General Chat

Elizabeth, thanks for the Dunmow flitch explanation! I'd never heard of a flitch of bacon before. And Karen, yes, that is true, there's room for two!Double decker or bunk stlye! Dosent mean its always full however! Joanx.

Dunmow Flitch Still goes on to this day The most often quoted reason as to why a flitch was originally awarded to the happy couple, recounts how Sir Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife, disguised as humble folk, went to the Priory of Dunmow and begged the blessing of the Prior, a year after their marriage. The Prior was impressed by the devotion of the young couple supposedly so poor, and hailed a passing cook who was carrying a flitch of bacon on his back, and gave it to the couple with his blessing. Sir Reginald then revealed his identity, and gave lands to the Priory on condition that a Flitch should in future be given to any couple who could claim that they were similarly devoted. Look at this wevb site http://sparklew.veriouk.net/flitch/flitch_02.html

The Ball Game has been held in Atherstone, Warwickshire on Shrove Tuesday for over 800 years. Shop keepers spend the morning boarding up their windows before it starts at 3pm. I understand that the winner is the person in possession of the ball at 5pm. Heather

One great British tradition is (I think) still going strong - on Spring Bank Hol a large wooden cheese is rolled down Coopers Hill in Gloucester and is chased by a number of (mad) people! Whoever gets to the bottom first in one piece wins a Double Gloucester cheese. If you've ever been up Coopers Hill, you'll know why they're mad - it's about a 1 in 3 slope! Good day out for St Johns Ambulance! No doubt another one for the health police to ban...

my husbands family bring the body and coffin home the night before then an all night vigil is kept until the funeral next day so that people can visit laugh cry and pay their respects

Reading what everyone was saying about funerals. My father hated black (you look like you're going to a fruneral), chrysanthemums, lilies and funerals themselves. I never asked him why, but it creates a picture in my mind of the tiny front room that was never ever used, the blinds down on a hot, stuffy day and the flowers not quite doing their duty. Or am I being fanciful? B

Could I please be nosy and ask what the Dunmow Flitch is?Sounds like some kind of Scottish dance , you know, like The Gay Gordon! Joanx.

YAY!!! The Dunmow Flitch, thanks for mentioning that Rose... made me feel special :-) becx

Yes I remember some of these things and lots are still going.. My Grandpa died in 1977 (he was Great Grandfather) and his coffin was brought to the house and opened and everyone came and paid their respects etc. I was there too as were my young cousins.. it was just the norm for us. Also when I was flower girl at my aunts weding I got to throw the money out for the 'Scramble' and also joined in with lots of other Scrambles as I grew up... it was great diving in and grabbing what you could then waiting for the Icey to come round. And my Uncle still has the tassle from the end of the chord that he held whilst lowering Grandpa into his grave. And its not just weddings and funerals.. I still carry out the custom of opening my front and back door after the Bells... to let the old year out and the New Year in.... Shaz x

sOME REALLY INTERESTING STORIES AND SOME FUNNY ONES.i AM RACKING MY BRAINS TO TRY AND FIND SOME OTHER REALLY BRITISH TRADITIONS. tHE yULE LOG.WASSAILING ,BEATING THE BOUNDS,tHE DUNMOW fLITCH.cAN YOU ADD ANY MORE

In my area of Scotland that custom was called a 'scatter'

That's interesting Lisa..... I was just thinking of something similar which the children did in the Welsh village where mum grew up and married 1936. There they held a large rope across the entrance, for the same purpose.(referred to as roping the couple) Luckily mum and dad had given the best man plenty of small change. What with that and all the rice being thrown, it helped if everyone's aim was good, I guess.

In our local church the kids close the lych gate and won't let the newly married couple out until the groom has "paid", i.e chucked some loose change out over the gate. This happened to us, was really nice - except my mum in law was down with the kids scrabbling for the money lol! Lisa

The 1st ever funeral I went to was of my good friend Steven... he was 20 and I was 18... walking into the lounge, there was the open coffin, with his dad at the top of the coffin playing with his hair! It was emotional but lovely. The bit that choked me (other than over 500 people being there) was that the brothers filled in the grave themselves... whilst the family sang gospel songs... yes it was a Black family, and it was the most touching thing I ever so, and even now i can feel the warmth and sadness of it all!

Sheila, I didn't know that family members or friends taking a cord and lowering the coffin wasn't done everywhere! I also remember when my Nanna died, all the family and neighbours walking behind the coffin as it was taken from the house to the chapel. Haven't seen that done for a long time. Christine

When my first hubbys mum died (she was a lovely lady may she rest in peace) we did the overnight vigil in Chapel with her. when my mum died I had really wanted there to be a vigil for her - but there were to be a few funerals that day so it wasnt possible. Paul had never known a funeral where the family members were given the cords to lower the person down - but thats how it still is in areas in Scotland when a family friend died here a couple of years ago (yorkshire) I was in floods of tears when the 2 oldest grandchildren of the lady - who were aged 15 and 11 at the time walked in front of the hearse to escort it out of the estate - I found it so moving.

Gwynethh, in some parts of the Highlands it's men only at the graveside. As for the open coffins, we still do that here, and can't remember the reason but any mirrors in the room the coffin is in have to be covered! At weddings, do they have down South the bride throwing money from her car for all the local kids,as she goes to the wedding? In Edinburgh it's called a 'poor (pour) out' and in Glasgow a 'scramble' At the 'Hen night' the bride-to-be is taken around her local area, dressed up and carrying a 'chanty' (gazzunder). All her friends will sing songs, while banging on old pots and pans, and every man she meets has to give her a kiss and put money into the chanty. Christine

Where I live we have the "boxes in the wall" system or burial - cremation is only just starting. You can purchase a plot for 5 years, 10 years or as long as someone is around to check that its not been resold. A common money saving scheme is to put one person in the wall and then some time later remove the 1st person and put their remains in a plastic bag in side the old coffin and add the new resident. This transfering of people is done in the presence of the family. Urghhh Jules

My mum died last April, i had her home the night before her funeral, so she could spend one last night in her own home, everyone thought i was mad, but i am so happy i did that, i spent the night with her and talked to her about all the good times we shared. I think more people are doing that now Love Helenxx

The Coppers here seem to be starting a new custom.........seems like after about 11Pm. they fetch their noisy helicopter out and chase it around here, flashing their bright lights,all over the place...........Round and around.......