| Where: | Haxey, Lincolnshire- procession to the Church, game on Field behind |
| When: | 6th January (if 6th falls on Sunday, the Hood takes place on Saturday 5th instead) |
| Time: | 12.30 at Carpenters Arms for singing & painting Fool's face; Procession approx. 2.30, Fools Speech just after 2.30pm, games from approx 2.45 |
Haxey Hood is one of the ancient mass-participation festival games and is the earliest in the year, sometimes taking place in snow. Instead of a football, the players use “hoods” which are leather rope-filled tubes about 2 feet long; the villagers of Haxey and neighbouring Westwoodside compete to get the hood inside their pub to score; traditionally the winner’s pub gets to keep the Hood until the following year, though the current situation of pub closures and non-participation means that this is in flux. The official legend behind the game is that it all started back in the Fourteenth Century when Lady de Mowbray dropped her hood and the locals chased and caught it; she was so amused by the event that she donated land to the village on condition that the event was re-enacted each year. Four factions play and their pubs are traditionally the Kings Arms, Duke William and the Loco which are all in Haxey and the Carpenters Arms in Westwoodside. The game is presided over by a team of 12 umpires called Boggins dressed in red who are accompanied by a Fool wearing rags. Before the game, the Fool is ritually smoked (he’s usually not set on fire…not quite) while he makes a speech at the Mounting Stone outside the church. The games begin when the Hoods are thrown on Haxey Hill nearby, starting with the Sack Hoods which are thrown for the children – the winners who get their hood away from the Boggins receive a modest cash prize. The main event is the competition for the final Sway Hood – a huge scrum forms known as the Sway and it heaves back and forth as players struggle to get to their goals with it. Play often continues well after dark.
Helpful Hints
The Hood is never held on a Sunday so when January 6th falls on a Sunday, it moves instead to the day preceding (Saturday 5th). This happened in 2019 and won’t happen again until 2030.
All ages are welcome.The pubs usually put plastic over their carpets before Haxey Hood day because otherwise they get covered in mud so be warned! In some years one or another of the traditional pubs for the event in Haxey itself are either closed or not taking part but the Hood will still continue to be played. It can be hazardous to enter the Sway especially when it lurches over (you wouldn’t want to be on the bottom of the pile). If you’re there in time you can usually join in the pre-match pub crawl from just before noon at the Carpenters Arms, Westwoodside which features the singing of traditional songs. Don’t park between the pubs or anywhere the game is likely to go as your vehicle may never be the same again!
Click here for more: https://haxeyhood.weebly.com
Click here for the event Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/haxeyhood/?locale=en_GB and https://www.facebook.com/groups/18262675651/
You are incorrect about the pubs, the Kings Arms is in Haxey, and the Westwoodside pub is called the Carpenters Arms. The singing does start in Westwoodside but its the Carpenters, followed then by the Kings, Loco and finally the Duke.
Hi Gareth,
Thanks for putting me right – got my pubs “Arms” mixed up! I’ve amended the article accordingly.
Kind Regards,
Averil
Hello, I am planning in advance for attending January’s Haxey Hood, but I don’t drive. Does anyone know if bus services will be running into Haxey on the day, or at least a walkable distance from Haxey? I am having to get a train to Scunthorpe from Manchester, then a bus on from Scunthorpe to Haxey.
Any travel info would be really helpful if anyone knows anything, thanks in advance. Joe
Hi Joe,
Hopefully someone who knows will see your question, and I’d also recommend you ask on the Facebook pages for the Hood at https://www.facebook.com/groups/18262675651 (which is a private group but I expect will be more than happy to have you join), and at https://www.facebook.com/haxeyhood which is a public group- and do have a look as well at the excellent photos at https://haxeyhood.weebly.com
We live a long way off and travelled in by car so can’t advise on the services, but you definitely won’t be alone in wanting to use public transport so with a bit of luck someone who knows will be able to help. It’s a fab day out- you’ll have a great time!
Best wishes,
Averil
Please can i confirm this year’s HH will take place on Tuesday 6th January?
Thanks
Hi Phil,
Yes it’ll be on Tuesday 6th this year- it only moves date when 6th is on a Sunday. You can find lots of info at https://haxeyhood.weebly.com Enjoy!
Best wishes,
Averil