Medieval Hocktide Festivals
Medieval Hocktide festivals are ancient English festivals that are celebrated the second Monday and Tuesday after Easter Sunday. Hocktide, also known as Tutti-Day, is still celebrated in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, but has fallen out of practice everywhere else. In medieval times, people did not follow a traditional calendar. Instead, they conceptualized time around religious festivals and who held the throne at the time. For them, Hocktide marked the end of the financial year and the beginning of the New Year. There are several traditions surrounding medieval Hocktide festivals that are still observed today.
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Origin
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Hocktide dates back to the 11th century, when a festival was held on the second Monday and Tuesday after Easter Sunday. The origin of the name Hocktide is a mystery, possibly derived from the Saxon "Heah-tit" or "high festival." There are several theories about why people celebrated Hocktide. Some say the festival celebrates the massacre of the Danes of England or the death of Harthacanute. The festival also marks the end of the medieval financial year, with the payment of end-of-year accounts and changing of public office holders. The events observed during the Hocktide festival in Hungerford dates back to Prince John of Gaunt in the 14th century when he offered the rights of free grazing and fishing on common land to the commoners.
Binding
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In the original Hocktide festivals, the ceremonies began on Monday with a practice called binding, where men and women tied each other up, forcing the opposite sex to provide a form of charity in return. The men would tie up the women of the town and refuse to free them until the women gave them a kiss. Some say the men had to carry the women for a certain distance or lift them up a specific number of times in exchange for a kiss. On Tuesday, the women would tie up the men, and the men would have to pay them a fee to be released, which would be donated to the parish funds.
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Commoners Court and Tutti-Men
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The modern day Hocktide festivities begin on the second Monday after Easter with an ale-tasting, where commoners join the Constable at the Corn Exchange for tasting of ale and a buffet. On Tuesday, or Tutti-Day, the town crier kicks off the day's festivities at 8 a.m. by summoning commoners to the court, which begins at 9 a.m. During Commoners Court, town business such as payment of fines and election of officers is discussed. While the court is in session, the Tutti-Men, who served as rent collectors in medieval times, travel through the town carrying poles decorated with beautiful flowers. They visit the house of each commoner requesting a "head-penny" from the men and a kiss from the lady of the house. The Orange-man presents each lady who kisses the Tutti-Men with an orange. The Tutti-men enjoy the hospitality of at least 100 households on this day.
Commoners Luncheon and Hocktide Ball
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The Commoners Luncheon is held for all commoners and their guests at the Corn Exchange. The ale-tasters judge the quality of the ale in pewter tankards. A traditional punch known as "ye ancient Plantaganet punch" is also served. The Constable and a guest speaker give speeches and then newcomers to the luncheon, or "colts," have nails driven into their shoes until they yell "punch" and offer a donation for their meals. The tradition of throwing copper coins to the children of the town at the luncheon has stopped because of the dangers of traffic at the Corn Exchange. The Hocktide Festival comes to a close with the Hocktide Ball on Tuesday evening.
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References
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