350th Anniversary 2010

'Oak Apple Day on the Monarch’s Way'

Owslebury to Hambledon, Winchester, Hampshire

Saturday, May 29th & Sunday, May 30th

"On this the 350th anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy we will celebrate ‘Oak Apple Day’ by walking a delightful section of the Monarchs Way through Hampshire in southeast England".

Pre-Booking Required - Click here!

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‘The working men of Basingstoke and other towns in Hampshire arise early on the 29th of May to gather slips of oak with the galls on; those they put in their hats or anywhere about their persons. They also hang pieces to the knockers, latches, or other parts of the house-doors of the wealthy, who take them in to place in their halls, &c. After breakfast these men go round to such houses for beer, &c. Should they not receive anything the following verses should be said:

“Shig-shag, penny a rag,
[Bang his head in Cromwell’s bag],
All up in a bundle.”

But fear often prevents them. However, the lads have no fear, and use it freely to anyone without an oak-apple or oak-leaf on some part of his person, and visible—ill-treating him for his want of loyalty. After noon the loyalty ceases and then if anyone be charged with having shig-shag, the following verses are said:

"Shig-shag's gone past,

You're the biggest fool at last;

When shig-shag comes again,

You'll be the biggest fool then."

And the one who charges the other with the oak-leaf receives the ill-treatment.—N* & Q. 1st S* vol. xii. p. 100.

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'...There is however, one rural custom, - quite free from officialdom, - much observed in the county... and that is the observance of Shick Shack Day. This is the country-folk’s name for Royal Oak Day, May 29th, when, wrote Miss Yonge at Otterbourne, “those who omit the wearing of the oak-apple are liable to the drenching which in Devon belongs to the first.”

The Rev. R.M, Heanley tells me:- “At Upton Grey there is a very special celebration of May 29th, Royal Oak Day. The church bells are vigorously rung at 6 am, after which the ringers place a large branch of oak over the church porch, and another large one over lychgate, and then proceed to put smaller branches in the gateway of every house all up and down the village street. This is supposed to ensure good luck for the remainder of the year, and any omission is sure to be followed by disaster of some sort or other.”

Moutray Read, D.H (1911) Hampshire Folklore, Folklore 22:3 292-329