Ramsey dancers hit the street for Plough Monday
THE ANCIENT tradition of the Plough Monday procession and dance was revived in Ramsey for the third and potentially final year.
THE ANCIENT tradition of the Plough Monday procession and dance was revived in Ramsey for the third and potentially final year.
Funding for the event is due to finish this summer, but villagers have vowed to carry on the unusual custom which sees participants black up their faces and dress up in colourful clothing, while one man is covered head to toe in straw as the Straw Bear.
On Monday around 1,000 people watched and took part in the procession through the village, including 500 children from Ramsey Junior School, Ashbeach Primary, St German’s and Magdalen schools from Norfolk and St. Peter’s Junior School in Wisbech.
It was followed by performances of local dances by pupils.
You may also want to watch:
Gordon Phillips of Norfolk Our World Festivals Ltd, who organised the event, said: “This year was twice as big as last year, and last year was twice as big as the year before, which shows there is real momentum.
“We had a lot of people come up to us yesterday wanting to keep it going after the funding runs out in the summer.”
Most Read
- 1 Two men to appear in court to face aggravated burglary charges.
- 2 Pair jailed after drugs and cash worth £184k seized in 'peaceful' village
- 3 Villagers call for action after 'worst floods in years'
- 4 Parking issues in Huntingdon are a 'safety hazard' says community chairman
- 5 Man who spent Christmas alone in intensive care proposes to girlfriend
- 6 Stuie Delf launches new fundraising campaign in memory of his brother
- 7 Letter of the Week: 'Could we sue stores who don't enforce mask wearing'?
- 8 Child rescued from floodwater in Godmanchester
- 9 Harrowing video warning from seriously ill 20-year-old who survived Covid
- 10 Flood warnings issued as police receive multiple calls
Plough Monday was celebrated in various guises across the country and came about as a means for agricultural workers to earn money during the bleak mid-winter, when they had little work.
Many villages abandoned the custom in the 1930s, but in Ramsey, Ramsey Heights and Ramsey St Mary it continued until the 1950s.
The day-long event 60 years ago involved appearances by the Straw Bear, performances by Molly dancers and plays. Participants were called Plough Witches locally, while in other parts of the country they are referred to as Plough Boys or Plough Bullocks.
Their faces are blacked up in order to protect their identities.
Mr Phillips said: “Originally the Plough Witches went round with their ploughs and they would plough up the front gardens of anyone who did not give them money. It was a disguise so you did not get discovered. Obviously now we use make-up but in the past they used soot.”
INFORMATION: See www.ploughmonday.co.uk for more information.
