Ambleside rushbearing

Ambleside rushbearing: Not quite so well known as neighbouring *Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria, keeps its own version of the rushbearing custom. On the Saturday nearest St Anne's Day (26 July), villagers process to the St Mary's church with men carrying pointed rush pillars, about eight feet tall, while children carry rush and flower constructions (the 'bearings') in the shape of harps and so on. A hymn is sung at the market-place, and a sermon preached in the church. Gingerbread is distributed afterwards. A description published in 1892 shows there has been little change in the form of the custom since that time.

■ Hogg, 1971: 96-7; N&Q 8s:2 (1892), 141-2.

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rushbearing — A prime example of a custom which originally had a logical practical purpose but which was turned into an elaborate occasion by tradition and which continues in isolated places long after the original raison d etre is gone. When churches had… … A Dictionary of English folklore
Grasmere rushbearing — A *rushbearing custom which has survived in symbolic form in Grasmere, Cumbria, even though the church was paved in 1840. Token rushes are carried on a special linen sheet, held by six girls (the Rush Maidens), dressed in green, while others… … A Dictionary of English folklore
Grasmere — Infobox lake lake name = Grasmere image lake = Cumbria 2007 015.jpg caption lake = View from Loughrigg Terrace image bathymetry = caption bathymetry = location = Lake District, Cumbria coords = coord|54|27|N|3|01|W|region:GB… … Wikipedia

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