RESIDENTS of Appleton Thorn are planning to keep the ancient tradition of “Bawming the Thorn” alive with a virtual event tomorrow, Saturday (March 20).
Former local resident Adam White, President and Fellow of the ‘Royal Chartered’ Landscape Institute, had prepared a video speech.
The virtual ‘event,’ which has been co-ordinated by local resident Susan Plass, will take place between noon and 1 pm and broadcast on the Appleton Thorn facebook group featuring video coverage, courtesy of warrington-worldwide of last year’s event, incuding the procession, the bawming dance to the choir singing.
Local resident Nora Carlin will start proceedings with a facebook live from the Bawming tree.
Residents on Parkland Close are organising their celebrations where they are going to sing the Bawming song at 1pm.
Meanwhile residents on South Pepper Street are putting bows on their hedges and having a drink at 1pm and meet with neighbours at the end of their drives, all socially distancing, as per VE day.
Legend has it that the thorn tree, which stands beside the local church, is believed to be an offshoot from the Glastonbury thorn which grew from the staff of Joseph.
Adam de Dutton, a knight of the crusades and local landowner brought it to Appleton Thorn in 1178, although the current tree is a relative newcomer.
Bawming the Thorn involves decorating the tree with flowers and ribbons and in normal circumstances local school children from Appleton Thorn Primary School would perform the bawming dance.
The decorated tree
