Hobby horse
folklore hobby horse costumed character feature traditional seasonal custom procession similar observance around world england particularly associated may day celebration mummer play morris dance word hobby glossed oed small middlesized horse ambling pacing horse pony word attested english th century middle english hobyn old french hobin haubby whence modern french aubin italian ubino old french term apparently adopted english rather vice versa oed connects byname hobin hobby variant robin compare abbreviation hob robert appears name customarily given carthorse attested white kennett parochial antiquity stated plowman one carthorse generally give name hobin word phil comines us hist vi vii another familiar form christian name dobbin also become generic name carthorse samuel johnson dictionary english language gloss strong active horse middle size said originally ireland ambling nag hoblers hovellers men kept light nag may give instant information threatened invasion old french hober move hobby qv medieval time duty reconnoitre carry intelligence harass straggler act spy intercept convoy pursue fugitive henry spelman derived word hobby hobbler another description cavalry lightly armed taken class men rated pound upwards border horse called hobbler hobby small active trained cross difficult boggy country get footman could scarce dare follow according george macdonald fraser steel bonnet story angloscottish border reivers hobby horse may constructed several different way type frequently found united kingdom categorised follows tourney horse meant look like person riding small horse wearing long cloth coat caparison seen medieval illustration jousting knight tourney tournament circular oval frame suspended around waist chest skirt draped hanging ground frame carved wooden head often snapping jaw operated pulling string attached one end tail rider may wear cape flowing costume help cover frame elaborate version fake leg meant rider hang side skirt though seems fairly recent development sieve horse simpler version tourney horse known lincolnshire made farm sieve frame head tail attached suspended performer shoulder performer wear horse blanket kind includes headpiece hole eye ear cover sieve mast horse meant represent horse animal head made wood sometimes actual horse skull used usually hinged jaw made snap head attached stick ft long person acting creature covered cloth attached back head rarely bend forward crouch holding head front resting end stick ground tail may attached back cloth cloth long enough sheet used welsh mari lwyd performer also stand lifting head front face head hobby horse fit category even within uk famous may day horse padstow minehead large construction suspended shoulder level performer head emerging wear tall pointed hat face masked padstow horse circular frame fairly small snappingjawed head long straight neck minehead horse boatshaped pointed end since head though long trailing tail ft long south france belgium ommegang de termonde elsewhere large hobby horse carried multiple performer hollow framework constructed various way danse du baiar esquièze dancer wear wooden horse head breast dancing indonesia flat silhouette horse suspended dancer leg see individual entry may day hobby horse padstow famous traditional british hobby horse probably may day obby os festival padstow cornwall made circular framework tightly covered shiny black material carried shoulder dancer whose face hidden grotesque mask attached tall pointed hat skirt made material hang edge frame around kneeheight small wooden horse head snapping jaw attached long straight neck long mane stick front frame opposite side small tail horsehair two rival horse fiercely loyal band supporter padstow old os decorated white red supporter wear red scarf show allegiance blue ribbon os peace os decorated white blue supporter follow suit teaser waving padded club dance front os accompanied dance narrow street lively band melodeons accordion drum playing padstows traditional may song osses sometimes capture young woman beneath skirt hobby horse often emerge smeared black child sometimes make colt osses hold may day parade minehead minehead somerset three rival hobby horse original sailor horse traditional sailor horse town horse appear may eve called show night may day morning salute sunrise crossroad outskirt town may may ceremony called bootie take place evening part town called cher new page horse made boatshaped wooden frame pointed built end carried dancer shoulder padstow face hidden mask attached tall pointed hat top surface horse covered ribbon strip fabric long fabric skirt painted row multicoloured roundel hang ground round long tail attached back frame horse accompanied small group musician attendant town horse accompanied gulliver dressed similarly horse without large frame padstow smaller childrens horse sometimes constructed horse visit believed bring good luck past also similar hobby horse based nearby village dunster would sometimes visit minehead obby os minehead horse also visited dunster castle may day hunting earl rone combe martin devon custom called hunting earl rone took place ascension day banned revived take place four day spring bank holiday fool hobby horse accompanied grenadier search village earl finally captured mounted onto real donkey paraded village frequently shot soldier fall mount revived hobby horse fool returned mount finally reaching beach earl executed thrown sea hunting earl rone morris ritual dance hobby horse depicted stainedglass window dating betley hall staffordshire victoria albert museum london directly maypole surrounded appear morris dancer accession c painting c unknown artist fitzwilliam museum cambridge show morris dancer thames richmond party includes hobby horse play witch edmonton william rowley thomas dekker john ford feature group morris dancer hobby horse historical english morris dance side team hobby horse associated popularity animal morris side today probably date early year morris revival ilmington morris created tourney horse ridden sam bennett many year modern revival side extended animal repertoire various imaginative appropriate way eg pig dyke molly molly dancer wear black white costume makeup hobby zebra hobby horse take part ancient abbot bromley horn dance old original horse see gallery replaced realistic carving recent year custom including hobby horse hodening hoodening custom took place leadup christmas eastern kent involving group plowman farmworkers leading hooden horse horse head made wood set short pole snapping jaw sometimes set nail teeth operated person hidden piece sacking stableblanket represent animal body custom described extinct folklorist violet alford since revived various place laare vane new year custom isle man involving whitepainted wooden horse head redpainted snapping jaw white sheet attached draped sheet man would carry head racing unexpectedly room chase girl present house followed rest company laare vane white mare caught girl would take place sheet carry horse back house sitting away others kind sworddance performed stick six male dancer tune mylecharanes march played fiddle climax dance fiddler would enter circle dancer imprisoned intertwined stick dancer wild cry cut head fell ground dead fiddler blindfolded led laare vane knelt head lap another person would question fiddler event coming year particularly would become valentine reply believed true prediction mari lwyd similar creature mari lwyd grey mare english also made horse skull white sheet attached took part new year housevisiting luckbringing ritual southeast wale gaining access house challenge mari lwyd party house took turn improvise verse song household failed come final verse mari allowed enter turned away custom revived recent year old horse owd os poor old hoss part nottinghamshire derbyshire around sheffield existed early th century dore christmas new year custom going house house performing short play dramatised song called old horse towd os poor old horse old horse mast type constructed similar way wild horse soulcakers hooden horse kent earliest record ashfordinthewater derbyshire type performance still continues richmond yorkshire christmas three men dressed hunting pink lead horse made stuffed skin horse head pole man play hidden horseblanket men sing poor old horse song horse snapped jaw end verse custom performed richmond market place around midday christmas eve involves horse death resurrection crouch rise hunting horn blown penglas penglaz name creature cornwall translates grey head hooden mast type horse either carved wood made horse skull like welsh mari lwyd accompanied christmas guisers body horse hide horse cloth sometimes led ridden old penglaze man blackened face carried staff animal revived penzance recent year penglaz penzance obby os appears mazey eve june st john eve part modern midsummer festival instead around midwinter plough monday mummer lincolnshire nottinghamshire part east midland england mummer play performed around plough monday early january team known variously plough stots plough jag plough jack plough bullock plough witch north lincolnshire large team elaborately costumed mummer often character duplicated paraded village street sometimes splitting smaller group enter house perform extract traditional play photograph team scunthorpe burringham scotter burtonuponstather elsewhere showed double gang two hobby horse sieve type made hanging wooden frame large sieve small wooden horse head horsehair tail attached around performer waist however unusual variation rider disguised wearing horsecloth covered head body knee appeared horse riding horse salisbury giant hobnob salisbury giant fttall figure sometimes said represent saint christopher processional figure unique britain current figure wooden frame rebuilt c although probable existed th century rarely appears nowadays kept salisbury south wiltshire museum along companion hobnob tourneytype hobby horse mischievous character used clear way giant procession held tailor guild midsummer eve hobnobs rider face body disguised substantial veil first clear mention hobby horse along mayde marrians coate record tailor guild finally sold hobbyhorse giant museum procession also involved morris dancer around continued sporadically various occasion mid th century soulcaking souling regional variant mummer play performed around soul day cheshire included nonspeaking character called wild horse made horse skull mounted short pole horse played man hidden cloth attached pole bent forward rest pole ground could usually snap horse jaw loudly frighten onlooker winster hobby horse possibly unique custom involving three hobby horse known photograph taken winster hall derbyshire picture appears taken winter climbing plant wall leafless eight nine performer involved bar one facial disguise performer grouped around mast horse possibly snap dragon see shiny black head made painted skull set short pole behind two men threatening posture one waving long stick like handle brush rake probably besom broom blurred two men wearing militarylooking jacket buttoned neck white trouser stand astride small hobbyhorse apparently unique design cylindrical body three inch diameter two foot long held rider leg supported front cord narrow strap around rider neck flat curved wooden neck small stylised head snapping jaw apart mouth horse look almost like simple rocking horse leg removed horseman masked lightcoloured cloth another character wear rather voluminous tattered long dark dress busily brushing ground besom broom reminiscent character besom bet appears mummer play last two character playing rough music bladder fiddle performance may arranged llewellynn jewitt lived hall stanley evans folk dancing derbyshire derbyshire countryside vol april p suggested performer may performing mumming play cawte dismissed suggestion unusual one sign combatant pair horse unusual design mast horse seems centre attention field note made folklorist cecil sharp referred hobby horse without curtain connected morris dance winster also mention snap dragon made real horse head skull dug purpose say whether associated morris seems see account published long visit winster confusing winster morris dancer stated never hobby horse associated morris separate horse ceremony involving skull reburied year note published death llewellynn jewitt noted dozen group traditional performer several group guisers wensley mummer hobby horse snap dragon called winster hall four day christmas new year noted december evening winster snap dragon hobby horse conjoined came u — ten men one snap dragon two hobby horse two devil etc etc kitchen gave money photograph may well show one conjoined team related custom similar custom include broad cotswold old ball forest rossendale lancashire derby tup originally created way mast horse hooden horse derby tup ram represented male sheep took part dramatised version derby ram folksong performed northern derbyshire around sheffield christmas season team boy killed butcher blood collected large bowl version brought back life quack doctor like character mummer play austria sankt lorenzen im lesachtal carinthia fasnacht carnival procession sankt lorenzen im lesachtal southwest austria feature large band musician fancy dress led large rather frisky hobby horse hollow body covered long white sheet almost reach ground long neck head apparently made cardboard papiermâché carried two people hidden beneath sheet horse coloured ribbon attached mane bridle tail rein held man dressed red jacket closely followed boy occasionally prod wooden hayfork blacksmith apron carry bag containing hammer stock character parade include four masked smartly dressed old men walking stick time time horse fall ground shod smith hammer shoe sol one carrier kick wildly man lead sometimes breathes mouth nostril revives continues village ezpeize formal dancing suddenly interrupted wild invasion unruly gang rustically dressed character wearing mask facial disguise rush dancing area pair loud cry wave club furry tail doctor nurse white coat red cross back race around dancing space anticlockwise direction fall ground writhing heap belgium lumeçon ducasse de mon also known doudou ducasse de mon festival take place trinity sunday town mon consists two part first procession shrine saint waltrude second part called lumeçon depicts combat st george dragon feature large processional dragon enormously long stiff tail saint george attempt kill dragon lance fail dispatch pistol illustration th century clearly show dragon three hobbyhorse tourney type modern photograph description event show animal made cowhide look like dog known chinchins chinschins corruption chien dog role aid st george festival recognised unesco since one masterpiece oral intangible heritage humanity general heading processional giant dragon belgium france czech republic killing mare shrovetide finale shrovetide procession town hlinsko czech republic six nearby village including hamry blatno studnice vortová hlinecko region eastern bohemia ritual called killing mare accompanied brass band men boy wearing colourful costume representing traditional character spend whole day going door door visiting every household community except known mourning detail differ slightly place place usually two three hobbyhorse tourney type character include straw men dressed costume made ricestraw blacked face tall pointed straw hat embrace woman roll ground said confer fertility housewife gather straw straw men skirt good luck charm taking home feed goose chicken little wife man dressed woman dotted man four dancer representing turk perform ritual dance front house ensure wealth family good harvest must lift leg high possible ensure tall crop flax wave handkerchief english morris dance originally wielded sabre instead end day men perform ritual called killing mare one group hobby horse judged killed alleged sin brought back life alcohol dance ensues involving onlooker custom survived despite banned th th century catholic church th socialist government recognised unesco element mankind intangible cultural heritage france several hobbyhorse custom exist languedoc area southwest france stronghold totem animal many town village particular creature appear carnival time andor local patronal festival saint day festivity le poulain de pézenas pézenas huge creature called le poulain lo polin occitan colt carried nine men led another accompanied band musician poulain realistically carved wooden head snapping jaw extending neck reach firstfloor window money offering put mouth tumble inside neck semicylindrical body covered dark blue cloth decorated star coat arm pézenas frame tricolor skirt poulain carry two effigy back one male one female called estieinou estieinette estieineta although first written reference poulain creature supposed commemorate visit town louis viii king favourite mare fell ill left behind pézenas louis continued albigensian crusade return astonished find mare fully recovered also given birth fine colt duly presented adorned ribbon return decreed town construct wooden colt used celebrate public festivity legend first recorded early appearance public feast day saint blaise february saint john baptist june feast assumption aug symbol power also appeared time town prévôt distributed bread poor last well visit royalty dignitary poulain burned french revolution royal association revived since appeared mardi gras festive occasion framework weighty construction chestnut made aluminium since originally poulain rider estieinou estieinette sometimes spelled estiénon estiéneta french manner meant recall another royal occasion louis xiii visited town maréchal de bassompierre following king crossing river peyne horseback saw peasantwoman difficulty making crossing foot gallantly offered seat horse merry arrival town caused great amusement two effigy made remember event smaller junior poulains pézenas made child pézenas fadas also fullsized version also similar creature imitation elsewhere still continue lively poulain saintthibéry others known adissan alignanduvent florensac montblanc vias linked local legend medieval famine known lo pouli de la fabo – colt bean also recorded agde caux montagnac castelnau valros nizas languedoc outlier ariège st pierre de soulan instigated former inhabitant pézenas lou chivalet le chevalet hobby horse tourney type frame suspended around dancer waist also appear various festivity languedoc illustration chivalet dance traditional tune old photograph animal type show folk museum agde particularly associated florensac called le chevalet considered town totem chevalet cournonterral hérault died around revived march part annual carnival lâne de bessan donkey as bessan another languedocs totem animal much smaller poulain made frame covered cloth decorated crepe paper flower painted motif skirt carried four men led another dress white tricolor sash crack whip âne dance side side backwards forward traditional tune played nowadays various instrument although traditional hautbois type oboe drum sometimes beast buck hindquarter air supported leader first dancer twirl around three stand ready catch frame descends âne brought open feast st laurent appearing first pm saturday closest saint day accompanied firecracker bell sunday morning go mass blessed final dance also âne gignac le chevalbayard de clermontlhérault revived century half town original chevalbayard burned known bayard baiard occitan meaning bay horse origin traced back th century totem animal hérault perhaps bestknown chameau camel béziers date two year earlier poulain pézenas large impressive boeuf bull mèze huge mouth said date back least lo picart saintjeandefos ferocious ram existed since least montagnac goat sometimes choice animal based play word loupian unsurprisingly wolf loup one recent possibly bizarre totem le porquet pinet caterpillar created early provence lei chivaux frus several frisky horse tourney hobby horse accompany traditional group le tambourinaires de santsumian brignoles folklore revival group founded performance faithfully based authentic tradition chivau frusc cited author frederic mistral aixenprovence folklorist violet alford principally brignoles also southern provence germany odenwald christmas bock esel schimmelreiter various creature used appear odenwald around christmas including straw bear bock figuresvariations also found sweden part scandiniavia around midwinter christmas time perhaps link germanic god thor perhaps even older fertility rite bock name translated goat buck ram stag made similar way mast horse using long two threepronged hayfork formed horn covered white sheet partly stuffed form head face painted onto sometimes held outside window frighten householder sometimes two people stood sheet form longerbodied creature weihnachtsesels christmas donkey made similar way usually two people bending darker coloured blanket rather like pantomime horse schimmelreiter elaborate construction made two large sieve riddle fastened upright position front behind rider chest level front sieve stuffed fabric head neck attached whole covered sheet small hole centre allow rider head show ireland láir bhán team irish mummer known wrenboys perform saint stephen day december pub private house known include white hobby horse láir bhán – cf laare vane tourney type survived present century dunquin county kerry example ballycotton co cork láir bhán led procession hornblowing youth halloween collected money name muck olla legendary giant boar poland lajkonik city kraków hobbyhorse called lajkonik traditionally appears first thursday religious feast corpus christi parade street collecting money accompanied musician costumed follower traditional polish costume others oriental dress carry horsetail insignia colourful costume lajkonik represents bearded tatar warrior carry golden mace mounted white horse touched mace said bring good luck custom said carried year various story told explain origin hobby horse become unofficial symbol kraków version often appear tourist attraction market square spain basque area basque country border france spain strong dance tradition several dance linked seasonal festival zamaltzain hobby horse tourney type small wooden head short lacy skirt take part dance procession zuberoa la soule easternmost part basque country southern france place ezpeize maule urdiñarbe barkoxe altza altzürükü atarratze rider wear elaborate costume red black including koha tall beribboned hat always mirror front zamaltzain mean muleteer mulekeeper dance mule take part danced two team one dressed red black said scholar eugène goyhénèche university pau represent attack village men another rusticlooking horse similar basic construction part celebration carnival lantz spain called zaldiko form essential part carnival procession together ziripot strange character enormous strawstuffed costume dressed red trimmed yellow six tourney horse xaldiko zaldiko take part comparsa de gigantes cabezudos pamplona iruña navarre spain nafarroa realistic basque example replicate whole upper part horse body head tail skirt attached rider wear pointed cap tassel used wield inflated bladder stick like tricorned bighead called kilikis parade carry phallic pizzle made foamrubber use belabour onlooker catalonia many festival catalonia region northeast spain involve procession giant outsize animal also involve hobby horse tourney type moreorless realistic head body nowadays often constructed fibreglass larger figure mule also found several place carried two performer whose leg visible beneath skirt hanging animal hollow body addition dragon various sort also popular bull eagle lion many firework attached set around santa tecla festival take place tarragona september includes saint day september number animal real mythical impersonated parade form major part festivity among largerthanlife mulassa mule carried two dancer hidden skirt apart leg creature take part àliga eagle bou bull cucafera coco mythical monster drac de sant roc dragon saint roch lleó lion víbria female wyvern prominent breast several firework attached extremity showered spark attendant spectacular sight indonesia kuda kepang kuda lumping jaran kepang kuda lumping woven bamboo horse also known kuda kepang jaran kepang traditional javanese dance depicting group horseman island java indonesia dancer ride horse made woven bamboo decorated colorful paint cloth generally dance portrays troop riding horse another type kuda lumping performance also incorporates trance magic trick art introduced neighbouring johore singapore javanese migrant performed wedding special dancing troupe led danyang typical troupe today comprises horseman medicine men gamelan musician – guardian modern performance reenact story legendary nine muslim saint wali songo brought islam java nowadays often kept brief intended simply entertainment may even performed woman gamelan percussion orchestra made drum hanging gong two knobbed gong wooden frame tubular bamboo chime called angklung detail fuller elaborate performance however include state shamanistic trancelike possession custom may originally form totemic worship photograph early th century collection amsterdam tropenmuseum museum tropic show another ritual dance reog ponogoro involving huge tiger mask costume singa barong accompanied jatil riding woven bamboo hobby horse perform jaran kepang dance newfoundland mummering newfoundland hobby horse mast type sometimes used mummer janneys went mummering around christmas season also took christmas bull made similar manner housetohouse visit mischievous horse intended malevolent appearance antic often frightened visited encountered mummering dying enjoyed recent revival first mummer festival held st john december even workshop making hobby horse mayday procession including teaser fool hobby horse try capture woman skirt feature climactic scene british culthorror flick wicker man term hobby horse came expression ride one hobbyhorse meaning follow favourite pastime turn modern sense term hobby term also connected draisine forerunner bicycle invented baron karl von drais london coachmaker named denis johnson began producing improved version popularly known hobbyhorse artistic movement dada possibly named french child word hobby horse term also nautical vessel pitching forward backward sea harmonically said hobby horsing bumba meu boi – similar brazilian tradition ox instead horse hobby horse toy hooden horse dorset ooser – unrelated similar custom dada – art movement based french word hobby horse pantomime horse photo hobby horse competition