HOP HOODENING
Hop Hoodening is now into its sixth
decade. This celebration of the hop
harvest was first held in 1957 in Canterbury and around East Kent with
Country and Morris dancing, Hand Bell ringers and Hop Queen. Since 1980
the
day's activities have been preceded by a service of thanksgiving in
Canterbury Cathedral, during which a bine of hops from a local hop-farm is
blessed.
The custodians of the tradition, The Wantsum Morris Men, welcome you all to
join them in the Cathedral for the service at 11 o'clock and then in the
City to watch Wantsum and their guests dancing until late afternoon. It is
easy to determine when Hop Hoodening will occur in any year: it is always
the second Saturday in September.
A more comprehensive history will be available on a linked website in due
course.
The Date For Next Years Hop Hoodening is Saturday 12thSeptember 2009