Many of you will associate Sunday 31st October with Halloween however at The Buck we look forward to celebrating Samhain (the changing of the seasons) with the Old Glory Molly Dancers and Musicians at 8pm.
Samhain is a pagan religious festival to welcome in the harvest and usher in ‘the dark half of the year’
The Old Glory tradition reflects a history of out-of-work ploughboys dancing for money with menaces. A disguise was essential as they begged for money so that the Lord of the Manor didn’t recognise his employees hence the darkening of their faces with soot and ash, also not smiling so not to be recognised by their teeth. These days they collect money for local charities and this year paint their faces grey. Come along and enjoy the theatre of the evening and listen to their stories unfold.
Old Glory visit various pubs and fairs returning to perform again at The Buck close to the end of their season on Plough Monday (10th Jan ’22), following the Sunday blessing of the Plough at the church, it is historically the day which marked the end of the Christmas period for the agricultural communities in the eastern counties of England.
After this, their straw bear which lives on our bar will be taken to the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival a modern revival of the ancient fenland custom of making a straw bear for Plough Monday which includes a procession led by a Straw Bear with his keepers and a Plough team pulling the plough, followed by numerous dance groups including morris and molly, clog and sword dancers, who perform throughout the weekend.
Please bring warm clothes as the initial performance will be on our car park and the following entertainment will be under cover in our garden. This is always a spectacular evening of entertainment not to be missed!