It’s an alcohol-fuelled tradition going back half a millennium — but does the Haxey Hood have links to the history of ritual human sacrifice? We went to find out.
It's all very jolly, but it reminds me of Rambling Sid Rumpo (Kenneth Williams in "Round the Horne") as he nurked his cordwangler and wurdled his artefacts. The late Peter Bellamy (great folksinger and composer) used to say of our traditions that the daft ones have survived, but the useful ones (he specified the giving of dowries, which he said would have come in handy twice in his life) have all but disappeared. Loom powder, anybody?
I think there was at least one bog body recovered in the area in the 18th century, and ritual is the usual explanation for them. I wasn’t intending to poke holes however - I’m legitimately interested in hearing how these things get linked.
It's all very jolly, but it reminds me of Rambling Sid Rumpo (Kenneth Williams in "Round the Horne") as he nurked his cordwangler and wurdled his artefacts. The late Peter Bellamy (great folksinger and composer) used to say of our traditions that the daft ones have survived, but the useful ones (he specified the giving of dowries, which he said would have come in handy twice in his life) have all but disappeared. Loom powder, anybody?
Thanks Ruth. It’s certainly very daft. But having seen it, I’m glad it survives!
Brilliant article
Thanks Mark! Glad you liked it!
Fab article 🙏 x
Thanks Justine! I’d definitely recommend it if you can get there. It’s quite an experience!
I’d be interested to know the source for the archaeological angle Dan. I’ve not come across that one before.
Hi James. I got that bit off a website about the Hood (https://www.wheewall.com/hood/) but there is also a reference to it on this page which also includes a book citation (https://projectwildscape.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/the-haxey-hood-of-brawling-villages-tradition-and-of-course-the-local-pubs/). I think Bog Bodies have been found around that area, haven't they? And some archaeologists do believe they may be ritual sacrifices, don't they? Sorry it's not better sourced but the official explanation is a joke, isn't it?
I think there was at least one bog body recovered in the area in the 18th century, and ritual is the usual explanation for them. I wasn’t intending to poke holes however - I’m legitimately interested in hearing how these things get linked.
No, I know you weren’t. I was just trying to justify my journalistic leaps of logic in the a absence of any genuine research on my part!
Great article.
Thanks Eileen 🙏 Really glad you liked it!
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