Up with the Noon
You know how it can happen; someone mentions something about morris, someone else mentions they know someone who said they heard a strange story from a friend about a tale passed down in a neighbours family about their ancestors who performed in a strange ceremony; that someone knows a morrris dancer and mentions it to them and after a lot of research and a paper chase which crosses the globe an old tradition which had died out is revived.
The following has been pieced together from a multitude of sources and although some of the gaps have been educated guesses, the main facts of the history speak for themselves.
The following account is in the words of the researcher.
In 1252 the peasants of a little hamlet near Lichfield (Hammerwich), disgruntled by the local Nobleman, set fire to the Kings forest. In order to put out the fire all of the surfs from the surrounding area were summoned to help. As Lichfield was only a few miles away it provided a large proportion of the helpers. After some hours of hard and dangerous work the fire was eventually extinguished. (To this day the village situated where the fire occurred is called Burntwood and there is a Lichfield dance called “The Vandals of Hammerwich”.)
The local nobleman was so impressed by the efforts of the Lichfield surfs that on each anniversary of the fire he presented them with a cask of ale and this soon became an annual festival.
By the 17th century the festival had developed into an excuse for raucous behaviour and heavy drinking. It was common for a tree in Lichfield to be completely set alight and a large number of trees were destroyed over the years. By 1752 the tree burning had been banned and was replaced by the ceremonial lighting of a small branch by the selected “Lord of Fools” and then just as quickly extinguished before the cask of ale was consumed.
The date of the festival was also fixed at this time. Previously“ Up with the Noon” took place any time between May Day and Horn Dance Day. It was not unknown for it to be celebrated more than once each year.!! After much argument and compromise in 1787 the date was fixed as the Sunday following the second Friday, after the first Tuesday after Whit Sunday and this formula is still used to this day.
“Up with the Noon” continued virtually unchanged until the 1930’s with one small exception. It had become custom for the fire to be extinguished by the “Lord of Fools” doing what came naturally!! (Think about it!) But this so offended the local Victorian ladies that after much persuasion and bribery, the process was changed to putting out the fire by pouring a small bottle of the local ale over it.
Sadly the tradition had all but died out until it was revived by Ryknild Rabble who now take great pleasure in observing “Up with the Noon” in Lichfield as well taking it around the country.
Why is it called "Up with the Noon ?"
There are a number of different theories as to how the this tradition got its name.
One suggestion is that “Up with the Noon” refers to the time of day that the tree/branch went up in flames; another suggestion is that noon was the time most of the participants got out of bed to join in the event. (As they had been drinking heavily the night before this could have been a distinct possibility.) The last suggestion is that “Up with the Noon” refers to the name of a famous “Lord of Fools” one Amos Noone who was involved in the early 1700’s.
We leave it to you to decide what is the most plausible reason.
The Dance
And that might have been where it ended; with simply the drinking, the raucous behavour and setting fire to things; but due to the persistence of one of the members of the Rabble, there is now more.
She reasoned that with all the rituals which abounded at that time, there must have been more to it.
She was right.
By one of those pieces of luck which occasionally happen she tracked down the steps (and fragments of a tune) which were performed during the festivals.
The dance depicts the villagers putting out the fire by stopping on it. However, the strange greeting salute which the performers give to each other during the dance remains a mystery.
Ryknid Rabble have interpreted the dance and arranged the tune to reflect the way it was probably danced at the time.
Some Old Lithographs
The lithographs below were discovered during the research carried out to bring this tradition back to life.
They are thought to have been produced just after the turn of the century and are the only ones that have survived.
These and the 18th century woodcut shown at the top of the page are the only visual records we have of "up with the noon".
Testimonials
"My real disappointment was to never have discovered the missing Lichfield dance I once heard about" Cedric Sharpner
"Although I've been petitioned to include Burntnoon in the dictionary, I feel it's not in keeping with its intent" Sammy Johnson
"Just as I remember it" A very old Burntwood resident.
"I don't care, your'e not joining in" A Greenhill Bower official
"Looks just as authentic as all the other dances you pr*ts do" A knowedgable spectator
Help ?
If you know anything about this strange tradition, Ryknild Rabble would be pleased to hear from you so more of the gaps can be filled in.
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chris@risa.demon.co.uk
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Last updated on 23/04/2001