Monday
January is the preserve of the Plough Monday play. This is a strong Nottinghamshire tradition where every night in the first weeks of the month there’s a play being enacted in a local pub – whether it’s the Forresters or the interestingly named CRAPPS, both vying for the longest tradition – it’s great knock-about humour and even better excuse for a prolonged pub crawl.
Ever yearned for a pancake race? Woodborough has one of the oldest and they still ring a pancake bell to announce it... these day, though, only children run. Does a free hot cross bun would appeal? Mary Mallatrat’s dole is your aim. In the late 1800s the Mallatrats lost their daughter and so left money for an annual Good Friday distribution of hot cross buns to any child who passes. They’re now distributed outside Argos in Mansfield. Stranger Danger may have played its part in recent years, which is great because adults can have them too now.
Why not go to where Mothering Sunday was reborn? We all know the custom, but Coddington (outside of Newark) did it first. Go along for some delightful traditional Simnel cake… strictly for your mum of course.
Have a spare chocolate Easter egg? As if that would happen, but if you did take it to a local hill, Woodthorpe or Wollaton, they would be a good place to start a competition. If you fancy further afield, Brodsworth Hall near Doncaster have been organising rolls for over forty years. Come along and re-enact the rolling away of the rock over Christ’s tomb or the rise of the Sun, which ever you prefer.
Do have want for a spot of traditional pole dance? The village of Wellow has one of the tallest maypoles in the country and there’s some splendid dancing on Spring bank holiday. They rarely let amateurs join - it’s quite serious stuff with months of training - but it is there all year.
Fancy hugging a church? Everton’s Clypping – yes I have spelt it correct – is an ancient Saxon custom done in few churches, and this North Notts one is one of the last surviving. Have a hearty voice? Love Christmas? Get in the spirit early. Have an uplifting brew at Beeston’s The Crown and hear some of the oldest carols in the country. And if your favourite is Whilst Shepherds Watch Their Flocks that’s great because they do it six times but to six different tunes. Phew.
I could go on... Of course this is only Nottinghamshire – other counties do exist. And let’s not forget modern traditions. These are arising all of time. What will future folklorists think of stag and hen dos, the flash mob, the annual Freshers’ fancy dress– all customs in the strict sense, all contributing to the growing and rich patchwork of customs and perhaps just as odd as those Morris dancers.
Hopefully I’ve made a case? So get involved. Make a Guy for Bonfire Night. Roll an egg. Come down to Halloween to the Contemporary where you can see your first ever mummer. One off the list…
Hallow Gore: Mosnters and Mischief, Friday 31 October, free, Nottingham Contemporary.
Ross Parish's Customs and Ceremonies website
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