Jack Pudding and gape-seed at Bartholomew Fair

24 August · Smithfield, London

No longer kept

London

At Bartholomew Fair in Smithfield, crowds watched Jack Pudding the clown do his tricks while cutpurses went through their pockets. Poor Robin said the gawpers paid dearly for their gape-seed, meaning for their staring. The 1723 almanac made the same joke in prose, saying that those with nothing to spend still had to go to the fair to buy gape-seed.

To Smithfield to Bartholomew Fair, To see Jack Pudding act his Tricks, whilst Cut-purse he his Pocket picks; And by that means 'tis plainly clear, They for their Gapes-seed do pay dear.

From Poor Robin's Almanack, An Almanack for 1664, August. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

The Croyland Knives No longer kept LincolnshireBecause St Bartholomew was flayed alive, a knife became his emblem.
Strewing Rushes at Dorrington No longer kept LincolnshireOn St Bartholomew's Day at Dorrington, near Sleaford, maidens in their best clothes used to walk in procession to a small chapel in the parish and strew its floor with rushes.
The Scholars’ Disputation on Bartholomew Eve No longer kept London, YorkshireA correspondent from Morley, near Leeds, reminded Hone of a custom little noticed by antiquaries: on the eve of St Bartholomew scholars from different schools met for disputation, to try their proficiency in learning, as Stow and the astrologer Lilly both mention.
Rabbits for the Boys at Bartholomew-tide No longer kept LondonThe German traveller Hentzner, in England in 1598, wrote that every year on St Bartholomew's Day, when the fair was held, the mayor with the twelve principal aldermen walked in a neighbouring field, in his scarlet gown with a gold chain about his neck.
Bartholomew Pig and Fairings No longer kept LondonBy the time of Ben Jonson's comedy of 1614 Bartholomew Fair had lost nearly all its trading character and was given over to eating, drinking and amusement, and it had become an established custom to eat roast pig there.
St Bartholomew’s Dusty Mantle Lore and belief EnglandSt Bartholomew's Day falls forty days after St Swithin's, when the forty days of rain promised by a wet St Swithin's Day should be over.
Shooting at the Standard in Finsbury Fields No longer kept LondonStow wrote that before his time the lord mayor, sheriffs and aldermen of London used to go out at Bartholomew-tide into the fields at Finsbury, where the citizens had gathered, and shoot at the standard with broad and flight arrows for games.
Beggar’s Bush Fair at Rye No longer kept SussexRye held a small pedlars' fair at Beggar's Bush on St Bartholomew's Day, and chose its mayor on the same day.
Lee Fair and its disputations No longer kept YorkshireThe great fair at Lee, in Woodkirk parish near Leeds, ended on St Bartholomew's Day.
The sunflower, a star for Bartholomew Lore and belief EnglandThe sunflower, in full bloom by late August, was given to St Bartholomew as his star.
Butter and cheese at Bartlemytide No longer kept CambridgeshireAt Bartholomewtide, or at Stourbridge Fair near Cambridge, the farmer bought what his house needed for repairs and sold his butter and cheese.

Jack Pudding and gape-seed at Bartholomew Fair

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