The Broad (folk custom) facts for kids

The Broad was a fun folk custom from the Cotswolds area in south-central England. This custom was popular in the 1800s and early 1900s. It involved a special kind of hobby horse that looked like a bull's head. This head was put on a pole and carried by a person hidden under a sackcloth. The Broad was a unique version of a "hooded animal" custom, which can be found in different forms all over the British Isles.

What Was The Broad?

The Broad custom usually happened around Christmas time. Some people even called it "the Christmas Bull." The main part of the custom was the Broad itself. This was often made from a stuffed bull's head. Sometimes, it was made from cardboard instead.

How The Broad Looked

The Broad often had horns and glass eyes. It was sometimes decorated with pretty ribbons and rosettes. This head was attached to a pole. A person would hold the pole and hide under a sackcloth or a sheet. In a couple of places, like Hawkesbury and Leighterton, the Broad was made from a hollowed-out turnip or swede with a candle inside!

The Broad usually appeared with a wassailing team. Wassailing is an old tradition where people sing carols and visit homes, often with a special bowl, to wish good luck. Sometimes, the Broad appeared by itself. Other times, it was part of a hero-combat play, which is a type of folk drama. The people who went with the Broad usually wore their everyday clothes. They sometimes carried a wooden wassail bowl. This bowl was decorated with ribbons and green branches.

Where The Broad Was Found

This special tradition was found in a specific area. This area was shaped like a triangle. It was bordered by the towns of Stroud, Cricklade, and Chipping Sodbury. This region covered the eastern part of the southern Cotswolds. It also included areas just east of the Cotswolds. The custom was seen in ten villages in Gloucestershire. It was also reported in three villages in Wiltshire.

When Did The Broad Happen?

The earliest records of The Broad are from around 1835 in Kingscote. It was also seen in West Gloucestershire between 1830 and 1840. After the First World War started in 1914, records of the tradition became very rare. Sadly, The Broad custom did not continue. It has not been brought back to life either. Much of what we know about The Broad was gathered by R. P. Chidlaw. He shared his findings with a folklorist named E. C. Cawte. Cawte then wrote about it in his 1978 book.

Why Did People Do This?

Historian Ronald Hutton thinks that The Broad custom might have grown out of older wassailing traditions. These traditions were all about bringing good cheer and luck. The Broad was a unique and fun way for communities to celebrate during the Christmas season.

See also

• Mari Lwyd, a similar custom from South Wales.
• Hoodening, a similar custom from Kent.