Dunmow Flitch Trials 2008
Yesterday the Dunmow Flitch Trials took place. Quick explanation for those who haven't heard of this ancient Dunmow custom and who can't be bothered to click on the linky - married couples who can convince a jury of six maidens and six bachelors that they have had at least a year and a day of happy marriage without ever wishing themselves unwed are awarded a flitch or side of bacon.
We decided to wander down in the morning to see what was going on, and the morning trial was about to start, so we bought tickets and went in to watch.
It was a very entertaining event; a lovely Essex couple who had been married 40 years told the jury and the audience all about their life together, being led through their evidence by a very professional legal team. Then the Counsel for the Donors of the Bacon cross-examined them to try to break holes in their happy marriage story. The jury didn't take long to decide to award the bacon to the happy couple, who were then paraded through town carried high on a chair, and made to kneel on pointy stones while they took the Flitch Oath.
Here they are being carried aloft, looking happy to have won although a little apprehensive about trusting themselves to being carried by the humble folk. (Taken on my phone, so not a great picture.)
Here's the chair being carried back in procession ready for the start of the second trials in the afternoon.
And here's what they were competing for!
There was a general carnival atmosphere and plenty of other events going on - tombolas, raffles, guess the name of the teddy, hog roast and barbecue, although some of it was dampened by the showers. Next Flitch trials are in 2012, and I'm looking forward to them already!
We decided to wander down in the morning to see what was going on, and the morning trial was about to start, so we bought tickets and went in to watch.
It was a very entertaining event; a lovely Essex couple who had been married 40 years told the jury and the audience all about their life together, being led through their evidence by a very professional legal team. Then the Counsel for the Donors of the Bacon cross-examined them to try to break holes in their happy marriage story. The jury didn't take long to decide to award the bacon to the happy couple, who were then paraded through town carried high on a chair, and made to kneel on pointy stones while they took the Flitch Oath.
Here they are being carried aloft, looking happy to have won although a little apprehensive about trusting themselves to being carried by the humble folk. (Taken on my phone, so not a great picture.)
Here's the chair being carried back in procession ready for the start of the second trials in the afternoon.
And here's what they were competing for!
There was a general carnival atmosphere and plenty of other events going on - tombolas, raffles, guess the name of the teddy, hog roast and barbecue, although some of it was dampened by the showers. Next Flitch trials are in 2012, and I'm looking forward to them already!
posted by Fluffy at 9:59 am
2 Comments:
Me and M would have won hands down if we had been there (except for an embarassing incident in St Tropez)
You know, I actually got half-way through reading your post before I realised it was nothing to do with Witches. So much for speed-reading :)
Post a Comment
<< Home