ENGLAND'S PAGAN REVELS
The Hobby Horse revels which are annually witnessed at Minchead, Somerset, and Padstow, Cornwall, represent rejoicing ton the return of spring. They are popularly believed to be a relic of the ancient worship of Baal with festival 'and! sacrifice.: The central figure1 "of the i revels is, a grotesque caricature of a horse fashioned of .sailcloth ; painte& in; gaudy;: colours, and trimihed Tyith-ailying mane of coloured ribbons. ; Carried by sailors, the apparition capersl; through the streets with its attendants, accompanied by music anda crowd of revellers. The revellers rise at daybreak to greet the May Day sunrise. After beating: the town's bounds they settle down to; the pleasant task of eliasiiig> all the young womon they see iii:'thfti streets^' >vh,o have to give the "horse" a kiss'or a penny. Pretty maids wlio; will' Hot pay the penny toll the' Hobby Horse demands are swished a stinging blow with a long cow's tail which dangles behind it. In former days recalcitrant, payers wore booted1 in 'the street by -the, Hobby Horse's attendants. ■'..• :';'■■'■■."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19340914.2.31
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 65, 14 September 1934, Page 4
Word Count
174ENGLAND'S PAGAN REVELS Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 65, 14 September 1934, Page 4
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