Old Ball facts for kids

Old Ball was a fun and unique custom that happened in the Forest of Rossendale in Lancashire, England. This was in the 1800s. It was a type of "hooded animal" tradition, which means someone dressed up as an animal. These kinds of customs were popular in different parts of the United Kingdom.

What made Old Ball special was that it took place around Easter. Many other similar traditions in Britain happened closer to Christmas. The name "Ball" was also used for hobby horses in other places. For example, in Derbyshire, a tradition called the Old Horse used hobby horses named "Ball." In Cheshire, there was even a "Young Ball."

What Was Old Ball?

The "Old Ball" was actually the name of the special hobby horse used in this tradition. It was made from a real horse skull attached to a pole. For eyes, they used the bottoms of glass bottles! A man would carry this pole, hiding himself under a sackcloth. Sometimes, the outfit even had a tail.

A group of about six men would take Old Ball around. They would disguise themselves by blackening their faces or wearing masks. The group would sing a song, but sadly, no one wrote down the words or the tune. Old Ball would playfully chase people to try and get money from them.

Where Was Old Ball Found?

The Old Ball tradition was mainly found in the Forest of Rossendale area. It was also seen in towns like Blackburn and Burnley. These towns were about 15 to 20 miles north of the Forest of Rossendale.

All the places where Old Ball was recorded were industrial towns. This means they were busy towns with factories. The towns in the south were mostly known for spinning cotton. The two towns in the north, Blackburn and Burnley, were known for weaving cotton.

When Did Old Ball Happen?

All the stories and records about the Old Ball tradition come from the first three quarters of the 1800s. So, it was a popular custom during that time.

Old Ball and Other Traditions

Old Ball was part of a bigger group of "hooded animal" traditions across Britain. A folklorist (someone who studies folk customs) named E. C. Cawte studied these traditions. They often had a few things in common:

• They used a hobby horse.
• They were often performed around Christmas.
• They included a song or speech asking for money.
• The group performing often had a man dressed in women's clothing.

For example, in South Wales, there's a tradition called Mari Lwyd. Groups of men with a hobby horse would knock on doors around Christmas. In south-west England, there are two famous hobby horse traditions: the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss festival and the Minehead Hobby Horse. These happen on May Day, not Christmas.

No one knows exactly how these traditions started. Some experts think they might have become popular after people in the 1500s and 1600s enjoyed hobby horses. It's a bit like how Morris dance became very popular across England before changing into different regional styles.