Somerset Gurgle
Encyclopedia
A Gurgle is an ancient non-pagan ritual to celebrate the first apples of the new season.
Usually held in late August or early September in the cider producing counties of the West of England (primarily Devon
, Somerset
, Dorset
, Gloucestershire
and Herefordshire
).
The practice has largely died out but a few celebrations remain – primarily around the periphery of the Somerset Levels
.
.
The Dutch engineers in the 17th Century who came to England to help drain the levels are thought to have used the expression as a slang name for the celebration of the first apples of the new season.
There is a suggestion that the Gurgling jugs made by the Dartmouth Pottery may have originated within the gurgle tradition. The similarity of the name and the fact that the jugs are used for pouring does imply a connection but there is no further evidence for this, however the argument is compelling. Gurgling Jugs or Glug Glug Jugs were used as promotional items by many breweries and Plymouth Gin
made extensive use of them so the connection may be more than just lingusitic.
Activities often assoicated with Gurgles include Morris Dancing, Worm charming
, Tug of War
and apple bobbing.
Usually held in late August or early September in the cider producing counties of the West of England (primarily Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
).
The practice has largely died out but a few celebrations remain – primarily around the periphery of the Somerset Levels
Somerset Levels
The Somerset Levels, or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are less commonly but more correctly known, is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of central Somerset, South West England, between the Quantock and Mendip Hills...
.
Origin
Its origins are unknown but thought to date back to the 17th century and to pre-date wassailingWassailing
The tradition of Wassailing falls into two distinct categories: The House-Visiting wassail and the Orchard-Visiting wassail. House-Visiting wassail, very much similar to caroling, is the practice of people going door-to-door singing Christmas carols...
.
The Dutch engineers in the 17th Century who came to England to help drain the levels are thought to have used the expression as a slang name for the celebration of the first apples of the new season.
There is a suggestion that the Gurgling jugs made by the Dartmouth Pottery may have originated within the gurgle tradition. The similarity of the name and the fact that the jugs are used for pouring does imply a connection but there is no further evidence for this, however the argument is compelling. Gurgling Jugs or Glug Glug Jugs were used as promotional items by many breweries and Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin is a style of gin that by law can only be produced in Plymouth, England, it being a Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union. The Plymouth Gin Distillery is the only gin distillery located in Plymouth in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431 and...
made extensive use of them so the connection may be more than just lingusitic.
Practices
Gurgles are usually celebrated on a village green or similar public space and will incorporate local produce, such as scrumpy, cider, cheese, pickles or any other local speciality. A common practice is for a "professor" of each subject to be appointed who will explain/discuss/celebrate their particular speciality throughout the day.Activities often assoicated with Gurgles include Morris Dancing, Worm charming
Worm charming
Worm charming, worm grunting, and worm fiddling are methods of attracting earthworms from the ground. The activity is usually performed to collect bait for fishing but can also take the form of a competitive sport...
, Tug of War
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
and apple bobbing.