| Where: | Jedburgh |
| When: | Thursday after Shrove Tuesday (but double check as sometimes it's held a week or more later!) |
| Time: | 12 noon (boys) and 2pm (men) |
Known locally as Jethart Ba’, two sets of handball games are played on the Thursday after Shrove Tuesday (or the week after, depending on when the first new moon falls after Candlemas -the offical fixing of the date is the Thursday following Fastern’s E’en, and Fastern’s E’en is the Tuesday following the first new moon after 2nd February aka Candlemas; this is usually but not invariably the same day as Shrove Tuesday). Traditionally the first ever game was played with an Englishman’s head (opposite to the Alnwick Football legend!) and the ribbons on the ball symbolise his hair- this isn’t universally accepted as fact but is too good a story to miss out! Prizes are awarded to the claimants of the ribbons, and each ball is sponsored with a cash bounty, often to commemorate a special anniversary or loved one. The Uppies and Doonies players are chosen by where they came into the world – Uppies are those born to the South (uphill from the start) and Doonies to the North (downhill) of the Market Cross where the balls are thrown. Until the 1970s the Callants games were played on 2nd February (Candlemas) and the Mens’ on Fasterns e’en, the night before the start of Lent- this was simplified in order for the disruption to businesses to be limited to a single day, and the Thursday after Fasterns e’en was chosen going forward as it’s already half-closing day in town. Play is in the town centre starting in the Market Place with the boys or Callants games at 12 and the mens games following at 2; the Uppies goal is outside the Castle Jail and the Doonies goal is at the Pleasaunce, each a couple of hundred yards away from the start. Sometimes the Callants are still playing when the men’s games begin so more than one group may be charging around in the same area, to the bemusement of motorists (the roads remain open during play, adding to the chaos).Several balls are thrown and the games can last for hours- expect lots of thrills and spills and scrummaging, and a friendly atmosphere!
Helpful Hints
There is a handy free car park at the South end of town just off the A68. Food & drink are readily available (though some shops are boarded up for protection from the game and it’s early closing day on a Thursday). Keep well back from the scrum as play is fast and furious and the pavements are hard!
Kind staff at the local school provided me with a timetable for the game date lasting until 2025 but now I have to work it out! The dating is relatively complex as it’s related to the lunar calendar as well as the church calendar so for clarity to modern readers I’ve tried to relate it to the better-known Shrove Tuesday. In some years a quirk of the calendar means that the dating is about a month different to Shrove Tuesday, and there is always debate as to the dating of the game if the first new moon following Candlemas should actually fall upon a Tuesday…
In 2027 it should be on Thursday 11th February (the same week as Shrove Tuesday this year!). I’ll be double-checking the dates to confirm nearer the time.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3752125518387284
and here: https://www.facebook.com/jethartshere
Oh dear, my condolences to the residents of Jedburgh.
Condolences are not required, it’s a long standing tradition, and all the locals turn out in force to watch the action.
hi mick notice your sighn by accident im colinbirtley from in my day stocks at nitten if you see this can you e mail me
OMG! That looks like way too much fun and I would love to be there to watch. It is nice that their not using an Englishman’s head any longer though isn’t it……
I kept really quiet when we were there, just in case…..
I have played the game all my life and will do so again this year for the 6th decade on the trot.To me it is not “just a game” it is a big part of my life.
Lovely to hear from you Billy!
I first met you at Hobkirk church before the game there 2 years ago and found that you are a mine of information on the sport. Glad to hear that you’re still enjoying it all – I’ll doubtless catch up with you again on a visit to a handbag’ game sometime in the future as I found they’re a great tradition and a good day out!
Best wishes,
Averil
Damn you,autocorrect! I did NOT mean handbag but handba’!