HOCKTIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Hocktide is an archaic English term that refers to the second Monday and Tuesday after Easter Sunday. The word is derived from the Old English term "hoc", meaning pledge or promise, and "tide", meaning time or season. Hocktide is primarily associated with rural customs and is characterized by a customary gathering or festival that takes place during this specific period.
The origins of Hocktide can be traced back to medieval times when landowners and lords of the manor would make their yearly inspections and collect rents and dues from their tenants on these particular days. In exchange for these payments, the landowners would offer various forms of entertainment and festivities to the local community. This tradition served to strengthen the bond between the landowner and his tenants and was seen as a way of reaffirming mutual obligations and loyalty.
During Hocktide, a procession called "the Hock procession" is often held, where participants would march through the streets carrying hock carts decorated with flowers and ribbons. Additionally, young boys would playfully capture unmarried girls and demand a kiss or a small token as a ransom for their release.
Today, the observance of Hocktide has largely diminished, and it is mostly recognized in a few rural areas of England where it is celebrated with traditional games, fairs, and processions. The customs and significance of Hocktide may vary depending on the region, but it remains a testament to ancient communal celebrations and the historical bonds between landlords and tenants.
Common Misspellings for HOCKTIDE
- gocktide
- bocktide
- nocktide
- jocktide
- uocktide
- yocktide
- hicktide
- hkcktide
- hlcktide
- hpcktide
- h0cktide
- h9cktide
- hoxktide
- hovktide
- hofktide
- hodktide
- hocjtide
- hocmtide
- hocltide
- hocotide
Etymology of HOCKTIDE
The word "hocktide" is derived from Old English "hoc (or hocke)" meaning "heel" and "tid" meaning "time" or "tide". In Old English, "hocke" referred to the act of bowing or bending the knee, which was associated with the idea of submission or surrender. Over time, "hocktide" came to specifically refer to a medieval Christian festival called "Hocktide", which was associated with the commemoration of Christ's resurrection. The festival was observed in some parts of England as a time when people would beg for money and gifts, and also involved rituals such as the "hocking" of women, in which they would be playfully seized and held ransomed until a payment was made. Today, "hocktide" is mainly used to refer to the historical festival rather than the specific etymology of the word itself.
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