Castleton Garland Day
Encyclopedia
Castleton Garland Day or Garland King Day is held on 29 May (unless that date falls on a Sunday, when the custom is transferred to the Saturday) in the town of Castleton in the Derbyshire
Peak District
. The Garland King, on horseback, and covered to the waist in a heavy, bell-shaped floral Garland
, leads a procession through the town.
and it is said to commemorate the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Presumably the Garland is meant to represent the oak tree
in which he hid after the Battle of Worcester
. Some folklorists
suspect that it is actually a much older custom that transferred from May Day
as many May celebrations did after having been banned by the Puritans. The Garland King certainly resembles a kind of Jack in the Green
.
named "The Queen", made of especially fine flowers tied around a short stick, is inserted as a topknot into the top of the garland.
In the late afternoon the Garland King and his female consort (now also, confusingly, known as "The Queen", but formerly simply "The Lady"), dressed in Stuart
costume, mount their horses. The Garland, which is said to weigh between 56 and 60 lb (25.4 and 27.2 kg) is placed over the King's head and shoulders; only his legs are visible beneath it. The riders and Castleton Silver Band
then lead an evening procession around the town, stopping at various points, including all the pubs
. Young schoolgirls dressed in white, carrying small "maypoles" twined with ribbons, follow behind; they dance a form of morris dance
at each stopping-place.
When the circuit of the town is complete, the King rides up to the churchyard gates, where the Queen (posy) is removed from the top of the Garland. It is kept on one side to be placed on the town's war memorial
. The King rides to the foot of the tower of St Edmund's church where all the pinnacle
s but one have been decorated with leafy branches. A long rope is hung down and tied to the Garland, which is hoisted up the side of the tower and then impaled on the central pinnacle. It remains there for several days until the flowers have wilted. Formerly it was left to fall apart completely.
The day concludes with maypole
dancing in the Market Place and the ceremonial placing of the Queen posy on the war memorial.
reasons), the Lady was played by a man until 1956. The whole ceremony was formerly organised by the bellringers
, who themselves danced a morris behind the King and Lady. Castleton Museum has a display of Garland day memorabilia, including a costume worn by the King over two centuries ago.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. The Garland King, on horseback, and covered to the waist in a heavy, bell-shaped floral Garland
Garland
A garland is a class of decoration, of which there are many types.Garland may also refer to:-Places:*Garland, Arkansas, a town in Miller County*Garland County, Arkansas*Garland, Maine, a town in Penobscot County...
, leads a procession through the town.
Origins
The date of the custom coincides with Oak Apple DayOak Apple Day
Oak Apple Day or Royal Oak Day was a holiday celebrated in England on 29 May to commemorate the restoration of the English monarchy, in May 1660...
and it is said to commemorate the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Presumably the Garland is meant to represent the oak tree
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was located in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. Charles confirmed to Samuel Pepys in 1680 that while he was...
in which he hid after the Battle of Worcester
Escape of Charles II
The Escape of Charles II from England in 1651 is a key episode in his life. Although it took only six weeks, it had a major effect on his attitudes for the rest of his life.-The fugitive king:...
. Some folklorists
Folkloristics
Folkloristics is the formal academic study of folklore. The term derives from a nineteenth century German designation of folkloristik to distinguish between folklore as the content and folkloristics as its study, much as language is distinguished from linguistics...
suspect that it is actually a much older custom that transferred from May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
as many May celebrations did after having been banned by the Puritans. The Garland King certainly resembles a kind of Jack in the Green
Jack in the green
A Jack in the Green is a participant in traditional English May Day parades and other May celebrations, who wears a large, foliage-covered, garland-like framework, usually pyramidal or conical in shape, which covers his body from head to foot...
.
The custom
Starting from midday, most of the afternoon is taken up with the construction of the Garland, a roughly bell- or beehive-shaped wooden framework to which are tied bunches of garden flowers. Once it is finished, a small posyNosegay
A nosegay, tussie-mussie, or posy/posey/posie is a small flower bouquet, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice....
named "The Queen", made of especially fine flowers tied around a short stick, is inserted as a topknot into the top of the garland.
In the late afternoon the Garland King and his female consort (now also, confusingly, known as "The Queen", but formerly simply "The Lady"), dressed in Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
costume, mount their horses. The Garland, which is said to weigh between 56 and 60 lb (25.4 and 27.2 kg) is placed over the King's head and shoulders; only his legs are visible beneath it. The riders and Castleton Silver Band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
then lead an evening procession around the town, stopping at various points, including all the pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. Young schoolgirls dressed in white, carrying small "maypoles" twined with ribbons, follow behind; they dance a form of morris dance
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
at each stopping-place.
When the circuit of the town is complete, the King rides up to the churchyard gates, where the Queen (posy) is removed from the top of the Garland. It is kept on one side to be placed on the town's war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
. The King rides to the foot of the tower of St Edmund's church where all the pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s but one have been decorated with leafy branches. A long rope is hung down and tied to the Garland, which is hoisted up the side of the tower and then impaled on the central pinnacle. It remains there for several days until the flowers have wilted. Formerly it was left to fall apart completely.
The day concludes with maypole
Maypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer...
dancing in the Market Place and the ceremonial placing of the Queen posy on the war memorial.
History
In the ancient tradition of the "man-woman" (a man dressed as a woman for ritualRitual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
reasons), the Lady was played by a man until 1956. The whole ceremony was formerly organised by the bellringers
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
, who themselves danced a morris behind the King and Lady. Castleton Museum has a display of Garland day memorabilia, including a costume worn by the King over two centuries ago.
See also
- Jack in the greenJack in the greenA Jack in the Green is a participant in traditional English May Day parades and other May celebrations, who wears a large, foliage-covered, garland-like framework, usually pyramidal or conical in shape, which covers his body from head to foot...
- Bodmin RidingBodmin RidingThe annual Bodmin Riding custom was held at Bodmin in Cornwall on the Sunday and Monday after 7 July . Accounts over its long history vary, but it involved a horseback procession around the town, carrying two large garlands, and probably originated as a Guild Riding custom...
- Beating the boundsBeating the boundsBeating the bounds is an ancient custom still observed in some English and Welsh parishes. A group of old and young members of the community would walk the boundaries of the parish, usually led by the parish priest and church officials, to share the knowledge of where they lay, and to pray for...
- May DayMay DayMay Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
- Abbotsbury Garland DayAbbotsbury Garland DayHeld on 13 May each year, the Abbotsbury Garland Day celebrations have taken place in the Dorset village of Abbotsbury since about the early 19th century. They were first described in Hutchins' History of Dorset published in 1867. The custom involves the making of garlands by the children of the...