The strange practice of Hoodening goes back centuries possibly to Saxons times.
The principal characters were a:
- Horse with a Hoodener underneath
- Groom who carried a whip and led the Horse
- Jockey
- Mollie or Daisy – a man dressed as a woman holding a broom
They would perform at festivals particularly at Christmas and were joined by musicians. The revellers could collect money via a pouch inside the horse’s mouth. Which character would you play at a Hooden Horse party?
Two of our Hooden horses are on display courtesy of the Skardon family. The third horse is a more recent addition and was made by an ex-trustee of the Museum from a piece of driftwood she found on the beach. Hengist is about 50 years old.
Good Causes
Today Hoodeners still play in Deal raising money for local charities. Keep an eye out for this strange local custom and maybe you could collect (or even better, donate) some money. The Museum, too, relies on generous donations.