Sunday, January 7, 2007
Who let the dogs out in Painswick?
Painswick in Gloucesterhire is our second stop on the Weird Celebrations bus trip.Painswick is a very pretty small town which is often called 'Queen of the Cotswolds'. Some consider it to be one of the most beautiful places in the area. It lies about 5 miles from Stroud.
At the heart of the town lies the Parish Church of St Mary. The church once belonged to the Llantony Priory. The church abounds with strange stories one of which claims that there are only 99 Yew trees in the churchyard because the devil stops the 100th one form growing.
Each year on a Sunday in September ( which lies on or after 19th September) the Painswick Feast Day is held. (It was originally held on 8th September).
Each year on a Sunday in September ( which lies on or after 19th September) the Painswick Feast Day is held. (It was originally held on 8th September).
On Painswick Feast Day the children of the village join hands and encircle the church in a dance which resembles the hokey kokey. At the same time they sing the special Clypping Hymn. The dance begins at 3pm and at the end of they get a special currant bun.
But that is just the beginning.... and not the only thing that happens on Feast Day.
On this day Villagers eat Bow Wow Pie. "In ancient times this was a very riotous time with many visitors flooding into the town to view the ceremony, there was a great deal of drunkenness and lewd behaviour, there was also a huge demand for food , local hostelries were very much under pressure and being desperate for meat they made "Puppy Dog" pies, this custom is re-enacted in modern times but thankfully for our canine friends, with a difference , China Dogs are baked into pies and cakes and sold on the day. Do not say 'BOW WOW' or bark in Painswick. "
The following links gives further information.
:: posted by Robyne, 10:27 AM
4 Comments:
The whole idea of baking potentially tooth-breaking items into cakes or pasties has never made sense to me. Why risk dental injuries? There was some holiday upon which the Mexican relatives of my mother's first husband (complicated family) used to bake a little gold ring into the pastry. If you got the ring, you were Patron or Patrona for the day or something. My mother, who valued keeping the 2nd set of teeth that God so graciously gives one, would never participate in this particular festival ritual. We went off in search of tamales instead.
Thanks for the visit Ari, it would be interesting to find out if this is done other places. I was more concerned that in this country of "dog lovers" they ate the little pooches. Painswick is such a prissy place tooo....who would imagine...mmmmm...
Bow Wow Pie ..... Yum.
Wow I can't even begin to imagine eating puppy dog pie. I agree with ari on the dental injuries, why would you risk it? Interesting post, I like your site, I can learn something new everyday. Thanks!
