Hoodening: A Time-Honored Folk Custom
Imagine a scene straight out of a medieval fairytale, where a wooden hobby horse, mounted on a pole and carried by someone hidden under a sackcloth, gallops through the streets of Kent, England. This is Hoodening, a unique folk custom that has captivated imaginations for centuries.
The Origins and Spread of Hoodening
Originally performed at Christmas time by farm labourers in East Kent, this tradition spread to neighboring West Kent in the 20th century. The hooden horse is just one piece of a larger puzzle that includes a team of performers: a horse operator, a man dressed as a woman (Mollie), musicians, and a Jockey trying to mount the horse. This custom has now become part of Kentish mummers plays and Morris dances, with its origins debated among scholars.
Historical Context
The term ‘hooden’ is shrouded in mystery, with several possible explanations including mispronunciation of ‘wooden’ or reference to the hooded nature of the horse’s bearer. Some folklorists suggest that Hoodening may be comparable to England’s Morris dance tradition, while others believe it could have originated as a Midwinter rite to re-energise the vegetation.
Textual References and Interviews
The oldest known textual reference to hoodening comes from the Alphabet of Kenticisms, authored by Samuel Pegge in 1751. In a May 1807 edition of European Magazine, an anonymous letter described an encounter with the hoodeners on a visit to Ramsgate in Thanet. Later, Percy Maylam interviewed those involved in the hoodening tradition at Deal and found that it had been discontinued around 50 years previously after a woman died from fright.
Revival of Hoodening
The revival of Hoodening began in earnest in the mid-20th century. In 1967, folklorist Barnett Field claimed that the custom had ‘died out,’ but later discovered it had been revived at the 1936 Kent District Folk-Dance Festival. The Ravensbourne Morris Men adopted a hooden horse in 1947 and used it in their tradition, which is one of the earliest known variants of the custom to exist in West Kent.
Modern Revival
The revival of Hoodening has seen its use spread beyond traditional performances. The Tonbridge group has written a play featuring the horse since 1981, and an annual conference was established at the Marsh Gate Inn near Herne Bay before moving to Canterbury. A website dedicated to hoodening was created by Ben Jones from St. Nicholas-at-Wade, and in 2014, a new Hungry Horse location in Broadstairs was named after the folk custom due to local residents’ suggestions.
Conclusion
Hoodening is more than just a quaint tradition; it’s a living piece of history that continues to captivate and inspire. As we look back at its origins and forward to its future, one thing remains clear: Hoodening will continue to evolve, much like the Kentish people who cherish it.
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This page is based on the article Hoodening published in Wikipedia (retrieved on November 30, 2024) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.