Thursday 29th May – Pinch Bum Day
“The wise boy wore his oak leaves, armed himselves (sic) with a stinging nettle and carried a few dock leaves for first aid just in case” – Nottinghamshire Folk Plays & Related Customs.
For hundreds of years, 29th May was a public holiday in the UK, known as Oak Apple Day. The holiday was introduced in celebration of the restoration of the monarchy; Charles II returned to become King on 29th May 1660. The arrival of Charles II saw an end to the ban on merry-making which had been implemented by Cromwell, making the day one for parties and fun.
“…for keeping of a perpetual Anniversary, for a Day of Thanksgiving to God, for the great Blessing and Mercy he hath been graciously pleased to vouchsafe to the People of these Kingdoms, after their manifold and grievous Sufferings, in the Restoration of his Majesty, with Safety, to his People and Kingdoms: And that the Nine-and-twentieth Day of May, in every Year, being the Birth Day of his Sacred Majesty, and the Day of his Majesty’s Return to his Parliament, be yearly set apart for that Purpose” – Parliament.
From that day until 1851, Oak Apple Day was an official public holiday, when people would wear a sprig of oak leaves or carry a sprig with an oak apple on it to show their support of the monarchy. Children would issue challenges to each other to produce their sprig and those who did not have one would be subject to some kind of punishment. The most common punishments were a pinch on the bottom, hence Pinch Bum Day, or whipping with nettles, which gave the day its alternative name of Nettle Day.
The traditions of Oak Apple Day differed from region to region; in some areas the oak sprig need only be worn until noon, while in others it had to be carried all day.
Although the day has not been an official public holiday for over 160 years now, it is still celebrated in some parts of England. Northampton still marks Oak Apple Day in memory of the help given by Charles II when the town was almost destroyed by fire in 1675. An oak apple wreath is laid at the town’s statue of the monarch, by All Saints’ Church.
In Worcester, the entrance gate to the Guildhall is decorated with oak branches and leaves in Charles’ memory.
Here in London, Oak Apple Day continues to be celebrated by the Chelsea Pensioners in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. As the hospital was founded by Charles II, the Army pensioners partake in the Chelsea Pensioners Parade, ready for inspection by a member of the Royal family.
