A.Sharp (1944)

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Transcription
Old Customs.

Old-time Christmases in Notts. were
marked with various quaint old cus-
toms, seldom seen noaadays, or, if
still practised, in a different and modi-
fied form.

Many of us can recollect taking part
in the ceremony of the "Owd 'Oss,"
as we called it. This "horse" was
constructed from a broom handle with
a crude carving of a horse's head 'stuck
on the top, with moveable jaw, or
clapper, which one lad worked: he
being covered over with an o!d rug, or
blanket - if an old hide could be ob-
tained, all the better; but mostly it
was an ancient cart rug:

We sang verses of doggerel, begin-
ning, if memory serves rightly,

  This is the poor old horse,
  Who's carried me many a mile
  O'er hedges, and ditches, and
  many a crooked stile."

And, of course, we rattled a money
box, and collected pennies for a
ChriSsmas faring, The "hoodeners"
with the "owd 'oss" were once a
familiar sight in many Notts. and
Derbyshire villages, on one time.

No Christmas in the North Notts
village would have beem complete
without a visit from the "plough
bullockers," who mostly entered a
house without knocking, but never :
failing to receive a welcome.