"Getting on the Band Wagon" in the UK Pace Egging: A Lancashire Tradition by John Ravenscroft http://www.timetravel-britain.com/columns/traditions/traditions02.shtml When I first heard the term Pace Egging I thought it probably had something to do with drunken villagers rolling eggs down steep English hillsides -- we Brits do things like that with all kinds of items, including cheeses, barrels of beer and significant others -- but I was wrong. Apparently the word "Pace" is nothing to do with the relative speeds of competitive egg-rollers. The truth is far more mundane. "Pace" comes from the Latin "Pacha" which means Easter, and Pace Egging is just one more of our many and varied Easter Traditions. Pace Egging Today Pace Egging Although it was noted as early as 1842 that the Pace Egging Play was being performed less and less frequently, the revival of interest in English folk customs after the Second World War helped to rekindle enthusiasm. http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Bury2002.htm Bury Pace Eggers outside the Victoria Hotel, Walshaw Bury Pace Eggers' collector in traditional Costume, Easter 2002 (Photo: Catherine Pearce) - I wonder - the DNA of males in her family. Bury Pace Eggers circle round as they sing their song, Ramsbottom Market, 23rd March 2002 (Photo: Francis Roe) Pace Eggers, Easter 2002 - Heptonstall, West Yorkshire http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Heptonstall2002.htm "The Fight - another fight - Singing to the Crowd" http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Midgley2002.htm Pace Eggers, Easter 2002 - Midgley, West Yorkshire Boys from Calder Valley High School perform the Midgley Pace Egg Play at Weavers Square, Heptonstall, Good Friday 2002 Midgley Pace Eggers 1932. http://www.folkplay.info/Forum/TD_Forum_11_Midgley.htm ABOUT THE PLAY - Eddie Cass One thing which was said stuck in my mind. St George, who was 10 at the time, still recalled after all these years, his feeling that he was the Christian hero defending Christendom from the infidel Turks. The infidel Turks, Slasher, Black Prince of Paradine, Hector were all of 12! What he couldn't tell me was the source of that feeling, who suggested that the play had an origin in the Crusades. That idea was certainly part of the theoretical views expressed on the play by Frank Marsden. Eddie Cass

Thanks Gord for all your emails. I realised a long time ago that the latin 'pace' means 'peace'. I suppose it is quite an honour to belong to a family of peace in this turbulent world. A lot to live up to! Keith -----Original Message----- From: gtp3066@nexicom.net [mailto:gtp3066@nexicom.net] Sent: 04 April 2010 19:01 To: pace@rootsweb.com Cc: A.L. Dodsworth; Franne; Keith Lester; Dianne Wiltshire; mnholding@shaw.ca; Al Pace; Robyn Pace; Betty A Pace; Clarinda Pace; Tanya Pace-Crosschild; Tom Pace; Pat Anderson; Darrell Pace; Antony Pace; Julian Pace; Ellen Cadman; marj charman; Kate Cole; Lionel Young Subject: Easter and Pace Eggs "Getting on the Band Wagon" in the UK Pace Egging: A Lancashire Tradition by John Ravenscroft http://www.timetravel-britain.com/columns/traditions/traditions02.shtml When I first heard the term Pace Egging I thought it probably had something to do with drunken villagers rolling eggs down steep English hillsides -- we Brits do things like that with all kinds of items, including cheeses, barrels of beer and significant others -- but I was wrong. Apparently the word "Pace" is nothing to do with the relative speeds of competitive egg-rollers. The truth is far more mundane. "Pace" comes from the Latin "Pacha" which means Easter, and Pace Egging is just one more of our many and varied Easter Traditions. Pace Egging Today Pace Egging Although it was noted as early as 1842 that the Pace Egging Play was being performed less and less frequently, the revival of interest in English folk customs after the Second World War helped to rekindle enthusiasm. http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Bury2002.htm Bury Pace Eggers outside the Victoria Hotel, Walshaw Bury Pace Eggers' collector in traditional Costume, Easter 2002 (Photo: Catherine Pearce) - I wonder - the DNA of males in her family. Bury Pace Eggers circle round as they sing their song, Ramsbottom Market, 23rd March 2002 (Photo: Francis Roe) Pace Eggers, Easter 2002 - Heptonstall, West Yorkshire http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Heptonstall2002.htm "The Fight - another fight - Singing to the Crowd" http://www.folkplay.info/Gallery/Midgley2002.htm Pace Eggers, Easter 2002 - Midgley, West Yorkshire Boys from Calder Valley High School perform the Midgley Pace Egg Play at Weavers Square, Heptonstall, Good Friday 2002 Midgley Pace Eggers 1932. http://www.folkplay.info/Forum/TD_Forum_11_Midgley.htm ABOUT THE PLAY - Eddie Cass One thing which was said stuck in my mind. St George, who was 10 at the time, still recalled after all these years, his feeling that he was the Christian hero defending Christendom from the infidel Turks. The infidel Turks, Slasher, Black Prince of Paradine, Hector were all of 12! What he couldn't tell me was the source of that feeling, who suggested that the play had an origin in the Crusades. That idea was certainly part of the theoretical views expressed on the play by Frank Marsden. Eddie Cass