Hoodening is a folk custom found in Kent, a county in south-eastern
England. The tradition entails the use of a wooden hobby horse, known as
a "hooden horse", that is mounted on a pole and carried by an individual
hidden under a sackcloth. It represents a regional variation of a hooded
animal tradition that appears throughout the British Isles. As recorded
from the eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries, hoodening was
performed at Christmas time by groups of farm labourers who would form
into teams to accompany the hooden horse on its travels. These often
included an individual to carry the horse, another to lead the horse, a
man in female clothing known as a "Mollie", and several musicians. The
team would then carry the horse to local houses and shops, where they
would expect payment for their appearance. Although this practice is now
extinct, the hooden horse is still incorporated into various Kentish
Mummers' plays and Morris dances that take place at different times of
the year.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodening>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1811:
A British squadron under Charles Marsh Schomberg defeated a
French force off Tamatave, Madagascar, that was attempting to reinforce
the French garrison on Mauritius.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tamatave>
1943:
The Luttra Woman (skull pictured), a bog body from the Early
Neolithic period, was discovered near Luttra, Sweden.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luttra_Woman>
1947:
The first session of the National Diet opened in Tokyo, Japan.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet>
2013:
A tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, United States, killing 24
people and causing an estimated $2 billion of damage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Moore_tornado>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
cut of one's jib:
(idiomatic, dated) A person's general appearance, manner, or style.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cut_of_one%27s_jib>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
The best state for human nature is that in which, while no one is
poor, no one desires to be richer, nor has any reason to fear being
thrust back by the efforts of others to push themselves forward.
--John Stuart Mill
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill>