Nottinghamshire Guardian (1909b)


Main Variant

Transcription

PLOUGH MONDAY.

Last week I printed in this column in an abbrevi-
ated form the very interesting testimony of a
Notts. lady as to the vigorous survival of dramatic
Plough Monday observances, not many years ago,
in the neighbourhood of Bingham. We all feel
that with advancing times, these quaint customs,
handed down from bygone generatins, are bound
to die out, as anachronisms, unless, indeed, like
modem May Day festivals, they be artificially
nurtured on a transformed basis. It should, how-
ever, be a labour of love to record late survivals
of dying customs, and likewise, whenever possible,
to set down the precise or the approximate dates
of their final disuse. Folk-plays do not take rank
among such performances as are found reported in
the dramatic departments of the newspapers, and
oonsequently are liable to be overlooked even in
the few places where they survive. It would be
interesting to learn whether Plough Monday ob-
servances still flourish in Notts., or when they
were discontinued in the different districts.

PLOUGH MONDAY IN EAST NOTTINGHAM.

Whether any trace of the custom yet survives
within the city boundaries I am not for the
moment aware. But that it was not dead in the
Carlton-road district a quarter of a century ago
I can personally testify. It was then, how-
ever, a suvival in little more than name,
its observance being confined to boys of school
age, and, the dramatic element being wholly
absent. It was called Plough Bullockin (a term
that must have originated in the days of plough
oxen), and of course transpired in the evening.
Bands of boys, the number immaterial, would
black their faces and equip themselves with old
tin-pans, or anything else calculated to create a
din, and, with the impromptu instruments in full
operation, would solicit contributions at shop-doors.
This they probably did as much for their own
amusement as from any expectation of gain. At
least I do not remember the clamour being other
than unwelcomely received, and peremptorily dis-
missed, though the boys may have been, in some
cases, bribed to pass on. No doubt they also found
it essential to keep a sharp look for the police,
who would be unlikely to favour the sentimental
aspect of the business.

TWELFTH NIGHT.

Another small matter, I assocate so far as my
own recollection goes, with some 30 years ago, is
connected with Twelfth Night. Before and at this
date the windows of pastry-oooks and con-
fectioners, in the Sneiinton district at least, used to
be furnished with an augmentation to their every-
day attractions in the shape of what were called
"Twelfth Cakes." These, some of my youthful
companions at kead, I remember, considered a
great delicacy. They were diamond shaped,
sprinkled over on top with tiny red sweets, or
"hundreds and thousands," the latter I believe
being underlaid by icing, and sold at one half-
penny each. These confections appear to have
silently slipped out of memory, though I cannot
supply even the approximate date of their passing.