Oak Apple Day

Oak Apple Day

Friday 29th May normally sees the Oak Apple Day celebrations through the village culminating inside the Church.

A previously recorded celebration of Oak Apple Day.

This year

Obviously due to the restrictions as a result of Covid 19 these cannot proceed in the normal way this year. However, after discussions and all relevant safety considerations, a smaller scale ceremony will take place.

At 7pm on Friday 29th Kath Strang and Mark Hayes, with family members, are going to lift a smaller branch to the top of the Church tower.

If you would like to come and see the raising of the branch please come along to any vantage point where you can see the church tower, but maintain full social distancing. Wear a sprig of oak or oak leaf and bring a cup of tea (or whatever your drink preference is!) to celebrate with.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday. Please spread the word so all who would like to come can.

Further Reading

The Oak Apple Day celebration was started in 1660 when King Charles II was invited back as our King after 11 years of “Puritan” rule by Cromwell and his son (1649 - 1660). During that period no singing, dancing, theatre or any public frivolity including colourful fashionable clothes was allowed! Imagine that in today’s society. The King entered London on his 30th birthday and this day was fixed as a holiday. He was not actually crowned until 23rd April 1661. It is called Oak Apple Day to commemorate the King’s successful evasion of the Roundheads by hiding in an Oak Tree.

The 29th May was one of the few public holidays the majority of ordinary working people had as relief from continual 7 days toil per week! This public holiday lasted from 1660 to 1859. The day is still celebrated in a very few villages in the country.

There are still residents of St Neot who wear a sprig of “red” oak in the morning and after midday wear a small sprig of “Boys Love” sometimes called “Lads Love” and by Herbalists “Southernwood”, its Latin name is Artemisia Abrotanum. If you don’t wear these sprigs, you used to risk, as a punishment, being stung by nettles! Centuries ago Boys Love was hidden in bouquets of flowers that boys gave to their sweethearts as it was believed to increase virility, sometimes also put under maidens pillows for the same effect, hence the name!

Our St Neot ceremony starts with a procession through the village by the Vicar carrying the Cross followed by the Tower Captain carrying the Oak Bough. Many villagers and visitors follow passing the village Institute, crossing the medieval bridge over the Loveny going up the main street past the Cott Barn Resource Centre and the London Inn to the Church. At the Church just by the Tower, William Taylor recounts the story and history of the ceremony to the assembled crowd.

After the story the old Oak bough is thrown from the top of the Tower by the Captain and after blessing the new bough, it is hauled up by villagers and when it reaches near to the top by the Tower Captain. After this everyone is invited to the vicarage grounds or Church (subject to weather) where a barbecue and other refreshments are available.

St Neot in Cornwall hosts the most lavish celebrations, and a parade still marks the day with the hauling of an oak bough to the top of the church tower, where it remains all year. Old Cornwall Society branches are often represented with banners and the church bells are rung, while dancing and other entertainments follow and many people attend wearing seventeenth century costume.