ANCIENT KISSING CUSTOM

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4281, 22 September 1936, Page 3

ANCIENT KISSING CUSTOM

Ancient romantic customs are like rules—made to be broken. Not so many years ago men celebrated Hocktide Tuesday in the Berkshire town of Hungerford by demanding—and getting—kisses from the local girls. Today, one reporter says, “it’s all a big swindle,” says the ‘ Winnipeg Free Lh'ess.' Hocktide is an ancient general festival hereabouts, celebrated just after Faster. On the Monday the women stop men and bind them with ropes till they buy release with small payment. The “ take ” goes towards parish expenses as “ Hocktide money.” The custom commemorates King Ethelred’s victory over the Danes about 1000 All). Tuesday is the men’s day, the male population demanding kisses. Traditionally if the girls demur, they, by ancient law, pay forfeit. For this year’s celebration several hopeful persons came to town. Among the visitors was a London reporter “ just as an onlooker.” Here are his findings:— “First of all, only two men are entitled to demand these favors at Hocktide. They are two Tutti men who, hundreds <*f years ago, were called tithing men and whoso job it was to keep watch and ward over the inhabitants of the town. Secondly, you must be a commoner of Hungerford, sharing in the fishing and grazing rights given to the town by John of Gaunt, otherwise you have no chance of getting the glad eve. And thirdly, it rained and sleeted and drove everybody indoors. “Nobody offered to kiss me, but someone offered me hot punch and T was just as pleased in view of the cold weather.

“The two faithful Tutti men were so keen they took a ladder and snatched kisses through the top window Everybody assured mo that Hocktido wa s not what it was when ho was a lad. One man had seen Tutti men in the old days almost kissed to death, he said.”