Fields to stay empty as Haxey Hood cancelled for first time in 100 years

The annual contest between villagers from Haxey and Westwoodside has been taking place on January 6 for more than 700 years – but this year the fields between the two villages will be empty after the contest was cancelled because of Covid-19.

Organisers took the decision to axe the event before Christmas – and it is the first time since World War One that the battle for the Hood will not take place.

The traditional event usually sees thousands of people descend on the village of Haxey as its villagers contest with those from neighbouring Westwoodside in a bid to take control of the prized leather hood.

The competition, which dates from 1359, is normally contested between regulars from pubs in the two villages.

It takes place on January 6 every year – the twelfth day of Christmas – and sees the competitors take part in the ‘sway hood’: a large scrum to try and carry the leather baton – or hood – to one of the pubs involved.

The game's origins are said to stem from an incident when while riding over hill which separates Haxey from Westwoodside, Lady De Mowbray, the wife of a local landowner, lost her riding hood to the wind.

A group of farmworkers gave chase but the man who picked it up was too shy to hand it back, passing it to another man.

She said the man who handed it over had acted like a Lord, while the one who chose not to had acted like a Fool, helping to create the tale behind the ancient game.

The Fool leads proceedings and gives the traditional speech outlining the rules before the sway hood begins. They do this from the mounting stone in front of Haxey Church before the Smoking The Fool ceremony where damp straw is set on fire behind them.

It is hoped the event will return for 2022.