Folk Play Links - Related Non-Play Customs

Compiled by Chris Little

Some non-play customs and their practitioners have the same names as the plays and their actors. e.g. Guisers, Mummers, Pace Eggers, Plough Bullocks, etc. This can be confusing.

Caking Night

001 - A Concise History of Stocksbridge, by Brenda Duffield, 1999 [internet only] [(November 1st) at Stocksbridge]
002 - David Bocking Photos [Photo of a Stannington Caker]
003 - Memories of Stocksbridge from Edith Lily Schofield (Mrs. John A. Hogeland) [(Halloween) at Stocksbridge]

Gruliks and Skeklers

004 - Gryla, Grylur, Groleks and Skeklers: Folk Drama in the North Atlantic in the Early Middle Ages? [by Terry Gunnell - Illustrated article on Scandinavian winter masking, Christmas in Iceland 2000]
005 - A View of the Ancient and Present State of the Zetland Islands; [by Arthur Edmonston, 1809, Vol.II p.64 - "Skudler"]New
006 - Fetlar Museum [Digitisation Project] [Photo of Fetlar Skekler's straw hat held by the museum, 1940s]
007 - Notes on a Straw Masquerade Dress still used in some parts of Shetland… [by Thomas Edmonston, in Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol.8, 1868-1870, pp.470-472 (- costume no longer held by the museum)]
008 - Shetland Museum [Photographic Archive] [Photo of an Up-Helly-A squad (all wearing Skeklers' straw costumes), 1939]
009 - Shetland Museum [Photographic Archive] [Photo of Lerwick guizer (wearing Skekler's straw hat), 1950s]
010 - Shetland Museum [Photographic Archive] [Photo of Uyeasound Up-Helly-A squad member (wearing Skekler's straw costume), 1911]
011 - Shetland Museums Service [Photo of Shetland Skekler's straw hat held by the museum.]
012 - The Scottish National Dictionary [1931-1976 - [Search for 'grulik', 'scuddler', 'skekel' and 'gloy']]

Guise Dancing

013 - A View of the Present State of the Scilly Islands: [by Rev George Woodley, 1822, p.232 - "goose dancers"]New
014 - Cornish Feasts and Folklore [extract from M.A. Courtney, 1890 - regarding Goose, Geese or Guise Dancers - itself extract from The Land's End District, by Richard Edmonds, 1862]
015 - Popular Romances of the West of England [3rd edition] [by Robert Hunt, 1904 - at St Ives]
016 - Survey of the Ancient and Present State of the Scilly Islands [by Troutbeck, 1794, pp.172-173 - Subscription required for Gale: Eighteenth Century Collections Online]
017 - Traditions and Recollections; [by Rev R. Polwhele, 1826, Vol.II p.488 - comment on his poem by John Whitaker]New
018 - The Celtic and Other Antiquities of the Land's District of Cornwall [by Richard Edmonds, in Archaeologia Cambrensis, Ser.3 Vol.4, 1858]New
019 - The Land's End District: [by Richard Edmonds, 1862, p.69 - "guise dancers" at Penzance]New

Guisers, Guising, etc.

020 - The Plague-Stricken Derbyshire Village: or What to See in and around Eyam [by J.M.J. Fletcher, 1930 - "Guising" under 'Old Customs']
021 - Pit-Yacker [by George Hitchin, 1962, p.24 - guysers at Seaham]
022 - The History of Eccles and Barton's Contentious Guising War [by H**r**g**n, 1777 - Subscription required for Gale: Eighteenth Century Collections Online]
023 - Personal Recollections of Thomas de Quincey [by Findlay, 1886 - Guisers at Lasswade - Subscription required for Questia Online Library]
024 - Memoir of Thomas Bewick [by Thomas Bewick, 1961 - Guising near Eltringham - Subscription required for Questia Online Library]
025 - The Illustrated Book of Christmas Folklore [by Tristram Potter Coffin. New York, Seabury Press, 1973 - includes chapter on Geese Dancing or Guising - Questia subscription required]

Mummers, Mumming, Mummering, etc.

026 - A statistical account, or parochial survey of Ireland Vol.II [by Mason, 1816 - mummers or wren-boys custom grown obsolete at Kilrush]
027 - An Abridgement of the Notable Worke of Polidore Vergile... [by Langley, 1546, f.Ciii - Subscription required for Chadwyck-Healey: Early English Books Online]
028 - English As We Speak It in Ireland [by P.W. Joyce, 1910, pp.172-173 - G.H. Kinahan; Dublin. (Collection gathered from all Ireland.)]
029 - OneGuyFromBarlick [Mumming at Colne]
030 - Seventy Years of Irish Life [New edition] [by W.R. LeFanu, 1896, Chapter VIII - Account of the Wren Boys or Mummers]
031 - Sir Frederic Madden at Oxford [by C.K. Francis Brown, in Oxoniensia, Vol.XXXV, 1970, pp.34-52 - Diary entry for the 14th May 1825, mentioning "dancing Mummers or Mazers" at Oxford]
032 - Antiquitates Vulgares [by Bourne, 1725 - Subscription required for Gale: Eighteenth Century Collections Online]
033 - Fairy Legends and Traditions [by Thomas Crofton Croker, 1825, Chapter XV - May-day mummers]New

Pace Egging

034 - Christmas Carols [extract from ed. Walter, 1922 - at Middleton]
035 - Bamford's Passages in the Life of a Radical : and Early Days [by ed. Henry Dunckley, 1893, Vol.I Chapter XIV - "a peace-egging" at Middleton]
036 - English County Songs [extract from Broadwood & Maitland, 1893 - Lancashire Peace Egging Song (2) - at Heysham]
037 - English County Songs [extract from Broadwood & Maitland, 1893 - Lancashire Peace Egging Song (1)]
038 - History and Recollections of Tarleton [by Janet Dandy, 1985]
039 - In Those Days : Memories of Barrowford and Nelson in the 1920's and 1930's [by Albert Morris, 1998]
040 - Looking Back [in Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 4th Mar. 1987 - Pace Egging at Baxenden & Oswaldtwistle]
041 - Looking Back [in Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 29th Mar. 1999 - Pace Egg Monday at Darwen]
042 - Looking Back [in Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 19th Apr. 1999 - Pace Egg Monday at Blackburn]
043 - Old & New Rochdale [by William Robertson, 1881 - “Peace-egging”]New
044 - The Memoirs of an Uncommon Man, by R.L. Drinkwater, 2000, Chapter 5 [2nd edition - internet only] [at Accrington - Archived]
045 - The Pictorial History of the County of Lancaster [by Redding, 1844 - Pace Egging and "playing the old ball." at Blackburn and Jolly Lads at Poulton-le-Fylde]
046 - Up Queensway, by Cyril Rodgers [internet only] [at Rochdale]
047 - Pace Egg Day [citation of G. Watson, in Transactions of the Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Ser.3 Vol.25, p.93]

Plough Monday

048 - Dean - Village in the Wilds [by C.L.F. Brown, in Bedfordshire Magazine, Vol.1 No.2, Autumn 1947 - "small boys sang for ha'pence on Plough Monday". ]
049 - Folk Life and Traditions of the Fens [extract from Folklore - at Littleport]
050 - History of Gamlingay and Neighbourhood [summary of Fowler, 1935, p.12]
051 - Hood Watch: "Bull Shaving" by Reg Dixon [at Downham]
052 - Plough Monday raises cash for charity [in Cambridge News, 2nd Mar. 2002 - Report on the Balsham Plough Monday Club]
053 - Wimpole Village and Social Conditions Through the Centuries [extract from Wimpole Women's Institute, 1958 - Plough dragging on Plough Monday recalled by William George Newell]
054 - History of the Village of Stoney Middleton [extract from T.E. Cowen, 1910]
055 - On Ancient Customs and Sports of the County of Derby [extract from Jewitt, in Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Vol.7, 1852, pp.199-210]
056 - Spondon Years Ago, by George Wright, 15th Jan. 1915 [internet only]
057 - Whitwell: A Parish History [2nd edition - internet only] [by Whitwell Local History Group, 1991 - itself seems to derive from Every-day Book, by Hone]
058 - A History of Hartlepool [extract from Sharp, 1816]
059 - Beverlac; or the History and Antiquities of the Town of Beverley, [by George Poulson, 1829, Vol.II p.661 - "fool plough"]New
060 - Rural Life of England [extract from Howitt, 1840 - Possible influence of Methodism on the demise or otherwise of calendar customs such as Plough Monday]
061 - Agnes Henty's diary (January 8, 1866) [at Rothley Temple. "My great grandmother Agnes, aged 18, noted in her diary for Monday 8th January 1866: 'Plough Monday in all its absurdities.'"]
062 - Hinckley Bullockers
063 - The History and Antiquities of Boston [by Pishey Thompson, 1856, p.718 - 'Provincialisms' : "Plough-boys"]
064 - Folk Life and Traditions of the Fens [extract from Folklore - at Southery]
065 - Ouse Washes Archive Page [extracts from the Lynn Advertiser (January 16, 1844), and Folklore, vol. 72 (Dec. 1961) pp. 584-598]
066 - Autobiography of Mrs.Fletcher of Edinburgh [by Mrs.Fletcher, 1875 - Ploughstott at Oxton - Subscription required for British and Irish Women's Letters and Diaries]
067 - A Short History of Polebrook, by ? [at Polebrook]
068 - Ecton : A Northamptonshire Parish [1997 - at Ecton]
069 - Looking Back, by Annie Beaver, n.d. [internet only] [at Weldon]
070 - Peterborough Diocesan Council for the Countryside [Description, photos, and order of Plough Sunday service at Crick]
071 - The Story of Milton Malzor [by B.E. Evans, 1924, Chapter XIV: Miscellanea: Old Customs - Extracts from Milton school logbook (9 Jan.1865 & 13 Jan.1868)]
072 - West Haddon Endowed School History ["Plough Boys": Extract from West Haddon school logbook (January 9, 1882)]
073 - Bingham Heritage Trails Association (BHTA) [From the Board (Wesleyan) School logbooks written by Mr Thomas Jones 1869-1879 - "Jan 1879. Many absent on Monday morning running about the town as ‘ploughboys’ begging money’."]
074 - On Ancient Customs and Sports of the County of Nottingham [extract from Jewitt, in Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Vol.8, 1853, pp.229-240]
075 - Remembering Sutton Bonington [by Crawford & Hurst, 1986]
076 - The Life of General William Booth [by E.H. Begbie, 1919, Chapter 2 - at Sneinton]
077 - The Nottingham & Melton Railway 1872-2004 [4th edition] [extract from Colin Aldworth, 1999, p.179 - at Upper Broughton. Similar to www.folkplay.info/Notts/Td00426.htm.]
078 - The Leicestershire & Rutland Village Book [extract from Leicestershire & Rutland Federation of Women's Institutes, 1989 - Ploughboy Monday at Seaton lapsed about the 1920s]
079 - The Life of Thomas Telford [by Samuel Smiles, 1867, Chapter III - 'Manners And Customs Influenced By The State Of The Roads']
080 - A Glossary of Words used in the Neighbourhood of Sheffield [extract from S..O. Addy, 1888]
081 - Ecclesfield History ["Plough Bullocks" at Ecclesfield Hospital Parade (displayed on a cart) on Saturday of third weekend after Whitsun]
082 - The British Workman: Past and Present [by M.C.F. Morris, 1928]
083 - The Costume of Yorkshire [extract from Walker, 1814]
084 - The Costume of Yorkshire [extract from Walker, 1814 - "The Fool Plough" illustration]
085 - BBC Radio 4 - Making History, 19th Oct. 2004 [Radio programme notes, with further reading and links]
086 - Plough Monday' lantern slide [As displayed, this is a mirror image of the 'Procession of the Plough on Plough Monday' from Book of Days, by R. Chambers, 1864]
087 - Plough Rituals in England and Scotland [by Thomas Davidson, in Agricultural History Review, Vol.7 Pt.1, 1959, pp.27-37]New
088 - The Every-Day Book Vol.I [by William Hone, 1826]

Souling

089 - Carmarthenshire Gleanings (Kidwelly) [by Rev Gruffydd Evans, in Y Cymmrodor, Vol.XXV, 1915, pp.113-114 - Souling are found in parts of the Teifi Valley]
090 - Malpas Town, Parish, and Church [citation of Rev W.T. Kenyon, in Journal of the Chester Archaeological and Historic Society, New Ser. Vol.3, 1890]
091 - The Book of Winsford [Book for sale: Includes Audio of Winsford Souling Song]
092 - various [in Antiquarian Magazine & Bibliographer, Vol.3, Jan.-Jun. 1883, pp.105-106; 218; 275-276; 322-323]
093 - Precious Bane [by Mary Webb - Literary work]
094 - Seven for a Secret [by Mary Webb - Literary work]
095 - Cheshire Souling Song [Postings, 16th Mar. 2003 - quoting several Souling songs from Cheshire and Shropshire]

Sword Dancing

096 - A Descriptive and Historical View of Alnwick, [Second edition] [by [W. Davison], 1822, p.262]New
097 - The History and Antiquities of North Allerton, [by C.J. Davison Ingledew, 1858, pp.342-343]New
098 - The History of the Castle, Town, and Forest, of Knaresbrough, [Sixth edition] [by E. Hargrove, 1809, p.85]New
099 - The Three Days of Wensleydale; The Valley of the Yore [by W.G.M. Jones Barker, 1854, pp.260-261]New
100 - To the Editor [by C.L.B., in Babbler, Vol.I, Oct. 1821-Apr. 1822 - at Knaresborough]New
101 - To the Editors [by S.I. Law, in Northern Star, Vol.II, Jan.-Jun. 1818, pp.19-20 - at Knaresborough]New
102 - Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England [ed. by Bell, 1857 - Sword dancers at Grassington calling-on song]

Wiccan Lore

In the Wiccan sabbat of Yule, the Mummers' play is described as a rite symbolising the death of the old year and the rebirth of the new year.

103 - A History of Yule
104 - Crystal Forest Yule Lore
105 - Dark Woods HomePage - My BoS - Sabbats - Winter Solstice
106 - Imbolc
107 - Spirit Online
108 - The 8 Sabbats
109 - WiccaWeb.com
110 - Yule Traditions and History 1
111 - Yule- Wiccan sabbats
112 - Yule/Winter Solstice
Link ID: Give ID No. for broken links & changes. Otherwise, leave blank.
The recommended URL for this web page is www.folkplay.info/Links/Non_Play.htm
© 2000-2008, TDRG. Contact: Chris Little, Last updated: 24/04/2008