Push penny

Push penny was a long-observed custom at Durham Cathedral in England which occurred three days in the year. During this tradition money was thrown into the crowd on the college-yard.[1][2] The event occurred annually on 30 January, 29 May, and 5 November, respectively the anniversaries of King Charles' death, Oak Apple Day, and Guy Fawkes Night.[3][1] They would throw out 20 shillings of copper to the people on the yard.[4]

History

It is unknown when the tradition began but it was stopped by the Reformation and was continued after the Restoration of Charles II. The Dean and Chapter of Durham were people who kept this tradition going over the years, but the custom was stopped again in the middle of the 19th century.[2] It is unlikely that this tradition will come back.[5]

Influences

During the monastic period, roughly 300-600 people would gather by the Prior's Mansion and pennies were thrown out at them.[5][6]

At Bishop Auckland the Bishop would throw pennies on specific days of the year.[5]

References
  1. "push-penny". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. Walsh, William Shepard (1 January 1897). Curiosities of Popular Customs ... Illustrated.
  3. Durham Chronicle. 29 Nov 1872.
  4. The Antiquary. E. W. Allen. 1 January 1873.
  5. Thiselton-Dyer, Thomas Firminger (1876). "British Popular Customs: Present and Past". archive.org. George Bell & Sons. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  6. Sorabella, Jean (October 2001). "Monasticism in Western Medieval Europe". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 18 October 2015.


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