Folklore and Customs

Haxey Hood

Every year on 6 January, or the Saturday before when that is a Sunday ยท From 14:30

Next

Wednesday 6 January 2027, From 14:30

Free

Where

St Nicholas Church

The Fool speaks from the stone by the church, the game is played in the field behind it, and the Sway pushes the hood to one of four pubs: the Kings Arms, Duke William or Loco in Haxey, or the Carpenters Arms in Westwoodside.

Church Street
Haxey
Lincolnshire
DN9 2HY

About

After singing in the pubs from lunchtime and the Fool’s speech, a huge scrum called the Sway pushes a leather tube, the hood, across the fields towards whichever pub its supporters favour. That pub keeps the hood for the year, and the game often runs into the evening.

Nobody looks after this listing yet. Last reviewed September 23, 2026. Is it yours? Claim it.

Nobody has claimed this listing yet, so nobody has confirmed the details. Is this still right?

Coming up

January 2027

  • From 14:30

Is this still right?

Nobody has confirmed these details yet. If you have been recently, you would be the first.

Something is wrong with this listing
What is wrong?

Tell us what it actually is, e.g. "now 8.30pm, not 8pm" or "moved to Tuesdays".

If you know when it stopped, or whether it has moved somewhere else, say so.

Where is it now?

The type, the style or the tags - say which, and what it should be.

Tell us what is wrong.

Questions and comments

Ask about this custom

Your email address is not published. A first comment is read by a person before it appears, so it may not show up straight away.