This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35472492

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
What was Kissing Friday? What was Kissing Friday?
(about 9 hours later)
Millions are commemorating Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday this week, but what happened to the strange tradition of Kissing Friday?Millions are commemorating Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday this week, but what happened to the strange tradition of Kissing Friday?
Until about the start of World War Two, the girls of Yorkshire were allowed to finish school before their male colleagues - at least for one day a year. The reason was that boys were allowed, under a tradition of indeterminate origin, to kiss them without fear of getting a slap or being chased by an angry parent.Until about the start of World War Two, the girls of Yorkshire were allowed to finish school before their male colleagues - at least for one day a year. The reason was that boys were allowed, under a tradition of indeterminate origin, to kiss them without fear of getting a slap or being chased by an angry parent.
Under the rules of Kissing Friday, falling two days after Ash Wednesday, the tradition supposedly said that no girl was allowed to say no.Under the rules of Kissing Friday, falling two days after Ash Wednesday, the tradition supposedly said that no girl was allowed to say no.
The Yorkshire Society say it has heard of the custom but doesn't know of its ancestry. However, Nancy Hudson, who lives in Redcar, North Yorkshire, remembers Kissing Friday happening when she grew up in Keighley in West Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Society say it has heard of the custom but doesn't know of its ancestry. However, Nancy Hudson, who lives in Redcar, on Teesside, remembers Kissing Friday happening when she grew up in Keighley in West Yorkshire.
On it, "boys could kiss the girls until 12 noon", she says, "but they had to catch them first, which resulted in much chasing round the schoolyard".On it, "boys could kiss the girls until 12 noon", she says, "but they had to catch them first, which resulted in much chasing round the schoolyard".
On the same day, things were even more fraught for girls - and women - in the village of Sileby in Leicestershire. Its variant of Kissing Friday was known as Nippy Hug Day. If any female spurned the offer of a kiss, the man or boy was allowed to pinch her bottom, a practice known as "lousing". Some boys strung ropes across the street to create a makeshift "toll" point, where they collected kisses.On the same day, things were even more fraught for girls - and women - in the village of Sileby in Leicestershire. Its variant of Kissing Friday was known as Nippy Hug Day. If any female spurned the offer of a kiss, the man or boy was allowed to pinch her bottom, a practice known as "lousing". Some boys strung ropes across the street to create a makeshift "toll" point, where they collected kisses.
These traditions, which apparently reached their zenith in the late-Victorian/Edwardian era, largely died out by the middle of the 20th Century. They would be unthinkable now but appear to have been uncontroversial at the time.These traditions, which apparently reached their zenith in the late-Victorian/Edwardian era, largely died out by the middle of the 20th Century. They would be unthinkable now but appear to have been uncontroversial at the time.
In 1938, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported how Kissing Friday had been "the" greatest day of the year among children before World War One and that boys had been kept behind after school for an hour to delay their approach. "Old people used to look on and enjoy it all, for it reminded them of their own young days," it added. The event was still being celebrated, but in a "less boisterous fashion than formerly".In 1938, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported how Kissing Friday had been "the" greatest day of the year among children before World War One and that boys had been kept behind after school for an hour to delay their approach. "Old people used to look on and enjoy it all, for it reminded them of their own young days," it added. The event was still being celebrated, but in a "less boisterous fashion than formerly".
A year later, in 1939, a letter quoted in the Leeds Mercury said there was "no evidence that the custom is being allowed to die. As part of the custom, the girls at local schools are allowed to go home before the boys are allowed out. But not all of the girls avail themselves of the opportunity."A year later, in 1939, a letter quoted in the Leeds Mercury said there was "no evidence that the custom is being allowed to die. As part of the custom, the girls at local schools are allowed to go home before the boys are allowed out. But not all of the girls avail themselves of the opportunity."
But it seems clear that Kissing Friday faded soon afterwards. A reader was quoted in the Yorkshire Post in 1955, asking about its origins and those of yet another tradition, once prevalent in Cumbria's Eden Valley, called Nippy Lug - allowing people to pinch each other's ears without reproach for the day.But it seems clear that Kissing Friday faded soon afterwards. A reader was quoted in the Yorkshire Post in 1955, asking about its origins and those of yet another tradition, once prevalent in Cumbria's Eden Valley, called Nippy Lug - allowing people to pinch each other's ears without reproach for the day.
"Is it possible that these were commemorations of incidents in Our Lord's Passion - the agony in the garden, Judas's kiss of betrayal and Peter's cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant?" the reader asked. Possibly they were, or possibly they marked more local historical events, or both. No one has offered a definitive explanation."Is it possible that these were commemorations of incidents in Our Lord's Passion - the agony in the garden, Judas's kiss of betrayal and Peter's cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant?" the reader asked. Possibly they were, or possibly they marked more local historical events, or both. No one has offered a definitive explanation.
There was an attempt to revive Nippy Hug Day in Sileby during the 1970s, but it didn't last. By 1990 the Leicester Mercury quoted retired Popsy Gilbert as bemoaning that men, imbued with modern ideas of sexual equality, "don't seem very keen this year".There was an attempt to revive Nippy Hug Day in Sileby during the 1970s, but it didn't last. By 1990 the Leicester Mercury quoted retired Popsy Gilbert as bemoaning that men, imbued with modern ideas of sexual equality, "don't seem very keen this year".
Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.