British Life & Culture
Calendar of Special Events & Celebrations
by Mandy Barrow
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Bread and Cheese Throwing
Whitsun |
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Photographs kindly donated by and copyright of Laura Newsam. St Briavels, Gloucestershire on Whit Sunday Evening On Whit Sunday evening at St Briavel's Church in the Forest of Dean, two people standing on the high church wall throw bread and cheese from baskets to members of the congregation leaving after evensong. Local legend claims that the 'scramble' in some way commemorates the rights bestowed on the villagers by King John, allowing them to graze their animals and collect wood on a thousand acres of land known as the Hunnalls. According to tradition these rights were won by the Countess of Hereford, who followed the example of Lady Godiva by riding naked through the village.
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The custom of bread and cheese throwing was first recorded in 1779, when every householder had to pay a penny towards the cost of the bread and cheese. At that time the ceremony took place inside the church and the bread and cheese was thrown to the congregation from the pulpit.  |
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© Copyright 2010 Mandy Barrow -
Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK