This was, and remains, a game on Shrove Tuesday, in various parts of
England.
Sir Frederick Morton Eden in the “Statistical account of Scotland,” says
that at the parish of Scone, county of Perth, every year on Shrove
Tuesday the bachelors and married men drew themselves up at the cross of
Scone, on opposite sides; a ball was then thrown up, and they played
from two o’clock till sun-set. The game was this: he who at any time got
the ball into his hands, run with it till overtaken by one of the
opposite party; and then, if he could shake himself loose from those on
the opposite side who seized him, he run on; if not, he threw the ball
from him, unless it was wrested from him by the other party, but no
person was allowed to kick it. The object of the married men was to
_hang_ it, that is, to put it three times into a small hole in the moor,
which was the _dool_ or limit on the one hand: that of the bachelors was
to _drown_ it, or dip it three times in a deep place in the river, the
limit on the other: the party who could effect either of these objects
won the game; if neither won, the ball was cut into equal parts at
sun-set. In the course of the play there was usually some violence
between the parties; but it is a proverb in this part of the country
that “All is fair at the ball of Scone.” Sir Frederick goes on to say,
that this custom is supposed to have had its origin in the days of
chivalry; when an Italian is reported to have come into this part of the
country challenging all the parishes, under a certain penalty in case of
declining his challenge. All the parishes declined this challenge except
Scone, which beat the foreigner, and in commemoration of this gallant
action the game was instituted. Whilst the custom continued, every man
in the parish, the gentry not excepted, was obliged to turn out and
support the side to which he belonged, and the person who neglected to
do his part on that occasion was fined; but the custom being attended
with certain inconveniences, was abolished a few years before Sir
Frederick wrote. He further mentions that on Shrove Tuesday there is a
standing match at foot-ball in the parish of Inverness, county of Mid
Lothian, between the married and unmarried women, and he states as a
remarkable fact that the married women are always successful.
* * * * *
_Crowdie_ is mentioned by sir F. M. Eden, (“State of the Poor,”) as a
never failing dinner on Shrove Tuesday, with all ranks of people in
Scotland, as pancakes are in England; and that a ring is put into the
basin or porringer of the unmarried folks, to the finder of which, by
fair means, it was an omen of marriage before the rest of the eaters.
This practice on _Fasten’s Eve_, is described in Mr. Stewart’s “Popular
Superstitions of the Highlands,” with little difference; only that the
ring instead of being in “crowdie” is in “brose,” made of the “bree of a
good fat jigget of beef or mutton.” This with plenty of other good cheer
being despatched, the _Bannich Junit_, or “sauty bannocks” are brought
out. They are made of eggs and meal mixed with salt to make them
“sauty,” and being baked or toasted on the gridiron, “are regarded by
old and young as a most delicious treat.” They have a “charm” in them
which enables the highlander to “spell” out his future wife: this
consists of some article being intermixed in the meal-dough, and he to
whom falls the “sauty bannock” which contains it, is sure--if not
already married--to be married before the next anniversary. Then the
_Bannich Brauder_, or “dreaming bannocks” find a place. They contain “a
little of that substance which chimney-sweeps call soot.” In baking them
“the baker must be as mute as a stone--one word would destroy the whole
concern.” Each person has one, slips off quietly to bed, lays his head
on his bannock, and expects to see his sweetheart in his sleep.
* * * * *
Shakspeare in King Henry IV. says,
Be merry, be merry,---------
’Tis merry in hall, when beards wag all
And welcome merry _Shrovetide_.
Be merry, be merry, &c.
It is mentioned in the “Shepherd’s Almanack” of 1676, that “some say,
thunder on Shrove Tuesday foretelleth wind, store of fruit, and plenty.
Others affirm that so much as the sun shineth on that day, the like will
shine every day in Lent.”
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