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