Were the Pagan spirits with us...you judge!

Jug Men skip into the festive season...
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REGULARS at The Jug & Glass skipped into the festive season when they performed their traditional ritual dance to bring on a white Christmas.

   The infamous Jug Men, formed last year after Morris Dancers refused to perform out of season, busily worked on their routine for a charity afternoon of fun on Saturday (5 December, 2009).

   It is now somewhat of a tradition that kicks off the start of the festive season with this unique style of dancing, based loosely on the pagan art of Morris dancing which dates back hundreds of years.

   The December extravaganza also included a hog roast and brass band leading carols around the Christmas tree.
   Landlord Jez Hytch explained: "We love the traditions associated with English pubs and what better customer than a brass band playing around a Christmas tree, Jug dancers and a hog roast!"

   The Jug Men were set up after attempts failed to book traditional Morris dancers. Jez added:"When we rang up to book Morris dancers we were promptly told that it was a no-go because it was out of season. I couldn't believe it! So one of our locals, Gordon Thorpe, set the challenge to put The Jug's own side together."

   As the villagers danced around the idea, a local historian looked into the pagan past of the custom that has its origins hidden in the mists of time. One of the explanations is that Morris dancing is thought to have been a tradition that welcomed in the spring to ensure the fertility of the year's crops.

   That was it, the villagers decided that it would ensure a white Christmas in Derbyshire! With the first known historical reference to this strange art being back in 1448, there are more sinister explanations of its origins.

   Apparently it was used as a tactic to bring illness to annoying neighbours. Villagers showing the first sign of the bubonic plague were dressed in colourful outlandish customers with bells strapped to their legs and sent to rival hamlets to perform the ritual, with the key element of waving around their handkerchiefs full of plague infested mucus!

   Whatever the explanation, The Jug Men have no nasty hidden motive and just hope that the English ritual will ensure a great traditional 'white' Christmas in the Derbyshire hills.

   We will add to these pictures as people send them into us.   

   If you want to contact the Jug Men or learn more about entertainment at a real 'local' traditional English pub telephone 01629 534232 or send us an e-mail to enquiries@jugandglasslea.co.uk