Oak Apple Day in London?
Apr 24th, 2009, 11:34 AM
#21
hi stoke/pal,
it may not have been deleted; I had "harware issues" last night. [come to think of it, that might get me deleted as well!]
I invite you to look at wiki's entry on st. George - it isn't just herpes that you can pass on in a mutually consensual manner!
regards, ann
it may not have been deleted; I had "harware issues" last night. [come to think of it, that might get me deleted as well!]
I invite you to look at wiki's entry on st. George - it isn't just herpes that you can pass on in a mutually consensual manner!
regards, ann
Apr 24th, 2009, 11:37 AM
#22
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Oak Apple Day?
There is an old oak tree somehwere in Shropshire (can't remember quite where and don't have the time to google it) which they hang with ribbons and decorate it as it's apparently where King Charles hid, but it's quite a long way from Worcester wherever it is.
Want to know something else about trees? Here where I live in the 'remote' south-west Cotswolds, we have a little ceremony early in May where we go into the woods armed with sticks and we hit the big trees with our sticks to wake them up. Some people sing songs too. Some ancient Pagan thing, I don't really know why we do it but it's a fun afternoon especially after a few drinks in the pub!
People in other parts of the country fire shotguns into the trees to scare away devils and pests (and in cider country anoint the apple trees with cider to encourage a good apple season).
There is an old oak tree somehwere in Shropshire (can't remember quite where and don't have the time to google it) which they hang with ribbons and decorate it as it's apparently where King Charles hid, but it's quite a long way from Worcester wherever it is.
Want to know something else about trees? Here where I live in the 'remote' south-west Cotswolds, we have a little ceremony early in May where we go into the woods armed with sticks and we hit the big trees with our sticks to wake them up. Some people sing songs too. Some ancient Pagan thing, I don't really know why we do it but it's a fun afternoon especially after a few drinks in the pub!
People in other parts of the country fire shotguns into the trees to scare away devils and pests (and in cider country anoint the apple trees with cider to encourage a good apple season).
Apr 24th, 2009, 02:19 PM
#24
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I'd love to do that tree hitting thing, julia. Find the inner druid.
You'd think the actual tree hollow enough for Chas to have hidden in would have passed on by now.
Ann, speaking of the bard: I like the theory that Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, wrote everything.
http://www.marysidney.com/
You'd think the actual tree hollow enough for Chas to have hidden in would have passed on by now.
Ann, speaking of the bard: I like the theory that Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, wrote everything.
http://www.marysidney.com/
Apr 24th, 2009, 03:36 PM
#25
One twelfthnight down in Devon we wassailed some orchards (and I always thought wassail was just a drink 
) The whole village traipsed through some ancient apple orchards carrying lanterns and torches, w/ morris dancers/mummers and a young girl dressed in white w/ a circle of apples/greenery in her hair. They lifted her up into various trees and danced/sang around the trunk, fired shotguns into the night and then off we went to the next tree.
Those were going to be some mighty "<i>fertile</i>" apple trees!
After about 45 mins of chanting and shooting and dancing around trees - we all made it back to the pub for more frivolity and a mystery play.
) The whole village traipsed through some ancient apple orchards carrying lanterns and torches, w/ morris dancers/mummers and a young girl dressed in white w/ a circle of apples/greenery in her hair. They lifted her up into various trees and danced/sang around the trunk, fired shotguns into the night and then off we went to the next tree. Those were going to be some mighty "<i>fertile</i>" apple trees!
After about 45 mins of chanting and shooting and dancing around trees - we all made it back to the pub for more frivolity and a mystery play.
Apr 24th, 2009, 05:04 PM
#27
yep - it was totally an accidental discovery. I had rented cottage in south Devon and my friend and I arrived on Friday afternoon and settled in. On Sat AM while waiting for some other friends to arrive we walked through the village and there was a notice outside the library for a "Wassailing" that night in a village about 20 miles away. The other friends (a "Devon man" and his wife) were <i>totally</i> impressed that I was showing them a Devon tradition they had never done themselves.
I always make a point of looking at announcements posted on village halls, TIC's, in church porches - I've accidently fallen into the most amazing things. Once up in Dornoch in northern Scotland there was a flyer for a candlelight concert in the Cathedral by a Swedish college choir that was traveling around the country basically singing for their keep. It was the most amazing thing I've ever heard.
These sorts of things happen every day but aren't necessarily easy to find on-line. One reason I worry about these folks who plan out such frenetic itineraries w/ one night stand after one night stand and really tight schedules w/ absolutely NO time to discover.
I always make a point of looking at announcements posted on village halls, TIC's, in church porches - I've accidently fallen into the most amazing things. Once up in Dornoch in northern Scotland there was a flyer for a candlelight concert in the Cathedral by a Swedish college choir that was traveling around the country basically singing for their keep. It was the most amazing thing I've ever heard.
These sorts of things happen every day but aren't necessarily easy to find on-line. One reason I worry about these folks who plan out such frenetic itineraries w/ one night stand after one night stand and really tight schedules w/ absolutely NO time to discover.
Apr 25th, 2009, 12:58 AM
#29
hi janisj,
I absolutely agree. one of the best things we did on our recent trip to Krakow was go to a concert we saw advertised in a church we wandered into. it was a magical hour or so with singers and string quartet illuminated only by candlelight. and it was free.
regards, ann
I absolutely agree. one of the best things we did on our recent trip to Krakow was go to a concert we saw advertised in a church we wandered into. it was a magical hour or so with singers and string quartet illuminated only by candlelight. and it was free.
regards, ann
Apr 25th, 2009, 03:20 AM
#30
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"It's apparently where King Charles hid"
Sadly, no. The real tree, at Boscobel in Shropshire, died in about the 19th century (don't know how much of the real story's on the web, but there's a whole pile of learned literature on this) and the one that's currently shown off is a newer substitute.
After the Battle of Worcester, Charles took a fairly convoluted journey, ending in Shoreham, to escape to France. Boscobel's completely in the opposite direction - because his journey was dictated by who'd put him up. The Pendrills of Boscobel were first persecuted by the Roundheads (some, if I remember rightly, were sent as slaves to Barbados for semi-treason: others just fined to destitution for Catholicism), then given a pension at the Restoration.
There's a minor industry, including some of the Flannerclan, in claiming to be related to the family - partly because of a 19th century urban myth they qualified for the pension, and partly because of a philoprogenitive Dartford ferryman in the 18th century, now thought to have had nothing to do with Boscobel, who was called Pendrill and told his scores of grandchildren they were bastard descendants of Charles II.
It is of course a truth universally acknowledged that a deposed monarch, in possession of a hidey hole for the night, is in want of a good shag with his host's wife.
Sadly, no. The real tree, at Boscobel in Shropshire, died in about the 19th century (don't know how much of the real story's on the web, but there's a whole pile of learned literature on this) and the one that's currently shown off is a newer substitute.
After the Battle of Worcester, Charles took a fairly convoluted journey, ending in Shoreham, to escape to France. Boscobel's completely in the opposite direction - because his journey was dictated by who'd put him up. The Pendrills of Boscobel were first persecuted by the Roundheads (some, if I remember rightly, were sent as slaves to Barbados for semi-treason: others just fined to destitution for Catholicism), then given a pension at the Restoration.
There's a minor industry, including some of the Flannerclan, in claiming to be related to the family - partly because of a 19th century urban myth they qualified for the pension, and partly because of a philoprogenitive Dartford ferryman in the 18th century, now thought to have had nothing to do with Boscobel, who was called Pendrill and told his scores of grandchildren they were bastard descendants of Charles II.
It is of course a truth universally acknowledged that a deposed monarch, in possession of a hidey hole for the night, is in want of a good shag with his host's wife.
Apr 25th, 2009, 06:06 AM
#32
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Oak Apple day? Never heard of it. (and in any case don't oaks produce acorns?).
It's probably a bit like bog snorkelling or throwing cheese down a hill (both of which are better sports than those disney confections available on the wrong side of the Atlantic).
It's probably a bit like bog snorkelling or throwing cheese down a hill (both of which are better sports than those disney confections available on the wrong side of the Atlantic).
Apr 25th, 2009, 07:03 AM
#34
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Well you also have to hurl yourself after it. Have I mentioned that the British drink a lot. An awful lot?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IobbEjIBw7c
Or you could go bog snorkelling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAh7e9d45_Y
Oh and did I mention that we like a pint?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IobbEjIBw7c
Or you could go bog snorkelling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAh7e9d45_Y
Oh and did I mention that we like a pint?
Apr 25th, 2009, 07:29 AM
#35
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Love cheese throwing, but it appears to be a guy thing. Maybe I'll just watch.
Ditto the snorkeling. Does one get points for form, choice of handbag, etc, or is it all about speed?
Ditto the snorkeling. Does one get points for form, choice of handbag, etc, or is it all about speed?
Apr 25th, 2009, 07:42 AM
#36
how about this, Stoke?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/going_o...oduction.shtml
not sure if this is an all male activity as well - don't they just like playing with themselves?
regards, ann
http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/going_o...oduction.shtml
not sure if this is an all male activity as well - don't they just like playing with themselves?
regards, ann
Apr 26th, 2009, 01:27 AM
#40
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Cheese Rolling happens in GLoucestershire, on the Whitsun Bank Holiday, this year on Monday 25th May
http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/
more facts and figures here...
http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/more...ling_facts.htm
and the ladies races isn't really run up hill!
http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/
more facts and figures here...
http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/more...ling_facts.htm
and the ladies races isn't really run up hill!
